TOM HAYES
FOOTBALL
NORTH GIPPSLAND
By TOM HAYES
SOME telling results in Round 7 of the North Gippsland Football-Netball League have shaken up the competition.
Multiple clubs have traded places on the ladder, while some of those clubs had weekends to remember.
TRARALGON Tyers United continued their run over Churchill at Gaskin Park, convincingly defeating them on their home deck once again.
A tight first half saw the visitors take a one goal lead at quarter time and extend that into an 11-point lead by the half.
The footy was hot and hard to get control of in the wet, slippery conditions, but TTU showed their class in the second half.
A 4.3 (27) to 0.2 (2) third term separated the two sides, as the Bombers took control of the match and displayed why they belonged on top of the ladder.
The Cougars were dismantled by the final siren as they appeared to experiment in the final term, conceding another six goals, closing out a 63-point victory for the Bombers, 13.15 (93) to 4.6 (30).
Ricky Cochrane was best on ground for the winners, seemingly on his own at most times, while Tom Fleming, Mitch Mustoe, Hayden Willaton, Kade Duncan and Frazar Brouns were also standouts.
Blake Slater impressed in his return for Churchill, as did Andy Phelan, Chris Kyriacou, Jordan Fenech, Jarrod Henderson and Dillon Leys.
TTU will be pleased with the victory no doubt, as they create a buffer at the top of the ladder, eight points clear of newly-promoted second-placed Woodside.
Churchill drop to third following the loss, but have a favourable run of games up until the King’s Birthday weekend bye.
They will be hoping for a swift return from the likes of Chris Williams, Ben Kearns and Chris Wangman who were all significant absentees.
Churchill will hope to return to the winner’s list immediately when they face the winless Gormandale at the Boneyard, while TTU face Yallourn Yallourn North at home in a Grand Final rematch.
IN another top-four clash, Yarram hosted Woodside at Yarram Recreation Reserve.
With similarities to the Cougars-Bombers game, a tight first half was then blown out of the water in the second half by the visiting team.
Woodside took a one-point lead at quarter time and translated it into an eight-point lead by the main break.
They were predicted to have their way with Yarram, but the Demons weren’t going down without a fight up to this point.
A one-sided third term seemingly put the game to bed, thanks to nine goals from Woodside, which was just about the difference in the end.
Woodside’s 56-point three-quarter-time-lead grew narrowly to 59 at the game’s end, as they assert themselves in the competition.
The stand-out performers for Woodside were from Jeremy Morgan, Ryan Foat, Lee Stockdale, Joshua Kennedy, Michael O’Sullivan and Daniel Farmer – who kicked five goals and moved into second in the league with 30 majors for the season.
For Yarram, Tyler Chisholm, Griffin Underwood, Jake McFarland, Liam Bentley, Dylan Garnham and Thomas Mattern played admirably.
Woodside return home this weekend to host Rosedale in what could be overly successful for the Wildcats, and as for the Demons – they get a break with the bye.
HEYFIELD were unstoppable when they hosted Cowwarr in Sale for the Hollonds-Komen Cup.
Their lead steadily grew over four quarters as they established their biggest win throughout the 2023 season.
Back-to-back six goals quarters from the Kangaroos gave them breathing room at the main break, leading by 63 points, keeping the Saints to 1.2 (8) per quarter.
The third term was explosive, as the hosts kicked 9.3 (57) to one straight, surpassing triple figures on both the scoreboard and in the margin.
They closed out the win with six more majors in the final term, gaining a well-deserved percentage boost, 27.16 (178) to 5.5 (35).
Fifteen-year-old debutant Mitch Stevens kicked three goals for Heyfield, which was an added positive for the side who look to have strong juniors coming through.
Brayden Woodland, Robert McMillan, Tyson Birss, Kodie Woodland, Mitchell Bennett and Bailey Escreet were other stand-outs for the Kangaroos.
As for Cowwarr, Shane Morgan, Lee Bourke, Rhys Luxford, Brayden Rioli, Jackson Davison and Sean Alexander had decent individual performances.
Heyfield climb to sixth place with the win, and only sit outside the top five by nine per cent.
Next week they travel to Sale City for what will be a telling mid-table clash, while Cowwarr are faced with the challenge of Glengarry, who are fresh off of their first win.
THE Magpies are on the board, after defeating Gormandale at home in the bottom-of-the-ladder clash.
It was 10th versus 11th at Glengarry Recreation Reserve, and plenty was on the line and neither side would’ve wanted to be stranded on no wins.
It wasn’t always smooth-sailing for the home side, but they gave themselves the best chance thanks to a dominating first half of football.
Glengarry was off to a fast start, kicking 5.2 (32) to 1.0 (6) in the opening term, backing that up with 6.0 (36) to 1.3 (9) in the next quarter.
The 53-point buffer would’ve been enough to get over the line at the end of the match, but Gormandale didn’t go away easy.
The Tigers won the final two quarters, fighting back by outscoring the home side.
However the margin was too big to claw back, as 53 points turned to 49, then 39 by the final siren.
For Glengarry, Alex Birmingham, Benjamin Truin, Declan Massaro, Andrew May, Luke Healy and Spencer Poulton all rose to the occasion.
Luke Farry, Tristan Salerno, Isaac Copland, Flynn Roscoe, William Flanagan and Trent Baldwin were spirited for Gormandale in defeat.
Glengarry remain in 10th, but have finally picked up their first four points.
The Magpies will hope to use their momentum on Cowwarr who struggled at the weekend, while Gormandale begin a tough run of games – starting with Churchill at home.
SALE CITY survived a late scare to hold off Rosedale at Rosedale Recreational Reserve.
A positive start gave the visitors an early lead, which they worked to extend, turning at 15-point quarter-time lead into a 19-point half-time lead.
The Bulldogs struggled to convert in the third term, allowing Rosedale back into the contest.
The Blues added 2.4 (16) to 0.6 (6) to bring the margin back to just nine points with a quarter to play.
But Sale City righted their wrongs, making amends for their poor third-quarter conversion, kicking 4.5 (29) to 0.2 (2) in the final quarter to secure the four points.
For the winning side, Blake Safstrom, Kaden McCulloch, Harry Kaandorp, Chad Evans, Tom Bowman and Zach Robertson excelled.
While for Rosedale, Luke Stuckey, Spencer Fox, Declan Barnett and Thomas Northe were notably their best.
Despite the win, Sale City fell to seventh, due to Heyfield’s huge percentage boost, while Rosedale remain in ninth.
The Blues travel to Woodside this weekend to take on one of the more in form teams this season, and Sale City host the Kangaroos in an important fight for finals.
YYN had the bye.
The Jets return to face TTU in Tyers for Grand Final rematch this weekend coming.
