Newstead v Navarre - Grasshoppers too strong for the Steaders
After a slow start to the game Navarre eventually proved to be far too strong for Newstead on Saturday in the Bendigo Bank MCDFNL eventually winning by 71 points at the final siren.
The long awaited encounter between the premiership contenders was a one sided event with the Grasshoppers proving to be the dominant team at the final siren.
However, the opening term favored Newstead as they were dominating through the middle with Nathan Webster and David Wall racking up possessions while Daniel Christmas was proving too strong for Brent Flood who was trying roughhouse tactics to try and unsettle the star forward, but Christmas kicked a goal and shepherded one through for David Wall as Newstead led at quarter time with four goals and one behind to Navarre’s one goal thee behinds.
From this point in the game it was Navarre all the way as they completely took control through the middle with Daniel Parkin and Louis Hannett leading the way as Navarre kicked eight goals to two for the second term. Newstead only entered their forward fifty on three occasions for the term, while Navarre had 15 scoring shots. Ben Scott was proving difficult to curtail and finished with two goals for the quarter as did Luke Hendy. Navarre turned around a 16 point deficit to lead by 26 points at half time.
Navarre kicked the next seven goals in the third term to put the game well out of reach. Zac Parry was providing a target up forward and kicked two goals in succession for the Grasshoppers, while Newstead’s one and only forward entry at the 24 minute mark, resulted in a goal to Adrian Conn after outpointing Brent Flood in a marking contest. Navarre led by 62 points at three quarter time.
It was a scrappy affair in the final term, with the Steaders putting up some resistance and kicking a couple of early goals through Jonty Entwistle, but Navarre was up to the challenge with Daniel Parking kicking a long goal and Aiden Lee snapping a left foot goal late in the term to push the winning margin out to 71 points at the final siren.
Navarre won 19.14.128 to 9.3.57
Royal Park v Dunolly
The closest gane of the round was at Hedges Oval where Royal Park hosted Dunolly and it was the Eagles that won the game in a very exciting finish by the narrowest of margins with a one point victory.
Dunolly went into the final quarter on a high as Murphy Longmuir kicked a barrel on the three quarter time siren to give the Eagles a fourteen point lead at the final change.
The final term was a tough and torrid affair as both teams were trying desperately to post a victory and it was the Tigers who won the quarter but they could not quite get over the line to win the game. A Royal Park player had the opportunity in the final minute of the game to kick the winning goal but his shot was wide of the target, much to the relief of the Eagles supporters.
Dunolly was bolstered with the inclusion of three new players in Murphy Longmuir, Ricky Miler and Desmond Mollingin and along with Jesse Hawkes, they were all very serviceable in the winning effort. Jarrod O’Connor had another outstanding game for Royal Park as did Hamish Blake and Ben McKay.
Dunolly won 8.10.58 to 7.15.57.
Maldon v Harcourt
A six goal haul to the reigning Berry Powell Medalist Paul Chaplin set up a 52 point win to Harcourt over Maldon on Saturday at the Bill Woodfull Reserve.
Chaplin was outstanding in the win as was Kyle McLean who kicked truly again as he posted another four goals for the game after kicking six goals in the previous round.
Maldon lost the services of David Carroll during the week with the star forward being cleared to Newbridge, but the Bombers were very happy to have Tom Cain return after being cleared back from Castlemaine and the Bendigo Gold.
Unfortunately for the Bombers, Cain had no bearing on the result as the Lions went on a goal scoring rampage in the second term kicking eight goals to one to lead at half time by 25 points.
Kris Davis was the dominant ruckman on the ground giving his onballers first use of the ball and allowing the forwards to take advantage of fast entry into the forward line.
Maldon reduced the margin to 17 points at three quarter time, but the Lions were too strong as they finished strongly to win by 42 points.
Harcourt 18.10.118 to 10.16.76
Maryborough Rovers v Trentham (Sunday match)
Maryborough Rovers remains the only winless team in the MCDFNL after previously winless Trentham dominated play to win by 92 points at Jubilee Oval on Sunday.
Trentham Coach Clayton Scoble was outstanding across half back marking anything that was kicked into the Rovers forward half. Scoble continually rebounded the ball with precision use of the ball either by foot or hand and he linked up well with Elliott Drew who also marked strongly in defense.
Trentham hunted in numbers and used their pace to advantage as they played run and carry football and delivered the ball well to their forwards which allowed Luke Whitehouse to kick six goals.
