QUAMBATOOK 8.12.60 defeated WANDELLA 7.6.48
Quambatook locked away a second semi-final date with Nullawil following a hard-fought 12-point win over Wandella on Saturday.
Wandella jumped out to a two-goal lead by quarter time after having first use of the windy conditions – only for the Saints to take control with three unanswered goals in the second term and open up a 10-point lead at the main break.
With the game in the balance, both teams took it up a notch in the third term, with Quambatook’s defence holding strong against the breeze.
Wandella could only manage three goals for the quarter – with the Saints also registering two of their own – enabling Quambatook to take a five-point lead into the last term.
From there the home side were never headed – and despite some inaccuracy in front of goal, went on to record an 8.12.60 to 7.6.48 victory.
The win was a pleasing result for Quambatook joint coach Tim Free, with the win reversing the result from earlier this season.
“It was certainly a good result and one that was pretty important in the scheme of things, given they defeated us earlier this season, so it was nice to get a good win under our belt,” Free said.
“We had a few players missing from the week previous, which meant that we needed to find different ways to win the game and play a slightly modified brand to achieve that.
“Our intensity around the contest was quite strong throughout the game and we potentially missed a few opportunities late to create a bit of distance on the scoreboard – it was certainly a hotly contested game and Wandella challenged us at different stages, but we were able to respond when we needed to.”
Free was particularly impressed with the way his defence held firm when their opposition was kicking with the wind in both the first and third quarters – highlighting his team’s ability to grind out a result.
“I thought the fact we were only a couple of goals down at quarter time wasn’t a bad position to find ourselves in – it was at least a two to three goal breeze at that stage and I thought we contained them fairly well early and then were able to get some scoreboard ascendency by half time,” Free said.
“The intensity of the game went up a level after that and both sides had their opportunities throughout the third quarter, but by and large we dominated large portions of the last term and other than a few missed opportunities, controlled most of the play throughout the last 30 minutes of the game.
“Our back six were amazing, they did a tremendous job to keep Wandella to seven goals, and that was led by Ash Davis, who I thought was the best player on the ground.
“Jarred Schlitz was also a key pillar of our defence and Tobie Cameron throughout the midfield is really starting to string together some quality performances.
“It was a really pleasing four quarter effort and it was very much a defensive game with a lot of intensity through the middle of the ground.”
Along with Davis, Schlitz and Cameron, the Saints were well served by Dylan Pascoe, Luke Jongebloed and Jonty Taylor. Wandella’s better players were Russell Rich, Jack PayKane Timmins, Declan Hogg, Jayden Crellin and defender Tim Robinson.
HAY 15.12.102 lost to MACORNA 18.13.121
Macorna had to keep their faint finals hopes alive the hard way, coming from behind to record a 19-point win over a determined Hay.
The Lions jumped the visitors in the first quarter, opening up a 20-point lead by the first change with a six-goal to three term. With their season on the line, the Tigers fought back after the first change to pull the margin back to just four points by the main break.
With their tails up, Macorna went on with the job in the third, outscoring Hay by four goals to take a 20-point lead into three quarter time – before holding firm over the last 30 minutes to record a 18.13.121 to 15.12.102.
Macorna’s forward line proved hard to stop for the undermanned Hay defence, with coach Jaydon Stiles leading the way with six goals, while Troy Parker, Josh Walters and Shaun Haffenden also impacted the scoreboard with three majors each.
Simon Bunyan led the way for the home side up forward with six goals of his own, with support from Liam Whitbourne (four goals), Daniel Stewart (three) and Cooper Scott (two).
Toby Whinfield put in perhaps his best performance in the seniors for Macorna, with Chris Wilson, Josh Stiles, Lachlan Ritchie, Harley Somerville and Haffenden also among Macorna’s better players. For Hay, it was Kenneth Jubb, Nathan Wilson, Dean Aylett, Tim Zambon, Kenneth Hargreaves and Bunyan who were named in their best.
MURRABIT 11.7.73 defeated ULTIMA 8.9.57
Murrabit recorded win number three for season 2022, defeating Ultima by 16-points at Murrabit on Saturday.
In a game that see-sawed all day with neither side able to get on top of the other at any real stage, it was the Blues who outlasted Ultima with a four goal to two final quarter to eventually come away with an 11.7.73 to 8.9.57 victory.
Murrabit started the better, with the home side scoring three goals to one in the first quarter, before the Roos tightened the game up after the first change through the midfield, turning the match into a contested battle.
Daniel Hovey proved to be the difference between the two sides, as both he and Jamie Nicholas engaged in a shoot out at both ends of the ground. Hovey booted a game high five goals for the home side, with Ben Gillingham and Tom Hetherington the other multiple goal scorers for the Blues. At the other end of the ground, it was Nicholas who was causing headaches, with the swingman kicking four goals of his own to keep the Roos in the contest.
Michael Grant was fantastic once again for Murrabit in defence, with Dustin Blake, Nathan Morrow, George Goodman and Marc O’Neill – in his first game back for month – among Murrabit’s better players.
Ultima were well served by their coach Kyle Symons, Nicholas, Lachlan Edwards, Will Nelson and midfielders Darcy Farrell and Jacob Schaper.
MOULAMEIN 8.6.54 lost to NULLAWIL 18.20.128
Despite being pushed in the first quarter, the ladder leading Nullawil managed to run away with a 74-point win over Moulamein.
The Swans took it right up to the premiership favourites early, with the Maroons holding just a three-point lead at the first change.
Nullawil started to flex their muscles in the second, but were still unable to completely shake the determined Swans until late in the third term, with a four goal to one quarter giving Nullawil a 45-point lead at three quarter time.
With the game now on their terms, the Maroons extended their lead over the final 30 minutes to record an 18.20.128 to 8.6.54 win.
Mitch Farmer had a day to remember, kicking nine goals in a dominant display up forward to take his season’s tally to 73 goals, while at the other end Beau Duggan-Hulands proved to be a thorn in the visitor’s side with a five-goal effort.
Jordan Humphreys again dominated through the middle for Nullawil, along with Jonathan Casey, Patrick Kelly and Matt Quigley, while Cameron Streeter also played well.
Moulamein were well served by Rodney Reeves and Daniel Aarsman in the midfield and Jack Jones, Anthony Daw, William Gibson and Luke Hull.
