FOOTBALL

NORTH GIPPSLAND

BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

 

AFTER a lacklustre round of football the week before, Round 8 of the North Gippsland Football-Netball League offered much more competitive matches.

Just shy of being halfway through the home-and-away season, a cluster of teams has gathered to make out the top five, while one side continues to stand alone.

 

Woodside 14.14 (98) def Churchill 8.6 (54)

EXPECTEDLY a game to watch heading into the weekend, Woodside was able to get past Churchill after a strong final term.

The Wildcats left Gaskin Park, in the end, as significant winners, 14.14 (98) to 8.6 (54).

Woodside got the jump on the Cougars to begin, posting three of the first four goals in the opening quarter.

Churchill was able to rise a level in returning from the first break, sending through four goals through to halftime, while the Wildcats only managed one themselves during that time.

The home side continued with their momentum once play returned, adding consecutive majors, creating worrying signs for Woodside.

The Wildcats dug in, etching scores in numbers in the backend of the third quarter to hit the front in time for the last break.

It appeared that ounce of pressure put to Woodside at the beginning of the second half was all that was needed to kick the reigning two-time premier into gear.

The Wildcats booted five unanswered goals in the final quarter, as the Cougars had no response through to the end.

Woodside had some firepower in front of goal, with Hudson Holmes (four goals), Brody Stainer (four) and Riley Denovan (three) wreaking havoc.

Cooper Ryan, Rowan Missen, Josh Morgan and Joh Fythe also performed well for the Wildcats.

Churchill had playing coach Chris Williams, Travis Nash, Tom Sevenson, Nathan McRae, Jordan Fenech and Hayden Weir as its best players.

Despite all the attention, rightfully so, being put on Cowwarr to begin the season, Woodside continues to chug along, having won six of its first seven games.

Meanwhile, Churchill has competed in patches against teams above them on the ladder, even defeating Heyfield away from home, but still sit outside of the finals picture currently.

 

Yarram 7.13 (55) def TTU 6.11 (47)

TRARALGON Tyers United are the only winless side left in North Gippsland.

In a desperate matchup for both teams, Yarram held on against TTU, 7.13 (55) to 6.11 (47) at Yarram Recreation Reserve.

Each side, eager for a win, struggled to make the most of their opportunities, with the total scoreboard reading just 2.8 to begin the game.

The Demons found a groove as the second quarter eventuated, sending through three goals to the Bombers one.

Yarram lead by 15 points at halftime, 31-16.

Returning from the main break, TTU knuckled down, mounting worlds of pressure, but still failed to capitalise in front of goal.

The Bombers converted on just one of its five scoring shots, while Yarram added a goal during the period as well to hold a 13-point lead heading into the final term.

TTU quickly nailed the first goal of the quarter, cutting the deficit to six points, and after a few misses from the Demons, booted another to be within two points.

Yarram finally responded to go ahead by two scores, only for the Bombers to answer back in short time.

Time ran out for TTU after the Demons put forth another major, ultimately keeping them winless on the season.

Tyler Chisholm, Luke Hunter, Lochie Roberts, Griffin Underwood in his 300th game, Toby Mitchell and Owen Gourley were standouts for Yarram.

Flynn Shields, David Waddell, Liam Michie, Trent Hourigan, Josh Twite and Nicholas Fox were best for the Bombers.

The Demons secured their third win of the year, only a game back of fifth position.

TTU’s downfall from four consecutive grand finals to the point they are at now has been much discussed, but it’s beginning to get difficult to pinpoint when their first victory comes.

 

Sale City 13.11 (89) def Glengarry 13.16 (84)

SALE CITY got off the bottom of the ladder, securing its first win of the season over Glengarry.

The Bulldogs edged past the Magpies, 13.11 (89) to 13.6 (84) at Stephenson Park.

Coming off a 166-point demolition at the hands of Cowwarr, Sale City entered their home bout against Glengarry with much desire to finally sing the song.

