Round 5 match reports by Stephen Marson
Under 19’s
Northcote Park handed Lower Plenty their first loss for the season, as the Cougars came away with a 12-point win.
The away side started the game the better team, as the Bears took a small lead into the quarter time break. The second quarter was a different story however.
A five goal to zero second term saw the Cougars take control of the game. Northcote Park were harder at it and were all over Lower Plenty, as they lead by 14 at half time.
The third quarter was one of missed opportunities for the home side. The Cougars kicked 1.5 for the term, with captain Nik McNiece hitting the post twice within five minutes. Lower Plenty regained the lead with one quarter to go, but it was still anyone’s game.
Northcote Park ran it out stronger in the end, with last quarter goals to Harrison Reid, Daniel Constanzo, Paul Steinicke and Brandon Brown, leading the Cougars to their third win of the season.
Reserves:
Northcote Park was too good for Lower Plenty in an exciting, seesawing game. The wind played a major part in the match, with 18 of the 20 goals kicked in the game all at the same end.
Against the wind, Northcote Park was kept goalless in the opening quarter, but the Bears didn’t take full advantage, as they only bagged two. In the second quarter, it was Lower Plenty who were kept goalless, while the Cougars kicked six unanswered goals to lead by 25 at the half.
It was the same story in the second half, with the wind assisting those kicking to the far end of the ground. Lower Plenty won the third quarter six goals to one, but only lead by eight heading into the final quarter. With the lead so small, Northcote Park were always backing themselves to win this one.
Another one-sided quarter saw the Cougars run out 16-point winners in Justin Chilcott’s 100th game for the club.
Seniors:
The Cougars lead from start to finish in a dominant win against Lower Plenty. Northcote Park began the much better side, but couldn’t inflict scoreboard pressure early. At one stage the home side were 1.6, and ended the quarter 3.7, with only a 13-point lead.
Lower Plenty started the second term strong, but Northcote Park stuck with them. The Cougars seemed to continually get a loose man going forward and they made the Bears pay, slamming on six goals to three in the quarter.
Both sides had their fair share of the ball after half time, with both sides only managing two majors each for the term. Northcote Park still had a comfortable lead with one quarter to go, and it was about to get bigger.
A massive eight goal to zero final term saw Northcote Park inflate the margin to 84 points, and had they kicked straighter, it could have even been more. Koden Colman led the Cougars with four, but the home side had 11 different goal scorers in a fantastic team win.