Avoca too strong for Royal Park
Avoca travelled to Hedges Oval on Saturday expecting a tough clash against an improved Royal Park outfit in the Bendigo Bank Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League.
But the Tigers failed to worry the Bulldogs as Avoca was too strong in all areas across the ground, particularly in the middle where Avoca’s Lachlan Edwards set the Bulldogs alight at the majority of centre bounces throughout the game.
Royal Park won the toss and kicked with the aid of a very strong breeze, but failed to capitalize as the Bulldogs outscored the Tigers kicking five goals to two in the opening term. Toby Beavis was dangerous around the goal mouth for Avoca in this term kicking two goals, while Zac Stewart capitalized for Royal Park when the ball entered their scoring zone bagging their only two goals as Avoca led by 17 points at the first change.
Bushy backman Ben McKay did a good job to nullify Avoca spearhead Murray Bond, who booted seven goals in the Bulldogs opening round win against Avoca, to only one goal in the opening term, but Bond broke the shackles and had another three goals on the board inside the ten minute mark of the second term. The Bulldogs used the breeze to its advantage and Nick Barker celebrated his 150th game for Avoca with his second goal of the game, as Avoca skipped out to a forty five point lead in quick time.
Royal Park’s Ben Clay showed some brilliance midway through the term when he booted a fantastic check side goal from right on the boundary line, however Avoca had all of the answers and responded with three goals to finish the term strongly and led at half time by fifty three points.
The third term was a scrappy affair as both teams struggled to hit targets and the ball was turned over on numerous occasions, but Avoca still won the term with goals to Bond and Edwards, while Jibb Iglesias booted Royal Park's only goal for the quarter, helped by Avoca defender Alec Wiltshire mistiming his leap at a ball which landed in Iglesias's lap!!
Avoca finished the game off strongly with coach Adrian Pilgrim going forward to kick three final term goals while Edwards, and Brad Schiltz, who never stopped running for the game were also amongst the final term goalkickers.
The Bulldogs won in convincing fashion by 75 points and will now set their minds on the tough challenge of toppling Navarre next week, while Royal Park will look to regroup as they tackle Rovers in the Marybrough Derby on Sunday at Hedges Oval.
Trentham v Newstead
Christmas arrived early at Trentham, as Newstead star forward Daniel Christmas led the way with an eleven goal haul for the Steaders who won in very convincing fashion over the Saints.
Trentham were very competitive in the opening term, but it was one way traffic from that point in time as the pace of Sam Kerr, Ethan Ford and Andy Lovett was too much for the Trentham midfielders, while the dominance of Christmas up forward would certainly have taken the eye of the interleague selection committee.
Lewis Bruton continued his good form from last round and finished with two goals for the Saints, while James Wicker and James Cann were also prominent, but the undermanned Saints could not match the brilliance of their opponents as Newstead won 23.12.150 to 5.4.34.
Harcourt v Carisbrook
A very exciting brand of football was played in the opening term between Carisbrook and Harcourt and it looked like a close encounter was on the cards as the Redbacks led by ten points at the first break in the game.
But Carisbrook regrouped after quarter time and completely controlled the second term as they managed to keep the Lions goalless and posted four goals to lead by 34 points at half time and set up a match winning lead.
Whilst Harcourt managed to remain competitive in the final term, any chance of a comeback was put to rest in the third term when the Redback’s eight goal term put the game well out of reach.
Kasey Williams and Nathan Mitchell tried valiantly all day for Harcourt while Adrian Hicks slotted four goals, but Matty Bilton was sensational for Carisbrook as he continually drove the ball forward and set up his running team mates around him and the livewire onballer also kicked five goals for the game. Co Coaches Luke Treacy amd Ben Kick also figured prominently and Treacy, Nathan Wright and Brendan Lloyd were alos unstoppable around the goal mouth with three goals apiece.
Carisbrook won 20.17.137 to 12.9.81
Maldon v Lexton
Matt Brown proved to be difficult to contain in the opening term of the clash between Maldon and Lexton on Sunday. Brown marked the ball six times but the usually reliable kick only managed a fifty percent strike rate kicking three goals as Lexton dominated the opening stanza with Tim Oliver in charge of the ruck battle and Damon Aspland also winning at the centre bounces and running it forward to where Brown was waiting with open arms.
