Lake Boga were able to record back-to-back wins on Saturday after defeating Tooleybuc-Manangatang 49 points at the Manangatang Recreation Reserve.
Players and spectators had to contend with cold and blustery conditions, with many fans huddled around fire bins dispersed around the famous Manangatang betting ring.
Gareth Grant won the toss for the Saints and whilst the strong breeze tended to blow across the ground the northern end was to prove a good choice in this opening term. The Saints opened up brilliantly with Centre Half Forward Zdenek Hostalek taking several contested marks and was able to push the ball forward, finding youngster Ryan Domaille to open proceedings with a lovely snap on goal.
The Saints were controlling contested situations with Grant, Jack Spinks, Domaille and Danny Main all good contributors. Lake Boga were able to even things up after the talented Angus Monfries found John Harvey for the Magpies first. Boga’s better players in this opening term were Jarrod Taylor who was looking dangerous on the centre wing along with veteran Wes Harrison off half back, ruckman Mathew Crooks and onballer Cam Johnson, who had the ball on a string. Goals to Spinks, Lachy Gleeson and Zdenek meant that the Saints took an eight-point lead in at the quarter time break.
Lake Boga coach Shaun Filo was critical of his players in his address about their lack of pressure on the ball carrier and the need to lift across half forward whilst his counterpart in Damien Lock was happy with his charges endeavor in the opening term, but felt that they would need to go up a level to curtail players like Monfries and Matt Filo.
Lock’s words would ring true as Monfries began to dominate proceedings with two great goals, one of which was a forty-meter running goal hard pressed against the boundary line that brought the Magpies faithful to their feet. Jarrod Taylor also kicked a brilliant snap late in the term from 35 meters out which highlighted the growing confidence of the Magpie players.
Crooks showed his experience in the ruck, blanketing Murray Ogle and Leighton Wilkins with some beautiful taps to enable Filo, Johnson and Harvey to break free on numerous occasions enabling the Magpies to score four goals for the term against the Saints solitary major, which was kicked by Ryan Standen.
The Magpies continued to dominate the midfield battle in the third quarter despite great work from Spinks who worked overtime to keep his team in the contest. A brilliant right foot snap by Monfries from nearly 50 metres out had to be seen to be believed and the margin all of a sudden had blown out to 31 points at the last change.
The Magpies piled on six last quarter goals with Nathanial Holmes-Brown showing his class booting two great goals as did former Birchip player Andrew Clark. Crooks was fast becoming the best player on the ground as he continually hit his onballers on the chest with some of the best ruck work seen by this scribe so far this season.
The Saints fought the game out with Spinks, Grant, Domaille, Hostalek and Main having excellent games and enabling them to hold their heads high after the match.
The Magpies have renewed confidence after a long list of crippling injuries and take on CMFNL powerhouse the Cohuna Kangas next Saturday.
VOTES
3 – Matthew Crooks (Lake Boga)
2 – Angus Monfries (Lake Boga)
1 – Jack Spinks (Tooleybuc-Manangatang)
