NORTH GIPPSLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Cowwarr has firmed its hold on a late charge to September action with a 45-point victory over Glengarry in round 15 of North Gippsland football.
Contested in wet, wild and wintery conditions, it was the Saints that settled early with the visitor’s four-goal-to-one term setting the tone for the remainder of the contest.
Cowwarr led by three straight kicks at the first change, but the second term was a dogged affair with neither side able to have an impact on the scoreboard.
The premiership term was not any easier as the Saints added a further major to their tally, with the Magpies held goalless for a second term in what was a low scoring contest. The Saints were able to break the shackles as the rain cleared slamming home four goals to one to record their seventh win of the season.
Best served by coach Luke Cooper, the Saints were sublime in the wet and heavy conditions, with Kyle Stamers again a livewire with three goals.
Pat Tainsh continued his solid form of the past month, with his impact in the midfield and when pushing forward clinical in setting up the Saints’ forwards.
Boisdale/Briagolong v Heyfield
Boisdale/Briagolong could do little to counteract the hardness and fleet-footed Heyfield brigade who went on to record 138-point victory, 23.15 (153) to 2.3 (15).
Nic Dinsdale continued his impressive form in a best on ground performance, while Cal Egan, Mitch Dowse and Joel Dinsdale were explosive in front of goals; the trio booted four majors each as the experienced pair Kodie and Jack Woodland showed why they were quality players.
For the home side Danny Pratt was a standout, with Alec Munro and Nicol Sandison solid contributors.
Yarram v Woodside
For the second consecutive week Yarram was delivered a body blow, this time from neighbours and rivals Woodside. The Wildcats leap frogged the Demons who fell from fifth to seventh on the premiership ladder.
Woodside was outplayed by Churchill last round, however hit its straps early with Justin Staley commanding attention by the Demons defenders with the forward on song with eight goals.
Skipping away with a handy 11-point lead at quarter-time, the Wildcats had to contend with a fired up Demon outfit who outplayed the visitors to reverse a deficit into a eight-point lead at half-time.
Coach Grif Underwood and Corbin Sutherland made the most of their chances in front of goal.
With their finals hopes hinging on the results of the remaining rounds, the Demons returned from the long break flat-footed as they felt the wrath of Staley and Tom Love as they lit up the forward line for the Wildcats. Down by 17 points, the going did not get any easier in the final term as the home side registered one behind as their neighbours booted away to record a 39-point win, 15.11 (101) to 9.8 (62).
Woodside’s Staley impressed, Shane Kilgower and Damien Kerr also battled hard.
For the home side, Underwood firmed his hold on the club’s best and fairest award with another best on ground performance, with forward Sutherland adding two to his season tally of 41.
Churchill v Gormandale
CHURCHILL proved too classy for Gormandale with the Cougars recording their seventh consecutive victory by a barnstorming 152 points.
Highlighting the trip to Gaskin Park as “one of the hardest road trips” on the fixture, Tiger coach Luke Henderson knew the enormity of the task ahead.
Establishing a 35-point lead at the first change, the Cougars’ second term blew the lead out to 64 points at the long change.
The second term was as one sided as the first, Churchill slamming home 15 goals to two boosting their percentage significantly for the second-week-in-a-row.
The attack in front of goals came from Brad Knowles (five), Andrew Brown (four) and Nic Celima (three), the trio among 12 individual goal scorers. Best on ground honours went to Travis Brighton who made light pickings of the Tigers’ midfield.
Brighton was aided by Brandon Mahoney, while Knowles was a standout in front of goal.
Missing several key players from their line-up did not aid the Tigers’ chances in knocking over the inform side of the competition.
Rosedale, Traralgon, Tyers United and Sale City all had byes.
