Sport
12 June, 2023
Lakers claim successive wins
TAYLORS Lake made it two wins on the trot in round eight of the Horsham District Football Netball League with a 13-point win over Laharum at Cameron Oval. It was tough day in windy conditions with Laharum kicking the only goal in the first quarter...
TAYLORS Lake made it two wins on the trot in round eight of the Horsham District Football Netball League with a 13-point win over Laharum at Cameron Oval.
It was tough day in windy conditions with Laharum kicking the only goal in the first quarter. Taylors Lake held a six-point lead at half time and Laharum again used the breeze to be up by two points at three quarter time. Three goals from James Magner in the last and great ball movement from Jack Hellier led the Lakers win 9.13.67 to 7.12.54.
Lakers coach Kyle Pinto was thrilled to walk away with the win.
“It was again another four-quarter effort. We have struggled in that aspect this year and the last two weeks has been pleasing,” Pinto said.
“We made a little challenge to win our last three games and have won two so the buzz around the club is very positive,” he added.
James Magner kicked a game high five goals and Jack Hellier came down from Melbourne and was one of the best on ground as an inside midfielder. Hellier has captained Collingwood’s VFL team and his class showed, particularly in the last quarter when the game was on the line.
Billy Finnigan again impressed down back and continued his consistent form this year with his run and carry and Angus Atchison in the midfield was really important for the Lakers.
The Lakers were missing Justin Beugelaar and it was Trae Martin that stood up and filled the void playing well down back.
Pinto concluded that the Bye has come at a perfect time for the team.
“We mapped out to play hard the three weeks to the bye knowing the matches were winnable and now we will recoup. We won’t be training much and will be taking a physical and mental break ready to go again next week with a few tough matches coming up.”
For the Demons, Shannon Argall played in the ruck instead of deep forward. He wanted to exert his influence on the game and did. He returned to his form from a few years ago clunking marks around the ground.
Brett Ervin was terrific down back taking marks and spoiling well. Astrin Morrison kicked a team high two goals up forward and Riley Lenehan had another solid game.
Despite the loss Laharum coach Hamish Roberts is pleased with the improvement his young troops are showing.
“From inside of the club we feel we are on the right track and building. The guys are starting to understand their roles within the team and the plan for the team,” Roberts said.
“The improvement is there and I am bullish for our prospects leading into the back half of the season and as long as the improvement continues, I think we will snag a win or two,” he concluded.
Edenhope Apsley had a 34-point win over Pimpinio at the Pimpinio Sporting Complex. Led by Cleve Hughes and Ben McIntyre with three goals a-piece the Saints came out 11.10.76 to 6.6.42 winners.
Tigers coach Clint Burdett was upbeat and spoke about the game.
“It was a five-goal breeze going to one end and we didn’t do enough damage in the second quarter and couldn’t quite nullify them. We were undermanned and they were pretty good. We showed good glimpses but it was a very tough day,” Burdett said.
For the Tigers, Dylan Thomas was great through the midfield breaking through packs and using the ball well. Dylan Arnott had his first senior game back from a broken leg he suffered last year and used the football well off the half back flank as well as Charlie Gardner who controlled the football well. Reece McNally again was solid in the ruck.
Burdett concluded the Bye has come at the right time.
“Injuries and the flu have wiped us out a bit over the last two weeks. We will have a refresher this week and a bit of recovery ready to go for the next matches.”
Sitting third on the ladder heading into week eight with five wins it was Noradjuha Quantong’s turn to face the rampaging Harrow Balmoral at the Quantong Recreation Reserve.
The Southern Roo again showed why they are clear premiership favourites with a 118-point win – 24.12.156 to 5.8.38.
James Staude kicked a game high seven goals with Nick Pekin and Simon Close again among the goal scorers with four and three goals respectively.
For the Bombers, Tory Chapple again led the way with two goals. Wade Francis and Jason Kerr stepped up across half back getting a lot of the ball and creating a lot of run and carry out of the backline. Jack Vague had another great game in the ruck and Zach Kelly had a big role on Simon Close – doing a great job on him late in the game.
Bombers coach Damian Cameron described the day as very tough.
“We started on the back foot with half a dozen players out and come quarter time, we had no bench suffering four injuries in that first quarter,” Cameron said.
“Despite that, we competed well in the first quarter to only be two goals down. Harrow are hard to stop when they get it on the outside and never took their foot off the pedal.”
“In the last quarter we managed three goals and I thought the boys held their heads high and ran out the game well,” Cameron added.
When asked if they can take anything out of the game and know what they need to work on next time to beat them, Cameron said.
“They are such a really good team. They have key players like Simon and Michael Close and Nick Pekin who are really good. The only way you can beat them is to nullify those key players and try and stop them when they get moving.”
The bye comes at a great time for the Bombers with Cameron hopeful they can get a few players back after the break.
“Hopefully after a break some of the boys that got injuries on Saturday might be okay. We may get a couple players back too.”
“We will keep pushing forward and have gone hard this week on the track. We will ease off next week and make sure everyone is fresh for a couple hard matches coming up,” Cameron concluded.
Jeparit Rainbow move two games clear in second place with a brilliant 46-point win over Rupanyup at the Rupanyup Recreation Reserve.
The Storm was brutal from the outset keeping the reigning premiers to one goal in the first half before running out 13.7.85 to 5.9.39 winners. Nick Yarran kicked a game high three goals with Thomas Schumann and Thomas Clarke also instrumental on the day.
For the Panthers, Christopher Schapper and Blake Turner kicked two goals a-piece and Keiran Sait and Mitchell Gleeson were again solid.
Kalkee’s woes keep coming with a 12-point loss to the Stawell Swifts at North Park. The Swifts had 10 different goal kickers in the 10.14.74 to 8.14.62 win.
Jack Cann and Angus Murray continue to have great seasons for the Swifts and Simon Hobbs and Jasper Gunn again were amongst it for the Kees.
Natimuk secured their second win of the season with a comprehensive 62-point win over Kaniva Leeor at the Kaniva Recreation Reserve.
Nathan Koenig and Jesse Wilkinson both kicked three goals for the Rams with Jordan Smith and coach Jarred Combe instrumental on the day. Patrick Munn kicked a team high two goals for Kaniva.