Sport
19 May, 2023
Saints respond in style
HORSHAM Saints returned to Wimmera Football League’s winners list with a brilliant eight-point win over Minyip Murtoa at Coughlin Park on Saturday. It was a tight first quarter with both teams kicking three goals with the Saints edging away by 10...
HORSHAM Saints returned to Wimmera Football League’s winners list with a brilliant eight-point win over Minyip Murtoa at Coughlin Park on Saturday.
It was a tight first quarter with both teams kicking three goals with the Saints edging away by 10 points at half time. A seven-goal to four third quarter saw the Saints with a 29 point lead at three quarter time.
The Burras came charging home in the last kicking four goals to one but the young Saints held on to take their fourth win of the season, 15.6.96 to 13.10.88.
Saints Coach Ben Knott described the game as a back and forth battle.
“It was pretty tough throughout. They had us in the contest a bit more but we got them on the spread a bit better. They had our strength, we had ours,” Knott said.
“They were playing a good brand of footy – fast moving. We know they are a top side. We came out and got a run on. That third quarter was the best we have played all year,” he added.
Knott was pleased with how the players handled themselves in the last quarter when the pressure was on.
“They came back hard and the worry was we may have died out but to their credit the boys held on,” Knott explained.
The Saints midfield and smaller players were the standouts on the day led by forward Connor O’Beirne kicking 5 goals and midfielder Mitch Martin with 4 of his own. Knott was particularly impressed by the way they played.
“As a small forward, O’Beirne kicking five goals was magnificent. He puts heaps of pressure on, lays tackles and gets front of centre a lot and he was rewarded.”
“Mitch Martin as an on baller kicking four goals was brilliant. He is a very good footballer and continues to grow.”
“William Taylor has been injured for a couple of weeks. Playing on ball/forward he is starting to play well and is turning into a good footballer,” Knott said.
The Saints will face a bye next week and Knott concluded with how they will equip themselves.
“To get a win like we did we want to keep a run on, but it is what it is. We will put a couple of running programs together to keep the fitness up and run in the legs. We don’t want to drop off. We want to keep this going.”
The Saints also had a solid win the reserves by 15 points – 9.7.61 to 6.10.46. The Under 17’s held the Burra goalless in a perfect game kicking 12 goals without a behind. The under 14’s also held their opponents goalless in a 10.6.64 win.
Horsham Demons got their first points of the season at Davis Park drawing with Nhill, 10.8.68 a-piece. The Demons were ahead all match and took a four-goal lead into the last quarter. Nhill fought back and the Demons snuck away with a draw.
Demons coach Tyler Blake spoke about the game whilst noting it was disappointing they couldn’t hold on to win.
“It was back and forth non-stop. Both teams were exhausted in the end. The play opened up and it was anyone’s game. We were lucky to get away with a draw but to their credit they played well in the last, lifted their pressure and brought it to us,” Blake said.
When asked of if youth played a part in the last quarter, Blake added,
“I think it was a combination of fitness and youth. We didn’t react to their momentum swing. They piled on the pressure and kept it on us and we couldn’t turn the tables when they applied that pressure. We rested on the lead and didn’t play the way we wanted – the way we played all game.”
Ben Lakin, Hudson Hair, Benjamin Janetzki, Brody Pope were all solid again but it was youngster’s Zak Smith and Lachlan Hobbs that Blake was impressed with.
“Hobbs and Smith are two under 17 boys that are coming through the ranks. They played their role and played solid games. Hobbs was great on the wing in his first game and Smith playing his second game as a forward was also great. Hudson Hair is also coming into a bit and is playing good football,” Blake concluded.
It was good news, however, for the Demons reserves running out 58 point winners – 16.10.106 to 7.6.48. The juniors also notched wins with the Under 17’s victorious 12.12.84 to 2.0.12 and the Under 14’s holding Nhill goalless in a 10.4.64 to 0 win.
In the other match of the round, the Southern Mallee Giants suffered their first loss of the season falling short by 16 points to Dimboola at the Dimboola Recreation Reserve.
It was a tight match with the Giants leading at the first two breaks before trailing by two points at three quarter time.
A five goal to three final quarter saw the Roos winning 14.9.93 to 11.11.77. Michael Graham kicked a game high 4 goals for the Roos and for the Giants Ben and Josh Webster kicked three a-piece. Matt Rosier and Sam Godden were excellent for the home team whilst Billy Lloyd, Rupert Sangster and Jackson Fisher all played well for the Giants.