Sport
12 June, 2023
Unbeaten Rats continue to lead way
AFTER round eight of the Wimmera Football Netball League Ararat remain unbeaten with a 44-point win over the Horsham Saints at Coughlin Park. Led by Tom Mills and Tom Williamson with three goals a-piece, the Rats won 15.10.100 to 8.8.56. William...
AFTER round eight of the Wimmera Football Netball League Ararat remain unbeaten with a 44-point win over the Horsham Saints at Coughlin Park.
Led by Tom Mills and Tom Williamson with three goals a-piece, the Rats won 15.10.100 to 8.8.56. William Taylor kicked two goals for the Saints.
Despite the margin, Saints coach Ben Knott has taken a lot of positives out the game.
“We walked away pretty happy considering who we were up against,” Knott said.
“We showed patches where we were really competitive and put it to them but come the last quarter, they flexed their muscles and showed how good they were running all over top of us,” he added.
With Ararat being the benchmark team and Premiership Favourites when asked if they have learnt anything they can do better next time to match them, Knott pointed out skills as the most important thing.
“Our young group needs to do the little things better. The times we were out and had the ball, a little skill error hurt us like missed kicks and dropped marks. We also put a bit of pressure on but weren’t sticking the tackles so it was those basic fundamentals that need to improve,” Knott explained.
Assistant coaches Sam Clyne and Jacob O’Beirne were again the best players for the Saints but Knott was not only pleased by them but a couple of other players as well.
“Daniel Ervin is putting together a consistent year. It is the first time he as been consistently in the season team and playing full back is a hard job as you are playing on the best forwards each week and I think he is doing a really good job,” Knott said.
“Will Tickner as a forward/wingman hit the scoreboard and has been there abouts most weeks. Jackson Davidson has been spending more time in the middle after having an outstanding season down back and he is providing us with run and carry and has been excellent with ball in hand,” Knott concluded.
With the Bye this week the Saints will continue to ramp things up and work on fitness ready to tackle the second half the season.
It wasn’t good news for the Reserves, going down 10.5.65 to 11.16.82. The Juniors, however, continue to shine with the Under 17’s having a 12.2.74 to two point win and the Under 14’s a 10.6.66 to one goal win.
The Horsham Demons couldn’t continue their winning run with a 16-point loss to Stawell at Central Park. The Demons were never in the game in the first three quarters trailing by 44 points at half time. They fought back, however, in the last quarter with five goals to one to lose 11.14.80 to 8.16.64.
Sam Williams kicked a game high four goals for the Warriors whilst Jordon Motton continues to put in consistent performances with another three-goal effort for the Demons.
Demons coach Tyler Blake spoke about the game.
“I thought it was a tale of two halves. We played poorly in the first half and made a few adjustments and slowly came back into the game.”
“The boys listened and we chased them home but we were two or three goals too far away. It was positive the way we fought back and adjusted and ran out the game. Our fitness has improved and it showed in the last quarter,” Blake said.
Asked what the message was, Blake concluded.
“It was to be a bit more defensive. We were letting them use it too easy out of the stoppages. We paid more attention and gave them more respect and it was the catalyst for it all.”
It was the youngsters that continue to show the way for the Demons with 19-year old Brody Pope in amongst it again as well as 17-year old Hudson Hair. 16-year-old Zak Smith got plenty of ball on the wing and used it well.
The Demons will approach the bye business as usual. After a hard session last night, they will have a rest physically and mentally and blow the cobwebs out Tuesday.
The reserves lost by a goal, 8.8.56 to 7.8.50. The Juniors again had a solid week with the Under 17’s winning 11.7.73 to one point and the Under 14’s, 8.13.61 to one point.
At the Murtoa Recreation Reserve, a four-goal performance from Jae McGrath led Minyip Murtoa to a 27-point win – 7.6.48 to 10.15.75.
The Southern Mallee Giants had a very comfortable 76-point win over the Warrack Eagles at Hopetoun Recreation Reserve – 19.14.128 to 8.4.52. Josh Webster led the way with a game high four goals with Zach Robins, Coleman Schache and Sam Weddell each kicking three for the home side.