HELPED by Lake Boga’s loss to the Eagles, Balranald’s finals dream is alive for another week, the Roos returning to the winners list with a 31-point win over Nyah-Nyah West United.
The home side held a slender five-point lead after a competitive first half, before putting their foot down after the main break with nine goals to four to run away comfortable winners.
While the margin may have been five goals, the story could have been very different if the Demons had made the most of their opportunites in front of goal, with the visitors’ inaccuracy in the last 30 minutes ruining any chance of a late comeback.
The other element of their game that hurt NNW United was their forward-half disposal, with the Demons regularly turning the ball over going inside the forward 50 and failing to give their key forwards a chance to impact the contest.
Balranald had no such problems, with Ryan Middlebrook, Jydon Neagle, Jack Salau and Colin Andrews all using the ball well and regularly bringing key forwards such as Ben Fuller into the game.
Fuller finished with a game-high five goals and again proved the difference, with Dean Harrop unable to restrict his influence up forward. Cal Dobbin needed to be moved to Fuller – with some success – late in the game. By comparison, NNW United’s leading forward target Brent Arho had a day to forget, blanketed by Balranald key defender Jarryd Stead and kicking just two goals for the afternoon.
Middlebrook was dominant all day for the Roos – first off half-back, before changing on to the ball in the second half and combining well with the ever-impressive Neagle.
Harrison Soraggi was tasked with restricting United’s Brady Davidson, the Demon midfielder failing to have his usual impact on the match. Jack Salau, off half-back, was also impressive.
Balranald joint coach Ben Mahon was more than pleased with his side’s effort after half-time, which has kept their finals hopes alive for another week.
“You couldn’t fault us in the second half,” Mahon said. “Our pressure lifted and our run and linkup handball game went to another level. We kicked the first four or five goals of the third quarter pretty quick, which helped get the game on our terms.
“Our pressure went up a notch in the third quarter and we got our running game going and everyone was working hard for each other, although in fairness, (NNW United) were down a couple of soldiers, which wouldn’t have helped their cause in the second half.”
NNW United onballers Ethan Saville, Dylan McLachlan and Nic Threadgold were among the Demons’ better players, along with Jarrod Skinner and defenders Adrian Knee and Dobbin.
The equation is simple for Balranald now – beat Tyntynder this Saturday and keep their season alive, lose and it’s all over.
The only caveat to that is they still need Lake Boga to trip up against Tooleybuc-Manangatang, with the Magpies still two points clear inside the top five.
VOTES
3 Votes Ryan Middlebrook (Balranald)
2 Votes Jydon Neagle (Balranald)
1 Vote Ethan Saville (NNW United)
MATCH RESULTS
BALRANALD 1.5 6.5 11.8 15.10.100
NNW UNITED 2.4 5.7 6.9 9.15.69
GOALS – BALRANALD – Ben Fuller 5, Colin Andrews, Seth Connell, Jydon Neagle, Tom Salau 2, Drew Lloyd, Braden Price 1.
NNW UNITED – Brent Arho, Charlie Boulton 2, Zachary Caccaviello, Brady Davidson, Alex Erlandson, Blake Larkings, Ethan Saville 1.
BEST – BALRANALD – Ryan Middlebrook, Jydon Neagle, Jack Salau, Drew Lloyd, Colin Andrews, Tom Salau.
NNW UNITED – Cal Dobbin, Ethan Saville, Jarrod Skinner, Adrian Knee, Dylan Mclachlan, Nic Threadgold.
