by Jim Gordon
WOOMELANG LASCELLES V JEPARIT RAINBOW
In an important win for the club, Woomelang Lascelles not only gained the four points against Jeparit Rainbow, they also got themselves off the bottom of the ladder and resurrected their season that has come alive over the last two weeks. An impressive draw against Hopetoun two weeks ago and now a solid win over Jeparit Rainbow suddenly has the Cats eyeing off a spot in the lower half of the four.
Ahead at every break, the bigger bodied Woomelang Lascelles players were too strong and too talented for a hard working Laker side that had to rely on too few players to keep up with the pace.
Injuries to key Laker players meant that by the final term, there was no one left on the bench. Already missing James Phillip through injury before the game even got underway, they lost coach Luke Werner to a torn hamstring early in the second quarter and Adam Schumann suffered an arm injury at the beginning of the final term. By this time the Lakers were nearly seven goals down and could do little to stop the Cats outscoring them five goals to one in the final quarter.
The two Lonergans did the damage up forward for Woomelang Lascelles. Jayden kicking three goals and Aaron, the Cats best player, kicked four. With Chris Smith kicking another four goals and the brilliant Anthony Foote two, Woomelang Lascelles had just too much fire power up forward.
It is turning into a long, tough year for Jeparit Rainbow who have had a couple of good wins at home – one in the opening round against Woomelang Lascelles – but they can’t seem to do any good away from their home territory.
With James Phillip out, the Jeparit Rainbow forward line looked undersized and they struggled to get their hands on the ball or to keep it in their forward line for any length of time. The bigger Woomelang Lascelles players were just tall too strong and were able to out mark or punch the ball clear of a Laker forward line that lacked tall targets.
Heath Clugston had to play at full forward at times for Jeparit Rainbow and ended up kicking two goals. He also won lots of the ball around the ground. Jake Parry tried hard up forward and on the ball and Aaron Beer was another who never gave up. Beer played all over the ground in an effort to try and plug up holes in the Lakers’ side.
It was not all doom and gloom for the Lakers. They were only two goals off the pace at half time. In a great twenty minutes of running football, Jeparit Rainbow players came from nearly six goals down to trail by only two after Simon Clugston kicked a long goal after the siren.
It proved to be the beginning of the end for the Lakers as after half time their structure seemed to fall apart and very soon Woomelang Lascelles got right back on top again and from then on Jeparit Rainbow struggled to move the ball forward with any system at all.
Another plus for the Lakers was the fact that the four Clugston brothers played together for the first time this year when youngest brother Tom joined his three brothers. One of the other Clugstons, Ashley, was clearly their best player running hard all over the ground and taking some sensational marks. Andrew Watson continued with his good form in the backline.
In a good test of their form, Woomelang Lascelles travel to Beulah next week to take on the Blues smarting from a big loss at Underbool. Jeparit Rainbow will appreciate being back on their home soil as they front the Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers who also lost, this time to the Devils.
HOPETOUN V SEA LAKE NANDALY TIGERS
Getting back to some of their early season form, Hopetoun had the measure of Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers for the second time this season and the Devils are now back in the hunt for a place in the top two.
Hopetoun were fortunate to gain the services of local junior stars Coleman Schache and Jackson Fisher from North Ballarat duties. Schache and Fisher were pivotal in providing the run and drive that propelled the Devils to what was in the end, a comfortable win by a side that just had too many winners on the day and many good team oriented players.
Leigh Hutchinson was another who was included in the Devils line up and he helped strengthen up a backline that would have been very aware of the potential damage the Tigers forward could inflict after Jarrod Arentz’s nine goal haul the week before against Ouyen United.
Hopetoun did not have it all their own way early. In fact the match was still up for grabs at three quarter time with the Devils in front by only eight points. Nathan Wight was proving a stumbling block for Hopetoun, Dan McEwan was on top and Arentz was a presence up forward even though Simon Cook’s return was timely and influential against the dangerous Arentz. Cook was competing well and keeping in the big forward in check.
Something that was said to the Devils at the three quarter time break must have stirred them up because they just exploded in the last term to forge further ahead and run away with the game. Maybe it was putting Lucas Puckle to full forward as he was able to snare four last quarter goals to really seal the deal.
Irishman Anthony Kelly was a late withdrawal for Hopetoun and that meant rucking duties had to be shared between Riley Cook, Bryce Wellington, Jake Roberts and Quentin Willmott. Together they worked hard, they were able to rotate and keep fresh so that by the time the final term came, they were able to give the Devils as much first use of the ball as possible.
Deek Roberts was superb all over the ground all day providing a lot of drive out of the centre and also working hard in the forward line.
This was a timely win for the Hopetoun as the ladder was starting to tighten up a bit at the top. It goes to show that the Devils are at their best when they are free and can get their running game going. This is when they seem to be able to run their opponent off their feet.
WALPEUP UNDERBOOL V BEULAH
Walpeup Underbool celebrated their 30 Year reunion with an emphatic 64 point win over a determined, but outclassed Beulah at Underbool on Saturday.
This was another commanding performance from the Roos who are taking all before them this season and sit undefeated on top of the ladder.
The game began at a frantic pace. Beulah jumped out of the blocks to take an early lead; it looked like they were switched on and were not going to give up without a fight. Steph Saunders was playing well in the ruck, Thomas Hallam played well all day and Lucas Smith was giving the Blues drive.
Walpeup Underbool fought back well later in the term as they started to settle into the game. Kane Munro was looking dangerous and when Joab Mead followed a strong high mark with a great goal, suddenly it was the Roos who took the lead to end a good quarter of football.
Two early goals at the start of the second term and Walpeup Underbool had opened up a handy break. Josh Charles was playing well in the ruck and his strong marking in the back half repelled several Beulah forward thrusts.
The Roos were starting to look dangerous with their attack on the football and their strong running across the ground. Josh Stone was playing his best game for the year in and under the packs and partly through his dominance, Walpeup Underbool was able to break clear and lead at half time after a six goal to one second quarter.
Beulah had to lift to give themselves a chance and they came out after half time desperate to get back into the game. This meant that the third term was an even quarter with both sides giving their all. Ryan Anderson was on top of his duel with Scott Smith and he was another who kept on running, applying pressure and causing Beulah to turn the ball over.
This pressure continued in the final quarter as the game opened up allowing Walpeup Underbool to really get on top mainly thorough their skilled on ballers and Travis Latta who showed that he still has plenty to give with a great game across half back. Dallas Willsmore returned home from the TAC Cup to play his best game of senior football so far for the Roos.
This was a fine win by Walpeup Underbool confirming their early season rating as premiership favourites. They have the bye next week giving them time to further strengthen their side with one or two players who missed this game through injury. Beulah come up against a fast improving Woomelang Lascelles at home.
Last Modified on 11/06/2012 21:59