FOOTBALL
NORTH GIPPSLAND FL
AN enticing battle played out at Boisdale Recreation Reserve on Saturday afternoon between North Gippsland’s bottom of the table sides Boisdale/Briagolong and Gormandale.
After causing the upset of the season last week the Tigers’ tails were up, but it was the Bombers that impressed early in the piece.
Scores were locked at 49-apiece at the main change, but the third term belonged to the Bombers, who had 15 scoring shots to two.
The contest could have been decided in that 25 minutes of play, however inaccuracy allowed the Tigers to remain in the hunt.
Trailing by 28 points at the final break, Tigers coach Luke Henderson gave his charges a baking at the three-quarter-time address.
“Take the game on, through the centre of the ground this is the quarter to get running and move the ball quick. Move it, move it, move it,” he said.
“Who is going to stand up and take the game on? Our backs are up against it, who is going to fight, fight, fight? We have been here before.”
With the words of the coach ringing in their ears, the Tigers responded as Daniel Trease recorded his second major early in the final term.
It would be answered by Boisdale’s Josh Conway, the sole major for the Bombers in a term which saw Gormandale chip away at the deficit.
The Tigers registered their second, then a third when Luke Francis set up Trease with his second in as many minutes.
Paul Richards and Daniel Domaille both squandered chances to reel the margin back further and the Bombers led by two straight kicks.
Richards made up for it late in the quarter with his third major, putting the Tigers within a kick as the clock counted down.
Holding on by a slender three points, Adam Helmke lifted in the middle of the ground, drilling the ball into Jon Burge, whose shot on goal missed.
The Tigers, through 150-senior game milestone player Sam Marks, weaved the ball back from defence and delivered to man-of-the-term Francis, who snapped the match winner in a 16.6 (102) to 13.18 (96) result.
TTU v Glengarry
A 49-point drubbing of Traralgon Tyers United catapulted Glengarry back into the winners’ circle after a lean patch for the reigning premiers.
Trailing by five points at the first change, the black and white army hit the ground running in the second term, registering seven majors to one to turn the game on its head.
Going into the half-time break down by 37 points, it was a renewed Bomber line-up that returned to the field in the second half.
The visitors booted four goals to two in the premiership term to eat into the half-time deficit and prime themselves for an attack in the final quarter.
However, Glengarry came again; Josh King was the go to man in front of goal, booting a bag of seven, as the Magpies put through another seven majors to run home comprehensive victors.
King collected the votes for his best on ground performance; Ben Truin was influential in turning the game, while Chris Wangman and Dean Brooks led from the front.
TTU’s goals were shared across four individuals, while Pat Sharp and ruckman Luke Middleton were the standouts.
Rosedale v Yarram
ROSEDALE rebounded to inflict a second straight home defeat upon the Yarram Demons.
After failing to register a major in the opening quarter, Rosedale settled to slam home nine goals to one in a lopsided second quarter and led by 41 at the main change.
Sparked by Brad Scott and Brandon McDonald in front of goals, the Blues’ opportunistic second term was forgotten in the third quarter.
The Demons successfully reined in the visitor as goals dried up in a dogged contest.
The leash was loosened in the final term as the Blues drilled home a further seven majors to record their ninth win of the season, 17.16 (118) to 9.7 (61).
Rosedale defender Jed Hickey was staunch in defence while Luke Stuckey continued his solid form of the past month.
Heyfield v Sale City
LADDER leader Heyfield was forced to work hard for the four points against a persistent Sale City line-up, which gave little away.
Highly fancied to take the points, the Kangaroos were pushed by the fourth-placed Dogs, who made the most of their chances and backed themselves in the contest.
Heyfield led by 16 points at the first change, but the Dogs fought back in the second term, booting four goals to two to be within five points at the long change, and there was still nothing in at at three-quarter-time.
Mitch Bennett and Jake Schuback set the impetus in front of goals for the Dogs, with the former backing up last week’s bag of seven with four majors.
In an arm wrestle the Kangaroos got the better of the home side late in the fourth and came home with a flutter to win, 11.18 (84) to 9.6 (60).
Heyfield’s Nic Dinsdale booted three and claimed best on ground honours. For the Dogs Mitchell Hepworth was a standout, defender Abe Schuback showed composure as the last line of defence, while Michael White was also solid.
Churchill v Cowwarr
A 13-goal to five opening half by Churchill laid the foundations for a 27.16 (178) to 12.9 (81) win over Cowwarr.
Left flat footed, Cowwarr could do little but watch in awe as the Cougars continued their dominance of the past month and put the result beyond question in the opening 50 minutes of play.
Cowwarr fought gallantly, but could not eat into the 50-point first half margin, as Churchill’s Brad Knowles (five), Dean DeGroot (four), Andrew Brown and Brad Holt (three apiece) caused havoc in a stellar forward display.
Leading from the front Knowles created headaches for opposition defenders while Nic Celima, Chris Williams and Travis Brighton, in a best on ground performance, also made the most of their chances when pushing forward to finish with two goals apiece.
For the Saints Robbie Ferguson was judged best on ground and finished the match with three majors.
