THE Cohuna Kangas continued on their winning way with a classy 51-point victory over an undermanned Lake Boga combination on Saturday at Cohuna Recreation Reserve.
The young Lake Boga side was able to take the game up to their more fancied opponents around the pack and in contested situations, but they were unable to get reward for effort with their forwards failing to capitalise.
The Kangas, on the other hand, were able to find the big sticks through the dominance of big men Rhys Free and Dylan Johnstone, who finished with seven goals between them in a strong display.
The Magpies went into the contest without renowned goalkicker Angus Monfries, defenders Jacob Murley and Daniel Dzufer, as well as onballer Josh Cruise-Filo, while the Kangas were without the talented Tom Toma, livewire Jack Donat and the charismatic Tyson Findlay.
In perfect conditions the Kangas opened the scoring after some good work by former Jack Betts medallist Joel Helman, who roared out of the centre of the ground and found Jarrod Findlay, who in turn handballed to Johnstone for the first of his three goals.
Helman, Daniel Coates and Daniel Paterson were lively in the first term for the Kangas, picking up plenty of possessions on the big Cohuna oval. The Magpies’ standout contributors were the reliable Matt Filo and Nathaniel Homes-Brown, who continually sent the ball into attack.
The Magpies brought up the two calicos midway through the term when Pat Bryan cleverly spotted up Jarred Taylor in the goal square.
The game was not a great spectacle, but both sides showed physicality in pack situations.
Coates was particularly impressive off half-back and through the midfield as he continually hit his targets by both hand and foot.
Free was kicked the first of his four for the day after some good work by Riley Hird up the ground, and when Paterson snapped truly from 30 metres out, the Kangas held a 12-point lead at the first break.
The Kangas stretched the margin to 30 points early in the second term after two goals to Free and a smart snap from Coates.
The Magpies had just as much of the play, but continually fell down across half-forward. Lake Boga big men Jacob Simpson and Tyle Williams and defenders Matt Taverna, Brady Hogan and Lincoln Frost worked overtime to lift their teammates with some dour defence.
In a smart move by the Pies, Darby Hayes came off the bench and attacked the pack situations with gusto. Hayes capped off his good work with a clever snap goal at the 13-minute mark, giving the Pies a much-needed confidence boost.
A late goal to Johnstone, however, meant the Kangas held a commanding 29-point lead at half-time.
The third term was easily the Magpies’ best. They kicked three goals to the Kangas’ five, seemingly having more system and running the ball with greater conviction.
Youngster Dustin Burns mesmerised his opponents with his pace, while Simpson dominated in the ruck as the Pies grew in confidence. Bryan kicked a lovely 45-metre left-foot goal and Williams goaled from 50 metres to unsettle the Kangas. But the work of Coates, Oscar Cooke, Paterson and Helman thwarted any chance of a miraculous Magpie comeback, with Coates kicking two great goals to snare best-on-ground honours.
The game petered out as a contest in the final term, with players from both sides tiring. Goals to Helman and Free were interspersed by a long bomb from Nathaniel Holmes-Brown.
Lake Boga have improved and have some quick young players who are developing well under the tutorage of Shawn Filo and Monfries. The Kangas, on the other hand, are a force to be reckoned with and the return of some key personnel will set up an interesting finals series.
VOTES
3 Votes Daniel Coates (Cohuna Kangas)
2 Votes Oscar Cooke (Cohuna Kangas)
1 Votes Jacob Simpson (Lake Boga)
MATCH RESULTS
COHUNA KANGAS 3.3 7.6 12.10 14.13.91
LAKE BOGA 1.3 3.5 5.7 6.10.46
GOALS – COHUNA KANGAS – Rhys Free 4, Daniel Coates, Dylan Johnstone 3, Joel Helman 2, Patrick Doyle, Daniel Paterson 1.
LAKE BOGA – Jarrod Taylor 2, Patrick Bryan, Darby Hayes, Tyle Williams, Nathaniel Holmes-Brown 1.
BEST – COHUNA KANGAS – Dylan Johnstone, Daniel Coates, Joel Helman, Jarrod Findlay, Sam McGlone, Oscar Cooke.
LAKE BOGA – Tyle Williams, Matt Taverna, Dustin Burns, Jacob Simpson, Taylor Johnstone, Nathaniel Holmes-Brown.
