FOOTBALL
NORTH GIPPSLAND
In a round where four out of five games were decided by nine points or less, Rosedale came away with the narrowest winning margin of all over a valiant Churchill outfit, 9.18 (72) to 10.10 (70) on Saturday.
Rosedale coach Sam Bristow praised the efforts of the Blues’ younger chargers in the two-point win and said it was difficult to pinpoint just a handful of the better players.
“The younger players really stood up, and really the whole group played well … it was really hard to define a top six and it was a really good even spread,” Bristow said.
With 18 behinds on the scoreboard and nine majors, Bristow said goal-kicking was nearly the Blues’ undoing.
“Our goal-kicking didn’t go our way again so that’s something we need to work on, but Churchill are a really quality side,” he said.
“They hit the front in the last quarter and we stood up and got it back on the board, which was really pleasing.”
Bristow applauded the efforts of centre half-forward Brad Scott, who scored four goals in the win, as well as Isaac Love and ruckman Frazar Brouns.
For Churchill, Kurt Holt, Ben Kearns and Chris Kyriacou were among the best.
Rosedale take on Heyfield in round six while Churchill is on the road to Woodside.
Yarram v Traralgon Tyers United
Yarram have emerged the toast of the North Gippsland league senior competition after doing away with Traralgon Tyers United to stand as the only undefeated side in the competition, 11.15 (81) to 11.6 (72).
The Demons led at every break with the biggest buffer of 18 points standing at half-time.
Four players bagged multiple goals with Tyler Chisholm, Daniel Vardy, Corbin Sutherland and Jarryd Swift all scoring two majors.
Josh Segond did the most scoreboard damage for TTU in the loss with three goals while Lachlan White and Tim Aitken scored two each.
Yarram coach Matt Scholz had a blinder and was awarded six votes for best on ground.
He was ably assisted by Griffin Underwood, Jack Moore and Chris Bruns.
“It was a pretty hard-fought contest for four quarters and TTU never gave up,” Scholz said.
“They’ve got some very good players and it was pleasing to see that we had a few our of our top 22 but still managed to get the job done.”
Missing from the Demons’ starting line-up were Louis Rodaughan, Liam Farley and Jacob Davis, but Scholz said list depth helped “fill the gaps”.
“We had Jeremy Babb and Lukas Jenkins, so we had some bigger bodies come in and the guys like Griffin Underwood and Trek Davis again played really well,” he said.
“Kicking inside forward 50 was helped with the big bodies, but altogether I think our midfielders around the contest made them earn every possession and got in and under really well.”
Yarram travel to Glengarry in round six while TTU return home to face Gormandale.
Gormandale v Heyfield
Heyfield lays claim to the biggest winning margin in the North Gippsland league senior competition for round five after disposing of Gormandale, 14.10 (94) to 6.8 (44).
Playing-coach Mark Stevens led the way for the Roos in the 50-point blowout and registered four goals while Will Kelly (three), Ben King (two) and Brad Page (two) did their bit.
Jason Garrett was awarded the six votes for best on ground for Heyfield and was helped by Brad Berry, Scott Anderson and Matthew Bedggood.
The Roos will be faced with a tough task this weekend when they take on Rosedale on the back of a two-point win over Churchill.
For the Tigers, it does not get any easier as they travel to play Traralgon Tyers United.
Cowwarr v Glengarry
Glengarry have sealed a crucial win over Cowwarr at the weekend to secure their first of season 2018, 12.11 (83) to 11.13 (79).
The Magpies boasted a handy 32-point buffer at three-quarter-time and appeared to have the game in the bag until a spirited five-goal-to-none fight back from the Saints had the visitors rattled.
Four final-term behinds was all Glengarry could manage as they stumbled over the line by two points.
Glengarry is faced with a tough ask in round six when they host undefeated Yarram while Cowwarr travels to play reigning premiers Sale City.
Woodside v Sale City
Defending premiers Sale City have returned to the winner’s list after a hiccup in round four, fending off Woodside to seal victory, 11.14 (80) to 11.9 (75)
The Dogs had a tough time in the first half and could only manage a single goal in the first quarter and three in the second to trail by 14 points at the main break.
They kicked into gear in the third and stacked on three goals to edge ahead by seven points at three-quarter-time.
Stuart Buckley kicked three goals for the Dogs in the win while Justin McLay, Bohdi Walker and Ben Chivers all kicked two.
The reigning premiers return home to play host to Cowwarr in round six while the Wildcats will face Churchill at Woodside.
