by Jim Gordon
BEULAH V HOPETOUN
Close all day, this game ebbed and flowed with first one side getting the advantage only for the other side to reel them back in. Down by ten points at three quarter time, Beulah finally came away with a memorable win after an emphatic six goal to one final term. In doing so, they might just have upset the plans of those who thought it would be a Devils versus Roos Grand Final this year.
With both sides missing a few key players this week, any advantage that one side had over the other was negated. The scene was set for a great match. Hopetoun so far undefeated and sitting atop the ladder, Beulah back to something like their classy best and playing at home.
The battle for supremacy in the midfield was going to be the key. Whoever won that battle would most likely win the match and this was where Beulah had the advantage. Hopetoun went in light on for ruck experience, with Simon Cook out and Anthony Kelly a late withdrawal. That left Steph Saunders one out as the dominant big man presence in the centre and around the ground and it is an area he controlled for most of the day and ended up being one of Beulah’s best.
This turned out to be a very physical match with not a lot of open play and the final result of the match coming down to a battle of attrition to see which side could outlast the other. In the end it was probably the Blues’ ability to create a goal seemingly out of nothing that got them over the line. Hopetoun had as much forward entry as Beulah, but could not convert when it really counted.
Anthony Baker once again really impressed for the Devils in the midfield and Hopetoun’s defence was lacking in experience, but stood up under some relentless Blues’ pressure. Ben Reid worked hard all day while Liam Price did a great job on David King, although King ended up with four goals. Quentin Willmott was another who never gave up and managed to keep Riley Lehman relatively quiet.
Kain Robins worked hard across half forward for the Devils. He is having a great season and on Saturday he took a lot of strong marks and, like King, he ended up with four goals. Robins’ work rate at ground level is impressive.
The task doesn’t get any easier for Hopetoun as they travel to Underbool this week to take on the undefeated Roos. They will hope to have Bryce Wellington and Tom Pridgeon back for this match-of-the-day encounter. Beulah come up against the Lakers and should be able to continue their upward momentum.
OUYEN UNITED V WALPEUP UNDERBOOL
A huge crowd gathered at Blackburn Park to watch traditional rivals Ouyen United and Walpeup Underbool battle it out in cold conditions with a light breeze to the northern end. This was a big game for both sides. Ouyen United were desperate to record their first win for the season and Walpeup Underbool were just as keen to keep their unbeaten record in tact.
In the end it was the class and talent all over the field that won the match for the Roos. They went in harder, tackled fiercely, their overhead marking was all one grab and they finished off their hard work with precise and accurate use of the ball. Ouyen United on the other hand missed easy marks, they fumbled and were hemmed in and rushed when they tried to break away from an opponent who made them pay for any errors.
Nowhere was this exemplified more than in the work of Roo playmakers Sam MacDonald and David Piasente. It was the quality of MacDonald and Piasente’s work, their intelligence and composure, that distinguished them from the pack. Walpeup Underbool use the talents of these two very well; they give them the time and space to deliver what are quite outstanding skills.
MacDonald’s haul of five goals was indicative of his domination and although he scored one when he was left unattended twenty metres out and marked on his own, they were mainly the result of astute crumbing and running anywhere from half forward to the goal square. Piasente’s third quarter snap from in front of the scoreboard on the boundary line was a gem.
Former Demon Scott Clarke teamed well with the talented Kane Munro in attack. Both players lead well, they were able to find space and ended up with seven goals between them.
Matthew Palmer set up a lot of Walpeup Underbool’s attack. His athleticism and pace make him hard to match up and although new Demon Steven Miles was a good tap ruckman, the Roos did better around the packs through the likes of Palmer, his running midfielders and Chris Lynch when he had a run on the ball in the third term.
Lynch, however, did most of his good work in his usual spot at full back. He held the dangerous Moncur to two goals by playing tight and close, punching with regular monotony and together with Jim Wakefield, the Walpeup Underbool defence was able to repel pretty much anything the Demons could throw at them. They defended with dash showing a fierce desire and precise, attacking rebound football.
Ouyen United’s best chances came in the second quarter when they started to lead to the ball, get in front and make use of spaces out wide. When Joshua Stone limped off with what looked like yet another knee injury for the Roos and Pale Felise and Dom Leach goaled, suddenly the Demons were back within a goal at half time. However, an eight goal to three third term put away any United supporters’ hopes of a win.
The Demons had a few players who tried hard all day. Glenn Joyce is getting back to some of his vintage from of the past two years, Jarred Erlandson was one who could match it with the Roos for talent and skill, Mitchell Taylor made a few valuable contributions, Joshua Langdon and Peter Caldow were good at times, but there was little else.
Ouyen United looked dangerous when they were able to get out in the open and run, but this did not happen anywhere near often enough. They have some good young players who look to have bright futures, they just need to find a bit more consistency in their game. United started the last quarter well booting two quick goals to have a slight hope, but the Roos steadied, they could be heard encouraging and helping each other and they showed a lot of composure to play out the game.
WOOMELANG LASCELLES V SEA LAKE NANDALY TIGERS
Evergreen Col Durie put in a best on ground performance in his side’s 46 point defeat of Woomelang Lascelles. Durie was everywhere gaining possessions and such was his potency up forward, that he ended up as the Tigers’ leading goal scorer with four. The Cats tried hard, they had a good first half and final quarter, but a lacklustre third term cost them dearly.
If Durie was a stand out for Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers, Cat captain Anthony Foott just as brilliant for his side. Foott put in a consistently determined effort, he was hard at the ball and made his possessions count. Joel Donnan had the better of Tiger coach Jarrod Arentz limiting the big Tiger forward to only one goal, and Trent Donnan is having a good season.
Woomelang Lascelles were let down by poor disposal and were not able to always make the most of their opportunities. They are not having a good run with injuries and could be down on personnel when they take on the Demons next week the battle of the cellar dwellers.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers are in the four, they have a bye next week before the Inter League game and then face Ouyen United and Hopetoun in what could be a season defining two weeks.
Last Modified on 13/05/2012 12:23