TOM HAYES
FOOTBALL
NORTH GIPPSLAND
By TOM HAYES
THE race for finals just got a whole lot more interesting in the North Gippsland Football-Netball League.
After weeks of hefty margins, the NGFNL provided some tight results for a change.
One just may be upset of the season so far, while the other might have just kept the door open on finals.
THE Blues are back.
Rosedale overcame all odds when they defeated the fourth-placed Yarram at home, when most people may have wondered if Yarram could do a number on them instead.
The Demons had the chance to solidify their top five status, but now they are stranded on the edge, with Heyfield and Sale City close behind.
Rosedale started strongly, kicking four first-quarter goals and taking a two-goal advantage into the first break.
A highly entertaining second quarter saw nine goals kicked between the two sides, Yarram clawed one goal closer but still remained behind at the break.
Things started to swing for Yarram after the main change, as they kept the Blues to one goal in the third term to take the lead by seven points, heading into the final term.
But, their momentum was short-lived, as Rosedale pulled out all of the stops to get their second win on the board.
Upon re-taking the lead, the struggling side then became giant, as they kept Yarram goalless in the final term to run away as one-point winners, in a thriller at home, 10.9 (69) to 9.14 (68).
Perhaps by reading that score line suggests that Yarram squandered some opportunities, and rightly so, but that takes nothing away from Rosedale.
Sam Bristow and Spencer Fox led the way for the home side with three majors each, while Oscar Smith was the only other multiple goal-kicker with two.
Fox, Bailey Reid, Declan Barnett, Thomas Northe, Luke Stuckey and Justin Emery all made the best in the gutsy win.
Kelly Griffiths and Boadie Motton helped out as much as they could from a Yarram standpoints, also with three goals each.
Griffiths, Motton, Liam Bentley, Jake McFarland, Griffin Underwood and Matt Clavarino were standouts for the visitors.
The Blues shift into eighth on the ladder, all of a sudden, jumping Cowwarr and Glengarry in the process.
It was one of a couple clean sweeps on the weekend, as Rosedale won nine of nine football and netball games against the Demons.
THE Bulldogs keep coming.
In another close one, Glengarry hosted Sale City in hopes of earning their third win on the trot.
Making their way to Glengarry, Sale City were hoping to get their winning form back after a disappointing loss to Heyfield the week prior. In perhaps just as exciting circumstances to the previous game, this game flowed from start to finish.
The Magpies took a four-point lead into the first break, but surrendered it after conceding four goals to their one in the second term.
Following what must have been an almighty rev up, Glengarry began to claw their way back, kicking 5.1 (31) to 3.0 (18), which saw the scores tied going into the final term, 10.7 (67) apiece.
A seesawing final quarter brought this down to the wire, but it was Sale City who had their noses in front when it mattered.
The Bulldogs got home by two points, 12.11 (83) to 12.9 (81).
For the unfortunate home side, Callum Mitchell, Jack Burgess, Matt Scholtes, Declan Massaro, Luke Healy and Alex Birmingham all played their part.
While for the winners, Benjamin Brett, Billy Quirk, Jack Kirkham, Jai Nelson, Blake Safstrom and Zach Robertson were outstanding.
The win puts them equal on points with three others sides; Yallourn Yallourn North, Yarram and Heyfield, making the story for finals all the more interesting.
After weeks of saying how finals appeared to be decided for the most part, all of a sudden two sides are all back in the mix.
WOODSIDE have kept in touch.
The Wildcats move to within a win away from Traralgon Tyers United on the ladder, following their 41-point win over Heyfield.
Known as one of the more devastating sides in the NGFNL this season, Woodside will be happy with the win as it keeps their percentage rich compared to everyone else.
In typical Heyfield fashion this season, they started strongly.
Kicking 4.1 (25) to 1.1 (7), the Kangaroos had a three-goal lead heading into the first break, but Woodside were never far away.
Woodside clawed the margin back with haste, kicking 4.4 (28) to one behind, to take a nine-point lead at the main break.
Things would slow down severely for the home side, as Woodside continued to extend their buffer, leading by just 14 points with a quarter to play, both sides were well and truly still in the contest.
But a six-goal to two final term saw the visitors over the line in comfortable fashion, 14.9 (93) to 8.4 (52).
Ben Johnson, Jeremy Morgan, Matt Dyke, Thomas King, Cameron Whiteoak and Bailey Tatnell impressed the most for the winners.
While the best for the Kangaroos were Max Van Der Zwart, Robert McMillan, Mitchell Bennett, Alex Coleman, Liam Heasley and Kyle Graham.
Woodside continue to hold their strong percentage of 297.02, boasting around 50 per cent more than league-leaders, TTU.
Just four points behind TTU on the ladder, their Round 13 clash is certainly one to look forward to.
CHURCHILL flexed their muscles.
Following a slow-ish start, the Cougars put the foot down to destroy the luckless Saints at Gaskin Park.
Churchill turned a 16-point quarter time lead into a 31-point half time lead, slowly picking up the pace.
They turned on the heat in the second half, beginning with a 7.4 (46) to 2.2 (14) third term, which saw their lead extend past 10 goals.
Another six goals in the final term put the margin in danger of crossing the 100-point mark, but they fell short in the end, recording a 79-point win, thanks to four goals in the final quarter to Cowwarr.
The final score read 21.17 (143) to 9.10 (64).
Chris Wangman returned to the side with seven majors, while five others scored multiple goals.
Ben Skinner was best on ground, complimented by Joel Mason, Chris Williams, Wangman, Brendan Holt and Jordan Fenech.
For the Saints, brother of Richmond defender Daniel Rioli – Brayden was notable, as was River O’Brien, former Cougar Nick Twomey, Kyle Stamers, Ben Coffey and Wayne Swan.
The Cougars decided to play on the side of caution, as vice-captain Ryan Lowrie’s day came to an early end in the first half, following a head knock, and Nick Celima also had an early shower when he was left with a shiner.
The league-wide bye might just help the Cougars as they hope to welcome some players back to the side in the coming weeks.
They were another club to complete a perfect weekend, with nine of nine results going their way.
YYN were back to their best.
The Jets welcomed Gormandale to their turf at the weekend, and provided one of the most lop-sided results of the season so far.
After recently being torched for not being at their premiership winning best, YYN had something to prove, and they weren’t going to let Gormandale off easy.
The first quarter was quite tame compared to the rest of the match, as the Jets only held a 25-point lead at the main break.
But that went out the window when they kicked 11.4 (70) to nothing in the second term, surpassing 100 points, to create a 95-point buffer at the main break.
Things didn’t get any easier for the trying Gormandale side, as another nine goals from the home side saw the margin extend past 100 points, to 165 points.
Seven more goals in the final term allowed the margin to surpass 200 points, YYN winning by 212 points, 34.17 (221) to 1.3 (9).
Keenan Hughes bagged 10 majors, while Dean Macdonald kicked eight to get back on top of the NGFNL goal kicking with 41 goals.
Hughes, Dylan Bath, Macdonald, Campbell MacInnes, Barrie Burnett and Cambell Staff were the best for the home side.
While for Gormandale, Isaac Copland was their best, he was complimented by William Flanagan, Tristan Salerno, Liam Deering, Jai Foulkes and Trent Baldwin.
YYN earnt themselves a percentage boost, sending them to fourth on the ladder, despite being equal on points with three sides below them.
TTU had the bye.
The NGFNL heads into a league-wide bye in this incoming weekend, thanks to the King’s Birthday long weekend.
