Football
NORTH GIPPSLAND
VERY little separated Cowwarr and Rosedale in North Gippsland football’s the match of the round.
A four-point lead favoured the Blues at the long change before the Saints rallied in the premiership term to take a slender two-point lead at the final break.
The sides went blow for blow in the final 30 minutes of the contest.
Tim Johnston and Chris Stasinowsky were the go to men in front of goal for the Saints while best on ground duo of Brad Caldwell and Andrew Flanagan lit up the forward line for the Blues.
Trading blows on the scoreboard, the Saints kept within reach of the visitors before a late major saw the Blues hold on in a nail-biting four-point victory, 14.11 (95) to 13.13 (91).
Rosedale’s majors came through Caldwell and Flanagan, who scored three apiece.
Rohan Diamond continued his solid start to the season while defender Justin Smith was the general of the backline which proved stoic at the death.
For the Saints, Johnston has made his mark back at his former club, Pat Tainsh impressed and last week’s best on ground Jordan Sandy backed up his efforts with another inspired performance.
Woodside v Gormandale
WOODSIDE registered its second win of the season with an impressive 44-point victory to claim the silverware in the battle for the “Toms Cap Cup” against rival Gormandale.
The Wildcats overcame a sluggish first quarter, which hinted at a first round hangover, to explode with a four-goal to one third quarter.
They never looked back as the home side piled on the goals, running rampant in the closing stages of the 15.19 (109) to 9.11 (65) victory.
Matt Scholz was outstanding in the midfield and was pitted early against Gormandale’s Daniel Domaille.
Josh Griffin was a tireless workhorse around the contests, while Brock Dyke made the most of Gormandale losing Brent McFarlene to injury to run amok from that point with his impact felt on the scoreboard.
Hank Norman showed his value to the team as second ruck with the Wildcats’ tall timber winning the contests against the Tigers’ talls.
Wildcat Adrian Fazroli saw plenty of the footy to boot three majors, and was damaging when pushing forward.
Sale City v Boisdale/Briagolong
SALE City came home with a wet sail for the second week in a row in its contest against Boisdale-Briagolong, but it was not enough as the clock counted down on their challenge.
Booting seven goals to one in the final quarter, the Dogs ate into what seemed an insurmountable six-goal three-quarter time Bomber lead.
With time against them the Dogs fell short by less than a kick, 13.9 (87) to 11.16 (82).
Heyfield v Glengarry
Reigning premiers Heyfield dispatched Glengarry with ease, saluting by 14 goals to post its first win 17.11 (113) to 3.6 (24).
Five goals from Nathan Wellins and four from coach Adrian Cox helped the Kangaroos sink a lacklustre Magpies outfit who failed to register a major until the second term.
From there it didn’t get any easier, and while the Kangaroos again sprayed simple shots on goal they managed to pile on 12 majors to two in the second half to decimate an undercooked Glengarry line-up.
Traralgon Tyers United v Churchill
Six goals to two in the final term from Traralgon Tyers United saw the Bombers almost reel in Churchill’s five goal three-quarter-time lead.
After starting sluggishly the Bombers were found wanting as the Cougars burst out of the blocks with a five goal to nil opening term, continuing their dominance of the contest in the second to take a 33 point lead into half-time.
Led by Chris Burke and Travis Brighton, the Cougars supplied their two prong power forwards Tim Darby and Brendan Holt with sublime service. Darby and Holt finished the match with 11 majors between them.
With their backs against the walls, coach Matt Stolarczyk and captain Luke Middleton rallied as the Bombers mounted a spirited final term comeback which saw the side fall short by seven points.
Netball
WOODSIDE continued its strong start to the season with a comfortable 15-goal victory against the Gormandale Tigers, 55 to 40, in the A grade netball.
Last year’s grand finalists Rosedale opened its season account with victory over Cowwarr in a tough contest.
Heyfield demonstrated that it is one of the marked improvers in the competition, the Kangaroos easily accounting for a new-look Magpie line-up to comfortably win 53 to 23.
Reigning premiers Churchill started well, defeating rivals Traralgon Tyers United by eight goals.
Boisdale/Briagolong posted its first win of the season in a high scoring contest against Sale City, 54 to 41.