Lucknow and Boisdale Briagolong have engaged in their first tussle for the season, and if its any indication we are set for an exciting season in the East Gippsland Football Netball League.
The game wasn’t decided until after the siren with Bomber Matthew Wilkinson awarded a free kick in a ruck contest against Deon Grace, giving him an opportunity to draw or win the match from 35 metres out.
Unfortunately Wilkinson lost his footing as he kicked and the shot failed to make the distance, the Magpies hanging onto win a close game.
Both sides went in with players on the sidelines, the Bombers’ woes not getting any better during the match with key goalkicker Jesse Bedggood tearing his hamstring.
The Bombers led by 21 at half time, maintaining the margin through to three quarter time, but the Magpies weren’t done, playing with their new found 2024 belief, kicking five goals to two in the final term to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Jake Richards finished with three goals for the winners, who were well serviced by the high flying defender Jessie Pescod, Andrew Nelson, Glen Perkins, skipper Jesse Glassborow, Zack Smith and Grace.
Boisdale Briagolong’s best were the resurgent Callan Egan, Billy Marshall, Wilkinson, skipper Jim Reeves, Nicholas Marshall and Thomas Bradshaw.
Paynesville overran Lakes Entrance in the final quarter to record its first win of the season at AJ Freeman Reserve in Paynesville.
Only one point separated the sides at three quarter time, Paynesville holding the narrow advantage, both sides desperate to bank four points.
The match was a scrappy affair, a true battle of the backlines with the Seagulls looking the better side for much of the first three quarters.
Unfortunately for the Seagulls, who held a slight ascendancy on the scoreboard for a majority of the afternoon, the Gulls dominated the last quarter kicking five goals to two, running out 19-point winners.
The Gulls were lethal at the centre clearances in the final term after breaking even for most of the day, seizing the opportunity when the game was there to be won.
Troy Brown kicked three goals for Paynesville, while Beau Haslam, Jirrah Morgan and Jordan Farquhar all contributed a couple.
Better players for the Gulls were exciting youngster Caleb Crofts, former Ballan player Matthew Golding, half backs Alex McLaren and Nathan Dean, Jirrah Morgan and Mitchell Willmott, who is stringing together some good games now injury free.
The Seagulls were gallant, but struggled to find an effective avenues to goal with coach, Ben Rotheram blanketed.
Tom Hudson was an exception, kicking four goals and again showing what a classy finisher he is if you can get the ball into his hands.
Matt Pearce kicked two and impressed in the ruck on his return from Gippsland Power duty.
Other good players for the Seagulls were skipper Angus McKenzie, the emerging George Ioakim, Jordan Cullen and Oscar Brazzale, who dominated across half back and maybe another forward option in the coming weeks.
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From page 52
Stratford defeated Lindenow by 20 points, but it certainly wasn’t one-way the traffic.
The Cats led by 15 points at half time, but five unanswered third terms goals from the Swans was enough to see them gain the advantage and hold on for victory.
Alex Morcom (four goals), William Webb (three goals), Justin Slattery, Andrew Cunningham and Jack Bacon led the way for the Swans, while Ashley Gould, Todd Alexander, Brett Waddell, Peter Harrison, Darren Allen (three goals) and Robert Maisey were all impressive for the improving Cats.
NETBALL
Lucknow continued its unbeaten season, holding off fourth-placed Boisdale Briagolong by three goals in a high class match.
Lakes Entrance broke through for its first win, dominating Paynesville by 38 goals.
Poppy Carroll, Charlotte Stephenson and Mieka Pitt were in great touch for the Seagulls, while Alice Shaw and Paige Strickland battled hard for the Gulls.
Stratford sits in third place on the table after a hard fought victory over Lindenow, the Swans surging late to win by five goals.
THIS WEEK
Only two matches this week, with the most interest being the Orbost Snowy Rovers and Wy Yung fixture, while Boisdale Briagolong is expected to be a little too slick for Lakes Entrance at the Lakeside Oval.
Honourable losers in round one to current boom side, Lucknow, the Blues outclassed Lakes Entrance in round two.
The Tigers have easily negotiated Lakes Entrance and Lindenow, both sides who aren’t is expected to be around when the silverware is decided.
Wy Yung have turned over plenty of players in the off season but still look strong enough to be a serious contender come finals time.
Orbost is similarly placed to last year, with both sides looking to minimise injuries and unavailabilities as depth could become an issue when they do battle with Lucknow, Boisdale Briagolong and possibly Stratford.
The Blues will be keen to avenge the three defeats by the Tigers in the home and away rounds last year, but they will gain some confidence in the fact that they narrowed the losing margin every time, failing by just three goals in the final encounter in round 16.
Both sides are set to learn a lot about themselves and their opponent on Saturday, with the rest of the competition looking on with interest.
