Football
3 June, 2024
Blistering second half propels Roos to victory
An eleven-goal to one second half has seen Harrow Balmoral run to a 78-point win over Pimpinio at the Pimpinio Sporting Complex in round eight of the Horsham District Football Netball League.
The Tigers were brilliant early, taking it up to the premiership favourites, with the scoreboard not reflecting the game as the Southern Roos took a 19-point lead into quarter time.
The second quarter was equally as tough, with the Tigers winning the quarter to peg the margin back to 18 points at half time.
Second halves have been the Tigers issue this year, and this one was no different with the Roos coming out firing to kick seven goals to one in the third quarter before adding another four in the last to win 21.12.138 to 8.12.60.
Michael Close kicked a game-high five goals for the Southern Roos with Nick Pekin and Jai Thompson scoring four apiece. Brait Headon was fantastic down back with Will Burbury and Cody Deutscher also among their best players.
For the Tigers, Nick Groves kicked three goals as Adam Westley, Matthew Rosier, Jason Westley and Dylan Bates continue their great seasons.
Southern Roos coach Jai Thompson said they had to fix things up at half time and was proud of how the boys responded.
"We were going a little bit too long down the lines in the first half and our defensive side of the game wasn't responding as Pimpinio was attacking and was able to run and carry and was playing a great game," Thompson said.
"After half time we needed to be faster to get back to defend than what we were, we set up defensively and the boys responded well to be able to do that quick and we ran away with the win.
"Our young guys were excellent and created run for us. Rhys Daffey got forward and kicked a couple of crucial goals and Maddox Blake got up the ground from half back and kicked a goal which was pleasing to see."
Tigers coach Guy Smith said he liked what he saw in the first half.
"We were brilliant in the first half and played good football and was watching with a smile on my face with one of my assistants happy that we were getting everything together," Smith said.
"We had a team plan in place with structures and were playing well, which was pleasing to see.
"Unfortunately after half time we didn't fire a shot and it was disappointing for the fact we were playing well and then came out flat. It is something we need to look at moving forward."