FOOTBALL
NORTH GIPPSLAND
Playing-coach Chris Williams has led by example for Churchill in round 12 with his five-goal haul helping the Cougars to a resounding win over Gormandale on Saturday, 16.23 (119) to 4.9 (33).
Blake Slater was also handy and chimed in with three goals of his own while Brendan Mason, Allan Chandler and Ben Kearns all scored two.
The Cougars set the tone from the first bounce and cantered into quarter-time with a 27-point lead after holding the Tigers to a single point in the opener.
The buffer had ballooned to eight goals by the main break and 12 by three-quarter-time in what was a complete performance for Churchill to help them sew up third spot on the North Gippsland league ladder with seven wins for season 2018 – ahead of Sale City, Rosedale and Woodside on percentage.
Luke Francis, Jake Bishop, Josh Membrey and Josh Jennings shared the goalkicking duties for Gormandale with one each.
Churchill will face defending premiers Sale City in round 13 this weekend while Gormandale will host Rosedale.
Rosedale v Yarram
The highly touted match of the round between Rosedale and Yarram well and truly lived up to the hype with the Demons emerging two-point victors in a game that went down to the wire.
The Demons trailed by eight points at the final change but turned the tide by holding the Blues to two behinds while adding two goals to their own tally.
Coach Matt Scholz said the win was the result of a “constant grind out” in “really tough conditions”.
“It was just contest after contest and to the boys’ credit they fought it out and just managed to find a way to snatch the win,” Scholz said.
He labelled the two-point victory “a bit of a scare” but gave plaudits to the Demons’ playing group for standing up when they needed to.
“It just shows the character of the blokes, being able to fight it out which is really good,” he said.
“Especially with how hard it was and the conditions we had, it was just superb from the boys.”
Corbin Sutherland played “really well” according to Scholz, provided good run off half back and “used his skills to his advantage”.
Ruckman Dan Vardy was again among the best for the Demons as was Griffin Underwood through the midfield.
Scholz is still out for Yarram with an ankle sprain while Chris Bruns missed with a back injury.
“We’re nearly full strength, which is good coming to the back end of the season,” Scholz said.
Heyfield v Cowwarr
Heyfield have moved two games clear of Gormandale on the North Gippsland league senior ladder with a comfortable win over cellar dweller Cowwarr on Saturday, 14.5 (89) to 5.10 (40).
The Roos opened slowly and led by just five points at the first break and 10 points at half-time, but a four-goal-to-none third term set them up with what proved to be a match-winning 31-points buffer at the last break.
Kodie Woodland stood up for Heyfield and led the way with three goals and was helped on the scoreboard by former AFL star and Geelong premiership player David Wojcinski, who kicked two, as did Matt Bedgood and Mark Johnston.
For the Saints, Kyle Stamers did his best to help his side to their maiden win for 2018 with three goals but the goalkickers dried up for Cowwarr with James Todd and Sam Scammell the only others to hit the scoreboard with singles.
However, the Saints weren’t without their chances and will be ruing the inaccuracy on goal that saw them finish with five majors from 16 scoring shots.
Heyfield will travel to take on the biggest test in the league in Yarram this weekend in round 13 action while Cowwarr will head back to the drawing board and prepare to face Traralgon Tyers United.
Glengarry v Sale City
Defending premiers Sale City have denied Glengarry any chance at a maiden win for season 2018 with a commanding 80-point win on Saturday, 13.10 (88) to 1.2 (8).
The Magpies were held to a solitary behind after quarter-time as the Bulldogs stacked on 13 goals of their own to romp to win number seven for the year to date.
Will White and Justin McLay shared the goalkicking duties for Sale City in the win and finished with three majors each while Evan Johnson kicked two and singles went to Matt Lutze, Jayden Sleeman, Ben Chivers, Mitchell Evans and Nicholas Grainger.
Jonathon Bell was the only player to hit the board for Glengarry with a single goal.
The Magpies will travel to Woodside on Saturday in round 12 and Sale City will host Churchill in a battle for third spot on the ladder.
TTU v Woodside
Traralgon Tyers United have moved two games clear ahead of Churchill in second spot on the North Gippsland league senior ladder with four-goal win over Woodside in round 12, 6.4 (40) to 2.3 (15).
Playing-coach Michael Duncan led the way for the Bombers with two goals in trying wintry conditions at Tyers Recreation Reserve to help his side to win number 10 for the season.
Jye Neilson, Ben White, Matt Cochrane and Scott Zuehlke all scored singles for TTU while Cam Whiteoak and Josh Kennedy were the only goalscorers for Woodside.
The Bombers will travel to take on cellar dwellers Cowwarr in round 13 in what is shaping as a big mismatch while Woodisde will come up against Glengarry.
