by Jim Gordon
JEPARIT RAINBOW V SEA LAKE NANDALY TIGERS
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers came away 83 point winners against Jeparit Rainbow at Jeparit on Saturday. The game was even up until half time, but from then on it was a procession with the Tigers outscoring the Lakers by nineteen goals to five.
Jarrod Arentz’s 12 goals sees him on top of the MFL goal kicking for the first time this year. Scoring only one goal up until half time, he kicked six in the third term and in the last quarter we saw the ‘Jarrod Arentz’ show in full swing as he slammed on another five goals.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers used the ball well running out of the centre to give Arentz every opportunity to mark in one on one duels or out on his own. It was then that he gave the supporters the chance to see his goal kicking ability, missing for a lot of the season so far.
Arentz had a good battle early with Andrew Watson, but his marking and strong bodywork meant that he soon got on top after half time. The Lakers moved Aaron Beer on to him and in the final term, Tyler Edelsten became his third opponent for the day.
This really was a game of two halves. In the first quarter Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers didn’t make full use of the cross wind that favoured the school end and were only a little more than two goals up at the first break. Both teams turned the ball over a lot and suffered from poor disposal. The Tigers in particular were inaccurate right across the ground and missed set shots from only 20m out. Kicks and handpasses were missing targets through the midfield allowing Jeparit Rainbow to stay in the game after Tigers had most of the play.
In the second quarter Jeparit Rainbow used the breeze better and with good teamwork, and with Sean Bayzand giving them lots of drive around the ground, they were able to close in on the Tigers and go into half time slightly ahead. Matt Elliott was doing well on Ash Clugston who was nevertheless in everything and ended up being the Lakers best on the day. Nathan Cocks was another who was playing well for Jeparit Rainbow on the wing.
It had been a really tight contest in the first half so no one was fully prepared for what happened after half time. The first centre clearance was won by Jeparit Rainbow, but a missed shot on goal allowed the Tiger to work it down to the forward line where Scott Alderton put on a brilliant smother, recovered and handpassed to Troy Ferrier who chipped a short pass to the leading Arentz. His goal snuck the Tigers back in front.
The next clearance saw ruckman Luke Martin tap long from the centre as Andrew Roberts swooped in off the wing to collect and neatly pass to Arentz 30m out and directly in front. This seemed to do it for Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers as the floodgates opened and they piled on nine more goals to Jeparit Rainbow’s two goals for the third quarter. With that, the Tigers’ disposal seemed to improve and they went on to record a very big win.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers got on top in the centre despite Justin Chilver doing well in the ruck for Jeparit Rainbow. The Lakers’ fortunes weren’t helped when Ben Marra, who had been doing some good work through the middle, was yellow carded in this term.
Jeparit Rainbow very disappointing in the second half. Only Ash Clugston, Bayzand, Chilver, Marra and Cocks played four solid quarters. Youngster Tom Clugston also did some good work. There were too many players who didn’t contribute in the dismal second half and the Lakers could have done with coach Luke Werner and Adam Schumann both of whom were missing due to injury.
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On a brighter note for the Lakers, veteran Dean Schumann played his first senior game since 2010, having had a knee reconstruction in 2011.
HOPETOUN V OUYEN UNITED
Ouyen United stunned finals aspirants Hopetoun with a courageous 20 point win at Hopetoun in Saturday. The Devils led by 40 points at half time and at three quarter time they still held a comfortable 26 point lead and looked to have the measure of the Demons. As it turned out Ouyen United had other ideas.
This memorable come from behind victory by the Demons is one that could set up the rest of their season. They have climbed off the bottom of the ladder and have a winnable game at home against the Lakers next week.
The Devils looked to have the game well and truly won with a first half of football that saw them in almost complete control. Luke Carr was on top in the centre, Anthony Baker and Quentin Willmott were marking well and Liam Price was proving a stumbling block. Yet the real difference between the two sides looked like being the dominant key forwards in Kain Robins and Bryce Wellington who were looking to be unassailably on top.
It wasn’t so much that Ouyen United did anything markedly different after the main break, it was more that Hopetoun stopped running and contesting, allowing the Demons far too much freedom across the midfield and around the half forward line. John Jackson, Glenn Joyce and Peter Caldow starting to get a lot of the ball and the Demons spent most of the second half playing the game in their half of the ground.
The Demons were gallant in the first half, but it looked like they were going to be outclassed by the Devils. The United defence was under pressure right from the start and they had no answer to the height and strength of the Hopetoun forward line.
It was after half time that Ouyen United grabbed the initiative, they upped the tempo and showed a level of desperation that has been seen in patches during the season, but this time they maintained it for a protracted period. They were then rewarded on the scoreboard with a 12 goals to three second half.
The Demons got their drive after half time through the midfield where Joyce, Jackson and Caldow starting to win a lot of the ball and use it with long penetrating kicks forward. In Jarred Erlandson, they had a strong marking target prepared to bullock his way through the centre corridor thus keeping the ball in the United forward line for long periods of time.
Alexander Morrish was another to do well and when he goaled from a mark and 50m penalty half way through the third term suddenly the Demons were within 20 points of Hopetoun. Morrish had been playing well up until this point, but from then on he got right on top and scored three more goals for the game. Morrish is fast, he can take a mark and could have finished with five or six gaols for the day if things had gone his way in the first half .
Early on in the game Hopetoun played to their strengths and were not only able to keep Ouyen United at bay, they were also able to score goals themselves with their two pronged attack. Kain Robins and Bryce Wellington held sway up forward and they were too big and too strong for what looked like an undermanned Demon defence. Even as late as 20 minutes into the third term when Kain Robins scored one of his seven goals for the day, the Hopetoun forwards still looked like they would be the difference between the two sides.
To their credit, the Ouyen United backline stuck to their task and seemed to gain confidence as their forwards and midfielders started to kick goals after half time. Dom Leach was moved from attack to defence and was more comfortable back there, John Jackson provided a way out of the backline and by keeping the Devils to only three goals after half time, Ouyen United’s persistence paid off.
In what is turning out to be a season of highs and lows, Hopetoun need to quickly get some consistency into their season or they could miss out once again. They were disappointing against the Cats two weeks ago, easily accounted for the Tigers and after this humiliating loss, they have a bye to lick their wounds before fronting up to the Lakers in Round 11. For United, they need to keep winning to make the four, the season rests in their hands.
BEULAH V WOOMELANG LASCELLES
Woomelang Lascelles came back to earth with a thud as Beulah disposed of them by a comfortable 39 points at Beulah. The damage was done in the third term when the Blues kicked four goals whilst holding the Cats to only one behind.
It was a solid all over the ground performance from Beulah with David King kicking three goals and Bradley Shannon dangerous up forward also with three. Thomas Hallam is having a very good season to be best of Beulah in another outstanding game for season. Rory Shannon, Sam Martin and Scott Smith also played well.
For Woomelang Lascelles, Aaron Lonergan was their best, Trent Donnan played well as did Chris Lee. Things don’t get any easier for the Cats as they come up against the undefeated Walpeup Underbool next week whilst Beulah will have a battle on their hands at Sea Lake.
Last Modified on 17/06/2012 14:49