by Jim Gordon
HOPETOUN V JEPARIT RAINBOW
The Lakers had been playing good football up until this bad loss to the Hopetoun Devils. The result is that Jeparit Rainbow could slip out of the four as they have the bye and then front the rampant Beulah away from home. Not only did Hopetoun do themselves a favour, but they have inadvertently helped out the Tigers who sit outside the four, but only by a game and they have a much healthier percentage than the two sides just above them.
Hopetoun were very impressive in this game particularly as they finished off the match so strongly running out eight goal winners. They won because they put defensive pressure on the Lakers causing Jeparit Rainbow to turn the ball over too easily. Poor kicking hurt the Lakers, not only in front of goal, but around the ground where they just could not hit targets.
Hopetoun’s defence was very solid and their on ballers, led by Clinton Burdett and Zack Taggett, got their running game back after being a little down against United last week. Ruckman Daniel Young was another Devil in good form. Young had a great battle with Laker big man Justin Chilver who did a lot for Jeparit Rainbow, but in the end it was Young who was regularly able to give his on ballers first use of the ball at the clearances.
This was a disappointing loss for a really flat Jeparit Rainbow side that had been playing well for the last few weeks. In arguably their poorest game for the year, the Lakers just couldn’t get into the game and with Hopetoun’s tall forwards dominating, Jeparit Rainbow was in real trouble. The eight goals scored by Bryce Wellington was effectively the difference between the two teams and it was apparent that the Lakers missed regular fullback Adam Roll.
Jayden Werner was Jeparit Rainbow’s best player playing an outstanding game in the backline. Youngster Tyler Edelsten in the backline was another who tried hard all day against much stronger and more experienced opposition. Corey Waldron played well, Ash Clugston and Heath Clugston were contributors without playing at their best and Ben Zanker was the only forward to stand out, kicking four goals.
Maybe the Lakers will benefit from the bye this week and it will give them the chance to get back some of their injured players. They will need to regroup quickly if they are to be competitive against the Blues the week after.
OUYEN UNITED V BEULAH
In a great display of power packed football, the Beulah Blues ran over a dogged Ouyen United to record a ten point victory and maintain their unbeaten record.
The first half was an enthralling battle with neither side prepared to relent in its desire to win and keep possession of a football that went up and down the ground with heart stopping regularity.
The game was delicately poised at half time, although you sensed that Beulah were slightly the better team and deserved the two goal lead they took into the break.
Some United players were not used to the pressure being applied to them. It was unusual to see the likes of Glenn Joyce not being able to shrug off a tackle, or Robbie Miller not being able to hold a mark due to the Beulah backs punching hard at the ball. Kim Hallam did the job on Miller for two and a half quarters until Miller was eventually moved up the ground and did a bit of damage from a wing.
Tim Hill did well in a great battle with Sonny Lindsay, although the Demon forward was amongst Ouyen‘s best with a five goal haul. The Beulah backline made good position, played close to their man, but were then often able to mark well themselves. They combined with teammates in the backline to regularly run the ball out of defence.
The game was blown wide open in the first half of the third quarter. The Blues were all class as they scored five rapid fire goals to put the game effectively beyond the reach of the Demons. The first goal for the quarter came from Jake Percy after a pass from coach Scott Smith. Adam Carter kicked the next two, the second was a wonderful snap over his left shoulder that never deviated. Scott Smith himself chimed in for one and the onslaught was completed by a kick from a long way out by Jonathon Dixon. The Blues were clean out of the centre with big man Stephen Saunders strong in the ruck and Gary Hallam dominant; Beulah’s field kicking was long and straight and when they handballed they often looked for players on the defensive side of the pack in order to break away, rather than bomb the ball forward.
As expected, Ouyen United did come back, and it was the old stagers of the team that lead the way. After the period of Beulah domination, Wayne Grace goaled, followed by goals to Lindsay and Caldow. Grace was Ouyen United’s best on the day, Adam O’Callaghan played hard and close, Jarrod Munro never stopped trying and Glenn Joyce ran all day and was instrumental in the United comeback.
The final quarter saw the Demons maintain its push, and the fact that they got to within ten points of the Blues at the end is a testament to their fitness, intensity and self belief. The finals remain a tantalising prospect in the not too distant future, Beulah has beaten the Demons twice now, but only by a combined tally of eleven points.
SEA LAKE NANDALY TIGERS V WALPEUP UNDERBOOL
This win, and a loss to Jeparit Rainbow, has put the Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers right back in the mix for a place in the final four. For the Roos the season just goes from bad to worse with this dismal effort after last week’s solid win against the bottom placed Cats.
The first half of the match was tight; Walpeup Underbool was showing a lot of resistance even though they were having to battle to keep in touch with Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers on the scoreboard. It was a different matter after half time as the Tigers completely dominated scoring ten goals to Walpeup Underbool’s two to finally run out winners by 83 points and but for some wasted opportunities in front of goal, the margin could have been greater.
The Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers’ hierarchy would have been very happy with the team’s effort this week after several bad losses in recent weeks. The Tigers won every quarter and were never really troubled by a Roos side that nevertheless was missing some of their key playmakers.
Of the Roo players who have stepped up, Paul Brown did well and Ben Fenna was one of their better performers. The ball was in the Walpeup Underbool backline for most of the day so it is no surprise that other Roos to do well were stalwart defenders Chris Lynch and Jim Wakefield.
The third quarter saw the Tigers blow this game apart. They already led by 28 points at the long break, but then they banged on six goals seven behinds to no score in the third quarter and it was game over.
Tiger Darcy Ryan was clearly best on ground and helped himself to five goals in the process. Forward Pocket dynamo Ryan Dowdy also kicked five, Captain Liam Barry and Vice Captain Mark Roberts won plenty of the ball and Matt Elliott was excellent whether playing at half forward or half back.
With a good percentage and a reasonable run home, the destiny of the Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers is in their own hands. A win next week against the Cats, followed by the bye sees them line up against Ouyen United the week after and a chance to get back amongst the top drawer sides. For Walpeup Underbool, the end of the season cannot come quickly enough.
Last Modified on 18/07/2010 12:40