by Jim Gordon
WOOMELANG LASCELLES V SEA LAKE NANDALY TIGERS
Woomelang Lascelles have given themselves a great chance of playing finals football this year with an outstanding win against Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers at Woomelang. To make the four they will have to win one of their final two games against the Demons or the Devils and hope that the Tigers do not win another game.
This seems like a tall order, but their form on Saturday was very good and if they can get the same side on the field in the next two weeks, they will give themselves a chance.
The Cats jumped the Tigers in the first term kicking eight goals to one to effectively put the game out of the reach of Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers by quarter time. They had winners everywhere. Jayden Lonergan was a livewire up forward, Joshua Ratcliffe was winning in the ruck and Chris McMahon was in great touch.
The Donnan boys, Joel and Trent give the Cats a lot of drive. The whole team seems to lift when they are playing together. The Cats will need them in their side for the rest of the year if they are to have a chance.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers will be disappointed with this effort after once again looking like they were finding form at the right time of the year. They would still have to be favoured to make the finals, but unless they can snap out of their lethargy and get back some of their winning form, they will only be making up the numbers.
Jeremy Weinert played well for the Tigers, John Guthrie in the backline is having a good season and Mark Duscher tried hard for his two goals.
The Tigers have a break next week and then finish the season with a home match against the Demons. They could limp into the finals.
For the Cats, whether or not they make the finals, they have improved significantly on their efforts over the last couple of years.
BEULAH V HOPETOUN
After losing to Ouyen United last week, Beulah bounced back this week with a good win at home against near neighbours Hopetoun.
The match was even early, in fact the Devils held a well earned ten point lead at the quarter time break. Unfortunately that was the end of it as far as Hopetoun was concerned as the Blues showed their class in the second term holding the Devils scoreless and helping themselves to seven gaols.
The turnaround in proceedings came about from the midfield where Gareth Hose started to dominate and players such as Scott Smith and Jarred Combe began to play well and get the ball into the Beulah forward line with handball and accurate kicking to position.
Through these centre line players and midfielders, Beulah was able to go forward time after time and with a match winner in David King kicking nine goals, they showed up the real difference between the top two sides in the competition and the rest of the league. Hopetoun may have tried hard, but was simply outclassed.
It says a lot for Gareth Hose’s ability as a midfielder that not only did he dominate on ball, he ended up with five goals himself going forward.
Hopetoun did have some good players on the day. Zac Taggert was solid in the midfield, Kain Robins was a reliable option up forward and he did well to finish with seven goals for the day. Nathan Fitzgerald once again showed his worth and his endeavour could not be questioned as he was prepared to put his body on the line working hard across the back line.
Mark Adamson was another who played well for Hopetoun. Adamson kicked two goals early, but was sent onto King in an effort to nullify the Beulah forward when King started to get on top of the Devil defenders.
Once again the Devils were shown that they are well short of the pace setters Beulah and Ouyen United. They have a bit to work to do coming into the finals and may get the chance to regain some confidence next week as they face the dispirited Roos who will be coming off a hiding at the hands of the Demons.
WALPEUP UNDERBOOL V OUYEN UNITED
In a game that was physical at times, Ouyen United proved far too good for a Walpeup Underbool side that was competitive early, but didn’t give much of a yelp after quarter time.
United had good players all over the ground. Sonny Lindsey was at his best with ten goals and could get his ton against the Cats next week, Jarrod Munro kept Matthew Brown (who has been playing very well lately) just about kickless for the game, Andrew Jardine followed Wade Champion wherever he went and always had the better of him, Dominic Leach kicked five goals and so the list goes on. The Demons had brilliance to burn whereas the Roos were battling to get a kick, much less kick goals.
Yet with so many good players playing well, it was Brett Knowles who really stood out for the Dees. In a clear best on ground performance, Knowles ruled the centre from half forward to half back. It was almost as if he was glad Glenn Joyce and Marc Hahnel were not playing and that Peter Caldow had been sent off for a spell, as it allowed him the freedom and the space to take the game on and do as he pleased. Knowles is so hard to match up with his strength, marking ability and intelligent reading of the game.
The Roos started the game well pushing the ball forward and scoring through Sam McDonald. Wade Champion was winning the ruck duals giving Walpeup Underbool first touch at the stoppages. It was in this quarter that Matt Palmer took an absolute screamer of a mark for Walpeup Underbool. Sonny Lindsay was well held for most of the first quarter only scoring his first goal late in the term, then quickly following with another and the Dees were a point down at the first break.
Ouyen United started the second quarter well kicking two quick goals while Walpeup Underbool worked tirelessly peppering the goals for no reward. The margin was growing after a United goal following good work by Lindsey. At least the home team fans had something to cheer about when Matt Palmer took another great mark.
Ouyen United were able to stretch their lead with goals to Lindsey and Leach. Travis Latta was able to kick a long goal after a trademark grab, Luke Nathan was trying hard and United’s Ben Mole continued the high marking of the day with a top grab on the wing. It was a nine goal quarter to the Demons.
With several players missing, it was a good opportunity for Ouyen United to give some of their developing younger players a game and they weren’t let down by youth. Ben Mole started at half back, but when it looked like Matt Palmer could get on top of him, Mole was quickly moved to the wing, he then had a run on the ball and played well for the rest of the match. Joshua Coates could have easily made it into the better players list and Alexander Morrish ended up with three goals for the day.
The Walpeup Underbool side lined up with a tall forward line. Josh Plozza was up forward and Adam O’Callaghan picked him up, Travis Latta was one of few Roos to put in a good game, Latta played forward as did Matt Palmer. Although Kane Munro ended up with two goals, Dean Jardine did a good job on the Walpeup Underbool coach and kept him quiet for most of the day.
This was a disappointing display by the Roos. They were missing Jeremy Rowe who is a great loss for them, but United were without Bradley Vallance and their coach Ryan O’Callaghan was concussed early and did not take part in much of the game.
United have an easy run into the finals. They will be without Peter Caldow next week who will take the one week offered to him after his indiscretion, O’Callaghan should not play, but they will regain Hahnel, Joyce and maybe Vallance for their game against the Cats.
Last Modified on 08/08/2011 09:15