The Bulldogs started the day off strong, pounding pressure on the scoreboard with four goals.

Still, Glengarry held firm, only trailing by eight points at the quarter time break.

Much to the distain of Sale City supporters watching on, the Magpies continued on their way throughout the second quarter, booting four unanswered goals to enter halftime ahead by 16 points.

After a goalless second term, a reverse of fortunes played out for the Bulldogs as play returned for the third quarter, equally dishing out four goals to none themselves.

All of a sudden, Sale City led by eight points heading into the final turn.

An absolute goalfest reigned down on Stephenson Park from start to end in the final term, with a total of 11 goals sailing through during the end period.

It was all Sale City to begin, with four of the first five goals, seeing them lead by 26 points with just half-a-quarter spare.

Glengarry then shot fear into the Bulldogs, mounting five of the final six goals of the match, but fell just short of an unimaginable come-from-behind victory.

Bohdi Walker starred on the day with eight goals for Sale City, followed by the efforts of Nathan Whitford, Jack Jones, Hudson Tollner, Tyson Dobson and Riley Mizzi.

Jordan Thomas, Michael Ryan, Angus Harle, Austin Blackford, Kade Marsh and Thomas Harris performed well for Glengarry.

 

Cowwarr 17.18 (120) def YYN 6.4 (40)

COWWARR continued its unbeaten run to begin the season, defeating Yallourn Yallourn North comfortably.

The Saints stormed past the Jets at George Bates Reserve, 17.18 (120) to 6.4 (40).

After a fairly competitive first quarter, where despite Cowwarr still dominating possession in their forward half of the ground, the home side was able to add crucial goals during the period.

Goals from playing coach Dean MacDonald and Korey Carrison made the impression that perhaps the match could be a closer affair than what had been seen in all of the previous matches for the Saints.

YYN trailed by 14 points at the first break.

Despite midfield bull Tristen Waack not featuring on the day, the Jets still had an evident problem with Sam Hallyburton running rampant throughout the first half of the contest.

Finding the football time-after-time while going forward and adding majors himself, he would have been close to 20-plus disposals and two goals before the second half even began.

The Saints booted six goals to nothing in the second term to blow the margin out beyond 50 points in almost an instant.

YYN playing coach Barrie Burnett made a point to offer no space for their opponent in the second half, strictly going man-on-man after allowing the Saints on-ballers and forwards to run freely throughout the second term.

As such, the third quarter specifically played out with little fanfare, with the Jets holding the Saints to just two goals in the period, and added three themselves, but still trailed by 53 points.

The Saints got back on top to conclude the match, adding five goals to one.

Caleb Michie (five goals) and Hallyburton (four) were most damaging in front of goal, while Jack Johnstone, Ben Coffey, Patrick Tainsh and Tim Johnston were also in the best for Cowwarr.

YYN defender Campbell MacInnes did a good job on former teammate Keenan Hughes, holding the league leading goal kicker to just two goals, when he was coming off a bag of 12 the week prior.

Dean MacDonald with four goals, Cody MacDonald, Hayden Mowat, Jai Massese and Jayden Mathison also played well for the Jets.

 

Heyfield 18.19 (127) def Gormandale 9.4 (58)

GORMANDALE was no match for Heyfield, going down 18.19 (127) to 9.4 (58).

After already leading significantly throughout the first half of the game, the Kangaroos then exploded with a seven-goal third quarter to push the margin out to 67 points.

Only four goals were booted in the final term, two from each side, seeing the margin hover around the same mark.

Jack Challands, Tyson Birss, Max Van Der Zwart, Thomas Marchesi, Robert McMillan and Finn Stephenson were best for the Kangaroos.

Gormandale named ruckman Peter Strong, Marshall Cropley, Cooper Jeffries, Michael Diaz, Jesse Siddle and Trent Baldwin as its top contributors.

 

ROSEDALE had the bye.