Lexton v Natte Bealiba
Lexton has tightened its grip upon the MCDFNL's fourth place following a last-gasp two-point win over Natte Bealiba on Saturday.
The Tigers put themselves one game clear over the Swans thanks to the gritty 10.6 (66) to 9.10 (64) victory, which sees Lexton remain matched for premiership points with Carisbrook on just one loss apiece.
The Swans were left to rue their inaccurate kicking for goal yet again following Saturday's loss, which featured numerous lead changes throughout the day in one of the most evenly-matched contests seen in the MCDFNL this year.
The match began much as it would finish, with both teams heading into the first break with scores locked at 13 points apiece. The second term continued in the same vein, before Natte managed to kick away late in the quarter, heading into half-time with a lead of nine points. After a rev-up from coach Shane Fisher at half-time, Lexton responded in style, whittling the Swans' lead back to just four points at the conclusion of the third quarter. A frenzied final term saw both teams scrambling for ascendancy, but Lexton's defensive work and composure in front of goal paid off, with the Tigers managing to break clear by one point, before another behind on the final siren gave them a two-point winning margin.
Lachlan Murray proved the hero in front of the big sticks for Lexton, slotting four majors, while Matt Brown and Dylan Barr both bagged two each. Wingman Jimmy Templeton was a standout for the Tigers, along with Murray, defender Jordy Phelan and Damon Aspland.
Tom Douglas and big man Adrian Pilgrim shared the goalkicking honours for Natte, each snaring two, while Dean Graco, Kurt Mortlock, Lachlan Cameron and Douglas were named the Swans' best.
Maldon v Maryborough Rovers
Maryborough Rovers have scored their most impressive win of the 2015 season with a stunning 16-point victory over Maldon.
Spearheaded by a five-goal haul from Karson Guareschi, the Magpies celebrated a 14.17 (101) to 12.13 (85) win over the Dons, made all the more impressive by the fact it was played out on Maldon's notoriously difficult home turf.
The Pies exploded out of the blocks in the opening term, booting 4.6 to Maldon's 1.1 to establish a 29-point buffer by the first break. While the Dons managed to hit back a little in the second quarter, the Pies held firm, piling on another four goals to Maldon's three, carrying a 31-point advantage into half-time. A mammoth effort from the Bombers in the third term reduced Maryborough's lead to just 13 points by three-quarter time, but the Pies were able to hold steady, clinging to their lead to record their third win of the season.
Along with Guareschi's five goals, Dion Hedger and Adam McLean both bagged two majors, while Danny Whitnall, Brayden and Ryan Guareschi and veteran Brad Fraser were the Pies' best performers.
Nick Kelly snared five goals of his own for Maldon, continuing his good run of form, ably supported by four goals from Shaun Burchell. Nick McKnight, Kelly, Burchell and ruckman Josh Pascoe were named Maldon's best in the loss.
Trentham v Newstead
Trentham has recorded its third win of the 2015 season, courtesy of a whopping 70-point demolition job of Newstead.
The Saints came out breathing fire against the young Roos, but were only able to establish a nine point lead at quarter time. The second term yielded better results for the Saints, restricting Newstead to just four behinds for the term, while building a 24-point buffer at half time. News got worse for Newstead after that, with the Roos only able to kick another four points, while Trentham piled on seven goals in a massive third term effort, entering three quarter time with a 65-point lead. The final term only featured three goals between the two sides, two to Trentham and one to Newstead, but the damage was done, as the Saints picked up a win, 16.7 (103) to 3.15 (33).
Luke Whitehouse and Mark Strickland led the way in front of goals with four each for Trentham, with Brian Cole a handy foil with three goals as well. Strickland was named amongst the Saints’ best players alongside Jonathon Nadin, Elliot Drew and Chris Whelan.
Newstead’s three goals were shared by Brad Richardson, Jonty Entwisle & Rhys Smith, with Cody Kirby, Brent Devereaux and Ash Webster the Steaders’ better performers.
Royal Park v Avoca
Royal Park was too good for Avoca on Saturday at Hedges Oval, winning by 52 points, however Avoca can take heart from matching their usually fast-finishing opponents goal-for-goal in the final quarter.
Inaccuracy was costly for Royal Park, recording 17.25 for the day costing them a potential percentage boost, however the Bulldogs defenders can hold their heads high as their defensive pressure caused the Tigers forwards to miss easy shots on goal.
