Wedderburn v Birchip-Watchem
Birchip-Watchem stunned the Redbacks in the opening term of their match when they kicked the first three goals of the game. The Redbacks took until the ten minute mark to post their first major score when Prime continuing his good form in front of goal got the Redbacks on the scoreboard.
The Bulls continued to attack but a costly turnover seen Herdman take full advantage to bring the Redbacks a little closer. Castellano steadied the ship for the Bulls close to quarter time but the Bulls dropped their guard to allow McCarthy to bring up full points for the home side. From the restart the Bulls cleared the ball and it was Castellano who was on the end of the clearance and posted another fir the Bulls right on siren time.
In the opening minute of the second quarter Herdman got the Redbacks away to a good start with his second goal. Wedderburn kicked the next two goals but from then on they were off target for the remainder of the quarter kicking eleven points before Prime split the big sticks in the dying minutes of the term. Wedderburn’s backline was standing solid and did not allow the Bulls to advance on their quarter time score and held them scoreless while Wedderburn took a twenty three point lead to the main break. Simpson was the Bulls best to this point as he gained many possessions and sent the ball forward only to see his good work turned back. McHugh, Herdman and Gash were giving the Redbacks forwards plenty of opportunities but bad kicking let the down badly and the game should have been wrapped up at half way but it wasn’t to be.
In the opening minutes of the third term Birchip-Watchem with some brilliant passages of play, slammed on four goals and looked like they were going to take it right up to Wedderburn as they reduced the half time lead back to under a goal. Wedderburn was able to regroup and finish the term off in fine style outscoring the Bulls and open up a handy thirty seven point lead with a quarter to go. Wedderburn had six goal kickers in the term and were starting to look dangerous. Hutchins, Simpson, Holmes and Noonan were the main contributors for the Bulls while Herdman, Perry and McHugh were amongst the best for the dangerous Redbacks side.
The final term belonged to Wedderburn as the continually pushed the ball into their attacking zone and the good work of the midfield was being rewarded as the Redbacks went on a goal kicking spree registering eleven goals in the final quarter a big turnaround from the eleven points the posted in the second term. Herdman and Barnes showed their quality in kicking three goals each while Tonkin and Prime added a further two to their tally and just before full time Chalkley kicked big goal to see the Redbacks register another big win of over 100-points. For the second quarter in the game the Bulls were virtually held scoreless with their only score being a rushed point. Scoring only one point in two quarters of football does not win you many games and it would have been disappointing for the Bulls who apart from these two unproductive quarters had really made it a very entertaining game to watch.
Final Scores: Wedderburn 24.20=164 def Birchip-Watchem 9-4=58
Best for Wedderburn: Brady Herdman, Daniel Gash, Rohan McHugh, Cam Perry, Jake Hayes and Liam McCarthy. Goals: Brady Herdman 6, Sam Barnes, Paul Prime 5, Rob Tonkin 3, Liam McCarthy 2, Ben DeAraugo, W. Chalmers and Andrew Chalkley 1 each.
Best for Birchip-Watchem: Albert Simpson, Zac Holmes, Alex Hutchins, Jake Noonan, Josh Booth and Matt McConville. Goals: Daniel Castellano 3 Andrew Cooney, Jarrod Tyler, Albert Simpson, John Barnard, Alex Hutchins and Josh Lee 1 each.
St Arnaud v Boort
St Arnaud aided by a reasonable breeze opened the scoring with a major in the opening minute of the game the Nathan Coghlan and the Saints were away. Palipauminni swopped on a loose ball to bring up the next goal for the Saints. Reynolds kicked the first for Boort midway through the quarter and this was followed by a goal to Jacob Fitzpatrick. St Arnaud clawed their way back to the lead when Need’s and Bloomer put the Saints out to a fifteen point lead at quarter time.
Both sides went goal for goal in this term with twelve goals being kicked. St Arnaud was a little inaccurate in front of goals and should have had a bigger lead than eighteen points at half time.
Palipauminni was turning in his best performance for the Saints as he gathered many possessions and was well supported by Bloomer, McNamee and Cunningham. For the Magpies it was Cam Millward, Welsh and Wilson being the main contributors for the first half.
St Arnaud was keen to eliminate the Magpies from the contest in the third term and in doing so added to their half time lead to set up a solid break on Boort by three quarter time. Boort only managed two goals for the quarter and the game was getting away from them as the Saints constantly added to their tally kicking six major scores for the term to give them a handy 45-point lead at one quarter to go.
Boort who had put in one of their better performances for the year posted early goals to reduce the Saints lead and at one stage they looked like they were finishing the better. Boort’s work rate improved as their belief in their teammates started to show and confidence built and just when they had got themselves back into the game the Saints restarted the motor to kick late goals and take a 28-point lead to full time. The win by the Saints locks them into a finals spot for 2014 and Boort who are desperate to grab that final position still have some work to do and they may just have to wait until the final round to see if there season continues beyond the home and away season.
Final scores: St Arnaud 20-17= 137 def Boort 17-7=109
Best for the Saints: C. Hooker, J. McNamee, B. Palipauminni, J. Priest, T. Petrie and D. Needs.
Goals: D. Needs 5, B. Palipauminni 4, Nick and Nathan Coghlan 3, C. Bloomer 2, rest singles.
Best for Boort: C. Millward, A. Welsh, Jesse Smith, J. Tamblyn, A. Wilson and J. Dehne.
Goals: Jesse Smith and J. Reynolds 3, R. Easton, J. Fitzpatrick, A. White 2 rest singles.
Donald v Charlton
Donald got away to one of their better starts for the year in their match against Charlton. Donald after kicking the first two goals and keeping the Navies forwards quiet the Royals were wondering if this was the day they had been waiting for all year. Taking an eight point lead to the first change, the spirit of the Donald players was running high.
As has happened in other games the opposition stepped up the pace and it wasn’t long before the Royals were in arrears to their opposition. Charlton took full advantage of the wind and kicked seven goals for the quarter with Travis Baird and Joe McGrath being dangerous up forward. The Navy Blues turned an eight point deficit into a 29-point lead at the main break.
Donald made a spirited start to the third term to reduce the lead of Charlton back to a manageable figure before the Navy Blues got back into the contest to outscore the home side. McGrath was having a good day at full forward and the Baird’s in Travis and James was lending good support. Donald tried to remain focused and kept pushing the ball forward but Thompson who is in magic form turned back all their forward moves which went a long way to support his forwards and give the Navy Blues a good break on the opposition at three quarter time of 40-points.
Charlton still keen to keep the scoreboard ticking over kicked into top gear and finished off the game like good side should as they went on to post twelve last quarter goals to add to their vital percentage boost and maintain the second position on the ladder. McGrath finished the day off with nine goals his best return for some time. Charlton had plenty of players who could have laid claim to awards as this was one of their best finishes for the year and after an early scare in the first quarter they certainly got on top in the remaining quarters to run out big winners by 79-points
Final scores: Charlton 21-11=137 def Donald 8-10=58
Best for Charlton: J. McLean, J. McGrath, R. Thompson, B. Walklate, J. Baird and S. Rogan.
Goals: J. McGrath 9, Travis Baird 4, James Baird 3, Ben Roberts 2, rest singles.
Best for Donald: L. Carr, Darby Harrison, M. Gilmour, G. Wyatt, A. Hall and J. Heslop.
Goals: A. Hall 3, S. Young 2, S. Dunstan 2, L. Carr 1.
Next week
Birchip-Watchem v St Arnaud
Boort v Charlton
Wycheproof-Narraport v Wedderburn
Donald Bye
Last Modified on 28/07/2014 18:56