A FIVE-goal last quarter has helped Woorinen secure a come-from-behind one-point win and deliver Balranald their first loss for the season.
After trailing at half-time by 21 points at Greenham Park, Woorinen kicked seven of the last 10 goals for the match, including four of the last five in the 13.11 (89) to 13.10 (88) victory.
As good as Woorinen were in the final quarter, Balranald only have themselves to blame, having blown their opportunity to ice the match in the third quarter by kicking seven straight behinds with the aid of a three-goal wind.
At the other end, Woorinen kicked two goals into the wind to keep the game alive, with the margin reduced to just 16 points at the final change.
On a difficult day for key forwards, Tiger spearhead Lachlan Gardner’s six goal haul proved decisive, booting three final-quarter majors including the winner inside the final two minutes.
Many individual performances stood out, but Gardner’s ability to compete in the air that gave his team the edge in a frantic final term, when the Roos were overran 10 scoring shots to four.
The only person who could lay claim to having more impact on the ground would be Arnold Kirby, who dominated the ruck in the absence of Balranald’s Jordan Wilkins.
Woorinen dominated the clearances thanks to Kirby’s influence, with Jye Barry, Josh Domaille and Regan Vesty all feeding off their ruckman’s tap work.
Opposed to Kirby for much of the afternoon was Drew Lloyd, who used his spring-heeled leap to compete against his much bigger opponent, finding plenty of the ball around the ground and playing as an extra onballer around the contest.
Balranald had the better of the contest before the main break, moving the ball quick and direct to cause constant problems for the Woorinen defence.
The visitors soon found their range, however, playing their own brand of hard-running football as they looked to move the ball quick and bring it back through the corridor at every opportunity.
Taylor Cameron provided plenty of run and drive off half-back, especially in the second half, while Mitch Uhlhorn provided great support in Woorinen’s defensive half of the ground with his ability to hit targets by foot.
At the other end of the ground, Jack Salau found plenty of the ball and intercepted errant Woorinen errant forward entries, of which there were many in the first half.
The level of skill was at times impressive to watch, particular so considering the ferocity with which both teams attacked the contest and applied pressure on their opposition ball carriers. The match was played at an intensity worthy of a finals bout.
In terms of a full four-quarter performance, Barry was the most dominant midfielder on the ground, with Matthew Neagle, Harrison Soraggi and Ian Fuller finding plenty of the ball for the home team.
Seth Connell was another among the Roos’ better players, while Jydon Neagle and Colin Andrews also showed glimpses of their undoubted talent throughout the match.
The news wasn’t all good for Woorinen, however, with Tim Gammon leaving the field with what appeared to be a shoulder injury and taking no further part in the match.
With the race for the finals already heating up, Woorinen will host Tyntynder this Saturday in a crucial clash for both sides, while Balranald and Tooleybuc-Manangatang will meet in a top-three clash at the Tooleybuc Recreation Reserve.
FINAL SIREN
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final Score |
| BALRANALD | 5.1 | 10.2 | 10.9 | 13.10 | 88 |
| WOORINEN | 3.1 | 6.5 | 8.6 | 13.11 | 89 |
VOTES
3 – Arnold Kirby (Woorinen)
2 – Lachlan Gardner (Woorinen)
1 – Drew Lloyd (Balranald)
