FOOTBALL
NORTH GIPPSLAND
Churchill led at every break to put away Heyfield with relative ease in round seven of the North Gippsland senior competition, 12.8 (80) to 7.15 (57).
Blake Slater continued his hot run of form and added three goals to help the Cougars win and takes his season tally to 22 to second spot on the league leading goal-kicker board behind Sale City’s Stuart Buckley.
Brendan Mason and Ben Kearns were also serviceable and chipped in with two majors each.
The Roos missed opportunities in the first half and managed just two goals from 11 scoring shots, including seven behinds in the second term, to sit 26 points in the red at half-time.
James Beha did the bulk of the heavy lifting for Heyfield up forward and finished with four goals while Charlie Driffield, Kodie Woodland and Brad Berry scored one each.
The win helps Churchill to third spot on the ladder, a game clear of reigning premiers Sale City, while Heyfield are in seventh, two games off the pace of Rosedale.
The Cougars travel to take on cellar dweller Cowwarr in round eight while Heyfield are faced with a tough ask in second-placed TTU.
Yarram v Sale City
Yarram have reaffirmed their standing as the front runner in the North Gippsland league senior competition with a commanding win over Sale City in the 2017 grand final rematch on Saturday, 12.23 (95) to 10.8 (68).
The Demons trailed by five points at the main break but kicked into gear in the second half with the help of Chris Bruns and Will Bodman through the midfield.
Inaccuracy on goal in the second-half with 14 behinds from 23 scoring shots was the only red mark for Yarram in an otherwise complete performance.
“I think the game was won through our run and spread in the second-half,” coach Matt Scholz said.
“To be able to open [Sale City] up and win the contested footy was really key.”
In the absence of key play makers Griffin Underwood and Jarryd Swift, Scholz said a number of younger players from the Demons’ reserves stood up.
“I was really pleased with the whole side’s performance but especially the young guys who really stood up,” he said.
“A few of the reserves players really showed their colours and helped us get the win, even with a few guys out, and they really got some reward for effort on the weekend.”
Louis Rodaughan has enjoyed a stellar run since returning from injury three weeks ago and was again key for the Demons.
Yarram are poised atop the North Gippsland league ladder undefeated with seven wins and come up against Woodside on the road in round eight while Sale City sit in fourth and will return home to host Gormandale this weekend.
Gormandale v Glengarry
A rejuvenated Chase Saunders-led Gormandale have notched their second win of season 2018 with a win in style with a resounding win over Glengarry on Saturday, 17.12 (114) to 10.7 (67).
Tigers coach Steve Hazelman pinpointed the 45-point win as the first time his side has put together a complete performance this season.
“For the first time I think we had 22 even contributors, and in the other weeks we have maybe had a couple of guys holding us up but it was just a really good team performance,” he said
Troy Forrest, Brayden Duve and Jarryd Garlick were all handy contributors for Gormandale in the win and scored two majors each.
Saunders’ eight-goal haul for the Tigers proved the difference and Hazelman said the power forward bought more to the playing group than scoring power.
“Chase is obviously a key focal point up forward but he’s also really enthusiastic and has the ability to give a really good energy to the rest of the group,” he said.
“But I thought our backline really stood up well and our forward line functioned a lot better than what it has in the last month or so.”
With “eight or nine” players out of the best 22 through injury, Hazelman was hopeful a number of senior players would return to bolster the side within the next month.
“[Saturday] was actually the first game this year that we’ve got through with no injuries, which is good,” he said.
Gormandale hit the road to take on defending premiers Sale City this weekend and Glengarry will look to bounce back on home turf against Rosedale.
Cowwarr v Woodside
Cowwarr remain the only side in the North Gippsland senior competition yet to record a win in season 2018 after falling to Woodside on Saturday, 13.16 (94) to 6.5 (41).
The Wildcats were just three points up at half-time but blew the lead open to 38 at the last break thanks to a six-goal-to-one third term.
Danger man Ryan Foat enjoyed his best run out for the year to date and led the way for Woodside in front of goal with five majors while Gary Jones scored two.
The Saints lacked fire power up forward and had six players with single goals but none with multiples. The win helps the Wildcats to fifth spot on the ladder behind Sale City on percentage.
Rosedale v TTU
Traralgon Tyers United have continued their hot run of form to solidify second spot on the ladder with a win over Rosedale on the road in round seven, 10.8 (68) to 7.8 (50).
The Bombers were on song in the opening term and scored five goals straight to the Blues’ two from six shots to earn a 14-point buffer at the first break.
The second quarter was a stalemate with both sides failing to convert major scores.
Rosedale kicked in to gear in the third and added four goals to trail by 10 points at three-quarter-time but wind back the deficit.
Tim Aitken continued to be a reliable source for the Bombers up forward and bagged four goals to take his season tally to 14.