While Scoble was dominant for the Saints, Rovers Coach Scott Sellers was the key player for the undermanned Magpies. Sellers continually drove the ball out of the back half, but Scoble sent the ball back again time after time. Matt Stiles dominated the ruck for Rovers but the Trentham running players such as Lewis Bruton, Chris Whelan and Scott Witmitz took advantage of Stiles dominance at the centre bounce and around the ground. Rovers did not score a goal until Andrew Jardine broke the drought at the 20 minute mark of the third term, then another goal quickly followed when Ben Hoban slotted one from a very difficult angle, but there was to be no more for the remainder of the game as Trentham ran away with a six goal final term to post their first win of the season.
Trentham 16.13.109 to 2.5.17
CAMPBELLS CREEK vs TALBOT – CREEKERS CRUSH HAWKS
Campbells Creek has struck a vital blow in its quest for an MCDFNL finals berth, downing Talbot by 21 points in a hard-fought clash on the Creekers’ home turf.
Talbot was left to rue some inaccurate kicking in front of goals in Saturday’s match-up, going down 16.8 (104) to 12.11 (83), as Josh Adamson, Chris Stone and Sam Noble kicked the home side to a vital win in a clash between two teams looking to round out the MCDFNL’s top eight.
After an even opening term, the Magpies were able to kickaway with a five-goal to two second quarter. The Hawks managed to close the gap to under three goals in the second term, but the Creek managed to stave off the second-half fightback to score an important victory.
Joel Smith made a vital return from injury for the home side and was named their best, along with Stone, Noble and Jarrod Hodoras. Ross Wise and Brandon McRedmond proved an effective duo up forward for Talbot, both booting four goalds apiece and figuring among the Hawks’ best, along with Nathan and Matthew Smith.
NATTE BEALIBA vs AVOCA – SWANS BACK TO THEIR BEST
A ruthless Natte Bealiba has crushed arch-rival Avoca by 44 points in a benchmark game for the Swans, who looked to be back to their dominant best.
Lead by another outstanding display from skipper Mark Fitzgerald, who slotted five goals from centre-half forward, the Swans scored their third win of the year, 18.5 (113) to 10.9 (69).
The game looked evenly matched in the opening term, with both teams slotting three goals apiece, before the Swans gained the upper hand in the second stanza, booting five goals to the Bulldogs’ one. The home side continued to pile on the majors in the third quarter, kicking five to two, and effectively ending the game, despite the Dogs managing another four goals in the final quarter.
In addition to Fitzgerald’s haul of five majors, medium-sized forward Matt Stagg made a return to form with three goals, while Brent Mortlock, Tom Douglas and Nathan Ross all managed two goals each.
Ross, who returned to the senior side after a week in the Swans’ reserves last week, made the most of his rare outing up forward, playing a hand in a number of other goals in addition to two of his own and featured among the Swans’ best alongside Fitzgerald, Stagg, brother Stephen Ross and Ryan Weir.
Avoca coach Adrian Pilgrim overcame a hamstring strain to slot four goals, but effectively played a lone hand in attack for the majority of the day. Lachlan Edwards tried to lift the Dogs with his run and carry through the midfield to be named his side’s best, along with Alec Wiltshire, Pilgrim and Matt Jukes.
LEXTON v CARISBROOK – REDBACKS STILL NUMBER ONE
Carisbrook remains the MCDFNL’s only unbeaten team following Newstead’s loss to Navarre, with the Redbacks scoring a 43-point victory against Lexton.
Carisbrook’s midfield dynamo Matt Bilton destroyed the Tigers’ hopes of causing an upset, slotting five majors and running rampant through the midfield to lead his side to a 12.11 (83) to 5.10 (40).
The Redbacks stamped their authority on the contest from the outset and never lifted their foot off the pedal, with Lexton only able to manage three goals in the first three terms.
In addition to Bilton’s brilliance, Nathan Wright continued his solid form up forward for the Redbacks, slotting four goals, while Jake Bucknall, Jon Gray and Chris Dunn were also among their side’s best players.
Rob Mosby was the Tigers’ only multiple goalkicker, slotting two majors to be named Lexton’s best player, while Lachlan Pryor, Damon Aspland and Dan Chester were others to put their best foot forward for the Tigers.
Last Modified on 17/06/2013 08:41