THE Tooleybuc-Manangatang Saints consolidated their top-five standing on the CMNFL ladder with a tough 11-point win over Swan Hill at the Showgrounds on Saturday.
A committed four-quarter team effort displayed by the Saints will give them endless confidence as they strive toward a probable finals campaign. Both teams traded goals in an, as expected, frenetic and willing first quarter.
Beasy was dominating the tap-outs, handing the Swans midfielders' first bite at the cherry with constant regularity, only to have the ball rebounded from the Saints' backline with equal monotony - the Swans simply could not penetrate a defence capably led by Kane Mcalpine and assisted by Saints midfielders pushing back hard.
This was a consistent theme for the game throughout, as the Swans struggled to find a solution up forward, despite often winning the midfield clearances and around the ground stoppages, providing forwards with ample opportunities to score.
Brian Burke was rock solid with his straightforward approach in the back pocket for the Swans, and with Tom Dullard and Gerarrd Kelly on top in the centre, it appeared a third straight win for Swan Hill was imminent at the main interval, although no side held a scoreboard advantage with scores level at 44 points apiece.
Jack Spinks, quality rover Jack O'Rourke and Brad Morris continued their great form for the 2012 season, and along with a committed backline, the Saints stepped up their hardness at the ball in numbers and wore down the Swans in the third quarter.
Beasy stood out as the dominant big man on the ground, yet the Swans lacked height up forward, exacerbated with the Saints' full back nullifying his opponent.
Last Modified on 06/06/2012 09:35