The margin at half time was fifty three points in favour of the Tigers and they were seemingly coasting to victory, and would have been very confident of a massive victory as they usually finish the game strongly,
Avoca came out after half time with the challenge of containing the Tigers and actually won the 3rd term and matched their opponents with three goals apiece in the final quarter, which would have been very pleasing for the Bulldogs match committee, and most likely not very pleasing for the Tigers equivalent.
One player that the Bulldogs defenders did have trouble with was former Bulldog Murray Bond who finished the game with five goals for the game, while Stefan Pye, Hamish Blake and Jay Anderson also had plenty of the ball at the stoppages.
Avoca ruckman Rangi Vickers was again the Bulldogs best player, while Luke Mahoney and Jake Nicholson were very good in defence, with youngsters, Toby Beavis, Lachlan Morganti and Daniel Howell also under notice.
Royal Park 17.23.125 def Avoca 11.7.73
Navarre v Campbells Creek
Navarre once again went into this week’s encounter without a number of key players, but the younger brigade again stepped up to lead the way and the Grasshoppers have now won their 29th game in succession as they outplayed Campbells Creek from start to finish to win by 102 points.
With the absence of Ash Driscoll from the goal mouth, younger brother Cody again filled the void with five goals for the game, but it was Kris Brennan who was the major goal scorer with six goals. Lachlan Slorach continues to grow in stature and was once again in the better players and also proved to be difficult around the goal mouth with three goals. Billy Parry is relishing playing the game injury free and is showing the form that he promised as a junior before being struck down with injuries, and Josh and Jayden Fowkes continued with their consistent good form.
Even though it was a competitive final term and Creek had a number of contributors that tried valiantly all day including Shannon Berriman, Cordie McKendry and Matty Lorenz, they were still no match for their opponents who are again taking all before them.
Navarre 24.17.161 def Campbells Creek 9.5.59
Carisbrook v Dunolly
Dunolly was very confident of a strong showing after their first victory of the season in the previous round, but they were brought back to earth against one of the competition’s flag favorites when the Carisbrook Redbacks flexed their muscles to win by an astonishing 143 points.
The massive victory was set up in the opening term when the Redbacks kicked twelve goals to three to set the tone of the game. Matt Bilton kicked four opening term goals and Jack Ross kicked three goals as the Redbacks were seemingly doing as they pleased.
From there on in, the game was never in doubt and the Redbacks led at half time by just under 100 points. Dunolly was far more competitive in the second half of the game kicking five goals and only allowing the Redbacks to score twelve second half goals.
Redback youngsters Riley Herd and Jakob Tidyman supported the run of Nathan O’Keefe who was named as the home team’s best player, and Jake Bucknall has returned to the form he was showing before injury stopped him from playing last season. The Redbacks had twelve goalkickers for the game with Bilton finishing with eight goals and Jack Ross kicked truly on five occasions.
Xavier Walsh, Justin Laird and David Bilton were amongst the better players for Dunolly and Jason Moore finished with three goals.
The final score was Carisbrook 32.8.200 defeating Dunolly 9.3.57
Harcourt v Talbot
Harcourt entered into their Round 7 encounter with Talbot without star onballer Paul Chaplin who broke his arm in the previous round, and had to come over the top of a determined Talbot to remain undefeated, booting the only six goals of the final quarter to win by 23 points.
In a very entertaining game where scores were level at half time, Talbot took charge of proceedings in the third term where they held Harcourt to just four behinds and were able to add two goals and five behinds themselves to lead by 13 points going into the final quarter.
Harcourt coach Sean Smith gave one of his more inspiring speeches at three quarter time which his players responded to and stormed home with a six goal final quarter.
The Lions remain undefeated and it was Alan Mack that was again the Lions best player and he was well supported by Brendan Josey, Josh Collinson and James Gale in the Lions hard fought victory.
The Hawks were well served by Drew Hancock, Luke Kemp and Robbie Conroy, while Josh Sullivan, John Arnell and Lachlan Griffiths were also good contributors in a disappointing loss that sees the Hawks still on the bottom of the ladder.
Harcourt 9.11.65 def Talbot 5.12.42
Last Modified on 15/06/2015 13:05