PIES STILL PERFECT
By Louie Bulzomi
Lake Cullulleraine provided a beauty of a contest, with Werrimull prevailing by 15 points, 20.8 (128) to 17.11 (113), to remain undefeated.
Even without Ryan Tierney, Ash Bates and Shannon Anthony, Werrimull had the better of a tight first quarter to lead by 13. Michael Harradine’s impressive season continued, keeping Sonny Lindsey to one goal and allowing Paul Jenkins and Dan Smith to rebound fluently.
Clint Burdett, Darren Brown and Tony Albert were everywhere as the Hawks turned the tables to lead by 8. Both sides were winning truckloads of uncontested footy, and the resultant quick ball movement ensured plenty of scoring opportunities.
Mark Duscher added 3 more goals to his tally in the third as the Magpies regained the ascendancy. Despite Burdett’s continual drive and Shaun McInerney’s hard work, the Hawks coughed up the lead and went into three-quarter time 14 points down.
Although the legs were weary, both sides went to another level in the last, kicking 6 apiece. But Werrimull remained ahead at the finish. The Duscher boys were great – Mark kicked 9, and Brad gathered possession after possession – while Lindsey finished with 8.
Bambill defeated a gallant Cardross by 20 points, 19.10 (124) to 16.8 (104), at Mildura Senior College. Many familiars returned – Luke Hubble, Steve Sellens and Ben Casey for the Saints, and Guy Mottershead and the Dalla Santas (Cody and Brady) for the Lions.
Hubble and Sellens impacted immediately as Bambill got a 20-point jump. Luke Stanbrook and Andrew Gibson were marking everything up forward, but some inaccuracies kept Cardross alive.
The Lions fought back in the second, but they too had the yips and fell 10 points further back. Jake Zoch broke even with Ryan McClelland, while Mitch Bateman and Scott Richards were impressive.
Although Ben Ransome was sent off, Cardross sparked up in the third kicking 7.0. But Bambill responded with 8.2 to lead by 38. Simon Kelly, Jason Hunt and Casey headlined the Saints’ attacking advances to cancel out the hard work of Andrew Ferguson, Michael Laird and Richards.
It was Umpire Appreciation Round, but the umps had their hands full in the last. Cardross gave it one last shot kicking 5.1, but Bambill’s 2.1 was enough to remain in front at the final siren. Gibson and Ferguson both kicked 4, while Jarratt Farley and Bateman were the best for their respective sides.
Euston’s unbeaten home record this season continued with a 48-point win over Nangiloc, 15.14 (104) to 8.8 (56).
With Brad Johnson (shoulder) and Sam Lee (finger) joining Tristan Stephens on the sidelines, the Demons found it tough early on as the Bombers kicked 5 unanswered goals courtesy of the rebound drive from Anthony McMahon, Peter Marciano and Cleon Hannah.
Nangiloc got going in the second, but a 3.5 return only pegged the margin back to 22. Busier players were Luke Stone, Cameron Peters and Jamie Riordan.
Never content with losing a quarter at home, Euston came out firing in the third kicking 4.6, as Josh Healy and the Denaros – Joseph and Bryce – dominated along with Phil Connell. However, the game was not over, as Nangiloc kicked 4.1 to stay in touch.
Sadly, again, Nangiloc fell away in the final quarter, as Euston kicked 4.3 to 1.0 to win comfortably. Ian Mennie finished with 5 and Toby Quirk-Meeks 2 for the Bombers, while Riordan and Peters kicked 2 apiece for the Demons.
Next week, Gol Gol host Bambill, Cardross and Euston collide at Henshilwood Oval, and Werrimull travel to face Nangiloc.
Last Modified on 07/05/2012 06:15