Wedderburn v Charlton (Woosang Challenge)
After a short ceremony to launch the Woosang Challenge, Wedderburn and Charlton got down to business with Wedderburn kicking with the assistance of reasonably strong breeze and it didn’t take the league leaders long to get on the board when Chalkley kicked the first two goals of the game. There was a far bit of feeling in the opening quarter with both sides applying plenty of pressure and there were many physical contests on and off the ball which had the umpires having to intervene on many occasions. Wedderburn was able to add two more goals to their tally and the backline had done a superb job holding the Navy Blues to just the one point until just before the siren when Andrew White kicked Charlton’s first goal and they went to the quarter time break trailing by 19-points.
Charlton took full advantage of the strong breeze in this quarter and it wasn’t long before Clifford kicked one of his two goals for the term. Charlton’s attack on the scoreboard continued as the Navy Blues won many contested balls and made good use of all possessions which contributed to them kicking the next five unanswered goals and it was only on siren time where leading goal kicker in Sam Barnes kicked his first goal and Wedderburn’s only goal for the quarter and the Redbacks when to the long break trailing the Navy Blues by four points.
In the third quarter scoring for both sides came to a halt as both backlines sent the ball back from where it came with no side being able to break through for any major scores. Midway into the premiership quarter Barnes got free and kicked the first goal for the term to give the Redbacks a slight advantage over Charlton and from there the only major score that was posted came off the boot of Ben DeAraugo at the twenty five minute mark of the quarter but it was just enough to give the Redbacks a two goal advantage with a quarter to play, but thing were favouring the Navy Blues who would have the use of the breeze in the final term.
After a few strong words from the coaches both sides believed they were in good positions to take out the Woosang Challenge. Wedderburn kicking into the wind where only two goals had been scored in the first three quarters of the game drew first blood when Barnes kicked two of his three goals for the term early in the quarter to give the home side a four goals advantage. Chalkley produced the game sealer and Wedderburn’s lead was out around the six goal mark before a late rally seen McGrath and Thiesz bring up major scores to reduce the margin but it would be all too late as time was against them and the Redbacks would go on and win the inaugural “Woosang Challenge” by 26-points. Charlton who entered the contest missing some key players were gracious in defeat and will remain one of the top contenders for the Halfhide Cup come September. Wedderburn would be happy getting the points over Charlton and returning to the winners list after suffering their first defeat at the hands of St Arnaud last week.
Final score Wedderburn 11-13=79 def Charlton 8-5=53
Best for Wedderburn: Cam Perry, Hayden Polglase, Will Chalmers, Danny Benaim, Jaran McKay and Robbie Tonkin. Goals: Sam Barnes 5, A. Chalkley 2, Mark Lloyd, Rohan McHugh, Liam McCarthy and Ben DeAraugo 1 each.
Best for Charlton: Rhys Thompson, Keiran Sait, Ben Walklate, Matt Willox, Shane Rogan, Anthony Judd. Goals: Andrew White, Joe McGrath, Kris Clifford and Daniel Thiesz 2 each.
Photo's from the Woosang Challenge (Wedderburn v Charlton) Senior game
Birchip-Watchem v Boort
Boort kicked with the aid of a good wind and were quick to get on the board when White scored their first major score and it wasn’t long before Sam Dehne posted their second and the Magpies were looking to extend on their early lead. The Bulls tried valiantly to get a major score but they were unable to achieve their goal in the opening term, but they were able to contain Boort and restrict them to just the two goals in the first quarter to trail the Magpies by sixteen points at quarter time.
After the break Boort got into the action again when White took a strong mark and converted for full points. This brought the ball back to the centre and from this point until half time belonged to the Bulls as they continually pushed the ball into their forward line resulting in goals to Castellano (2) and singles to Neeson, Tyler and Simpson to give them a fifteen point lead at the main break.
The third term turned out to be a horror term for Boort as the majority of their scoring shots when the wrong side of the big posts and they could only manage the one goal to go with their seven points. The Bulls were solid in their defence of their half time lead and were able to retain the fifteen point lead at the final change which would see then have the use of the wind in the final term and this was going to make it hard for Boort to claw their way back into the contest.
With a top four position on offer to both sides with a quarter to play it was the home side in Birchip-Watchem who would take full advantage of the breeze as they slammed on six last quarter goals and while they went on to do all the scoring their opposition could manage just the one point in the final term. The Bulls went on to win by 52-points and in doing so they claimed a top four berth but this may be only a quick visit as the Bulls have the bye next week and the Magpies take on Wycheproof-Narraport with a chance of regaining fourth spot, but that will not be a given as the Demons would like to put two wins together and get their season back on track.
Final scores: Birchip-Watchem 13-9=87 def Boort 4-11=35
Best for the Bulls: D. Ratcliffe, D. Castellano, S. Hogan, A. Simpson, J. Christie and C. Walsh. Goals: D. Castellano 5, S. Neeson, J. Tyler 2, rest singles.
Best for Boort: C. Millward, N. Gooding, S. Taylor, C. Hatcher, J. Tamblyn, R. Easton. Goals: A. White 3, S. Dehne 1.
Wycheproof-Narraport v Donald
Donald for the first time for a while actually took control of the game against the Demons and was able to post four major scores in the opening term and take a 14-point lead to the first break. Young was giving the Royals a target up forward and he didn’t let them down. Ricky Allan kicked the Demons only goal for the term and that came just out from quarter time.
It was a rare position for Donald to be in and they set about retaining their slender lead from the first term and they battled solidly down back to make it happen. The Demons forward moves were regularly sent back for the majority of the term but in the final ten minutes of the quarter they were able to break the shackles and kick four late goals to give themselves a two goal lead close to half time, but Donald hit back on siren time to have than margin reduce back to a single kick at half way.
Both sides took advantage of any slipup the opposition made and goals for both sides started to happen. Wycheproof-Narraport was having some difficulty in containing the Royals as they continually kicked the ball into their attacking zone. Young who would end the day with four goals and Sam Dunstan were the main players who the Demons were having trouble containing and while they were concentrating on them Harberger and Heslop chimed in for major scores to put the game back in the balance after the Demons had taken a mini break midway through the quarter and at the last change only two points separated the two teams.
Donald who had not been this close to their opposition at three quarter time felt they were in with a real chance to record their first win and the enthusiasm at their huddle certainly gave them the belief that they could do it. Wycheproof-Narraport who before Saturdays game had only recorded the one win were also keen to grab a win and keep the Royals out of the winning list for another week. Wycheproof-Narraport were able to kick a further three goals in the last term to go on and record another win while the Royals would not only be disappointed at losing what was a real chance for them but they would also be disappointed in failing in the final term. Two points was all the Donald side could add to their previous three terms as they went down by 25-points to the Demons.
Final scores Wycheproof-Narraport 11-16=82 def Donald 9-3=57
Best for the Demons: D. Lourey, T. Keane, B. Brennan, S. Driscoll, Boe Bish, R. Allan, J & R White.
Goals: R. Allan 4, James Coatsworth, S. Driscoll 2 rest singles.
Best for Donald: G. Wyatt, S. Dunstan, W. McAllister, M. Gilmour, J. Heslop, B. Haddow.
Goals: S. Young 4, rest singles.
Next Week
Donald v Wedderburn
Boort v Wycheproof-Narraport
Charlton v St Arnaud
Birchip-Watchem Bye.
Last Modified on 06/07/2014 14:12