The Maldon huddle received a massive spray from the coach at quarter time which could be heard all round the Bill Woodfull Reserve, but it had no influence as Lexton continued to dominate in the second term. Maldon did goal through Leigh Harrison in the opening minute, but the double teaming of the Maldon defence on Brown, allowed Daniel Chester to get free and the lively recruit kicked two goals in succession.
Lexton’s dominance showed through the inside 50’s statistics with the Tigers entering their scoring zone on 31 occassions to Maldon’s 13 and if not for inaccuracy the margin would have been much more than thirty three points at half time.
Tim Oliver was outstanding in the ruck all day and Paul Phillips racked up possession after possession across half back for the Tigers, while Brown managed to break free and kick a couple of goals in the third term and Chester slotted his third before leaving the ground late in the 3rd term with what looked to be a rolled ankle.
Hayden Kelly and Shaun Burchell moved into the middle and the Bombers started to win the ball out of the middle in the final quarter and held Lexton goal-less while kicking three themselves. Kyle Winstanley and Jacob Fitzpatrick also started to win plenty of ball and if not for the strong defensive work for the Tigers of Phillips and Mick Jennings, the scoreline would have been much closer at the final siren than the 27 points that the Bombers trailed by at the finish of the game.
Lexton won 10.15.75 to 7.6.48.
NATTE vs DUNOLLY – SWANS SCRAP OUT A WIN
Natte Bealiba has scrapped its way to its first win of the 2013 season with a 27-point win over Dunolly.
The Swans wastefulness in front of goal proved to be a problem for the second week running, booting 7.13 and missing the opportunity to put the Eagles to the sword.
It wasn’t until the third quarter that the Swans were able to break clear of their opponents thanks to multiple goals from Zac Perez and rising star Tom Douglas, who both slotted two for the day.
A scrappy opening half from both sides made for unspectacular viewing, with the Eagles doing their utmost to limit the influence of the Swans’ running players.
Douglas and Perez, who were the Swans’ two best players, were able to push their side further forward, with help from Daniel Gifford, who continued his outstanding start to the season, and new recruits Dean Graco and Laurence Chadwick.
Matt Gibbs continues to earmark himself as a future star for the Eagles with a solid game, while Tony Bellenger and Joe Thompson worked hard in the midfield clinches.
ROVERS vs TALBOT – HAWKS SNARE CUP
Talbot’s first win for 2013, a 23-point victory over Maryborough Rovers, has also handed the Hawks the Barras-Melbourne Cup for another year.
After narrowly missing out on an opening round win over Maldon last weekend, the Hawks were hungry for a victory and sought to stamp their authority on this clash early on in the piece, but were stifled by the Rovers defence.
It wasn’t until the final quarter of what was a hard-fought and times spiteful clash that the Hawks were able to break clear, running out winners, 8.12 (60) to Rovers’ 4.13 (37).
Nathan Smith and Trent Barras were the Hawks’ major scoring options, booting three and two respectively, while captain Rowan Prentice was the Hawks’ best, along with Matthew Smith and Lukas Mortimer.
Recruits Grant Ryan and Frank Towers were Rovers’ best for the second week running, while Brent Hudson, Matt Batson, coach Scott Sellers and Brad Fraser each booted one goal apiece.
In a further blow for the Magpies, Sellers looked to injure his knee late in the final term after landing awkwardly in a tackle and the side will be hoping the damage is nothing too major for the second-year coach.
NAVARRE vs CAMPBELL'S CREEK – HOPPERS DEMOLISH CREEK
Navarre has secured its first win for 2013, with the Grasshoppers recording a 149-point demolition of Campbells Creek on Saturday.
Power forward pairing, Kris Brennan and Zane Bigmore lead the scoring for the home side with seven and five majors respectively in a walkover win for the Grasshoppers.
A far cry from their opening round win over Maryborough Rovers, the Creekers had no answer for the Grasshoppers’ hard-running style, going down 26.15 (171) to 3.4 (22).
Lewis Baker lead the way for the Grasshoppers along with Bryce Tickner and Steve Benham, while Ben Scott also enjoyed a productive day in front of goals, booting three.
Chris Stone was the only multiple goalkicker for the Magpies with two, while Chris Klimeck and Sahy Keilor-Reed were the visitors’ best.
Last Modified on 29/04/2013 17:10