Wy Yung bounced back to the winners list quickly in the East Gippsland Football Netball League after last week’s glitch against Stratford, annihilating Paynesville by 98 points in round six action at Tigerland.
The Tigers rammed home nine goals to one in the first half and didn’t take the foot of the accelerator, recording their second 90 plus point victory for the season.
Bayden Ashwood continued his outstanding recent form, kicking five goals for the Tigers, while the lively Jack Betts chipped in with four.
Goal kickers were few and far between for the Gulls, but it was good to see Harry Gibbs return with a major after busting his jaw in a pre season match.
Harry Kellow, Ashwood, half back Joel Waters, Jock Overend, wingmen Luke Elia and Aaron Hanuera ran wild for the Tigers, continually spotting up team mates in a better position.
Brayden Radford, Charles Mein, Nathan Dean, Caleb Crofts, Oscar Pike and the versatile Alex McLaren all tried hard for the Gulls but they had few winners on the day.
Orbost Snowy Rovers have climbed back into the top four after a dramatic come-from-behind victory against Boisdale Briagolong at the cabbage patch.
The win has seen the Blues leapfrog Stratford and Boisdale Briagolong on the ladder and move into third place.
In an epic contest where momentum changed throughout the afternoon, it took to the very last kick of the day for the Blues to bank the four valuable points.
The sides traded goals early, as both sides played a physical brand around the contest, Ash Dignan throwing his weight around for the Blues, while Daniel Johnson and Kelvin Porter were looking to do similar for the Blues.
The Bombers led by six points at the first change, but Orbost was well and truly in contest, its half backline working well, Max Welsh (two goals) using the small ground to advantage with his long kicks into the forward line.
Boisdale Briagolong was trying to use the spread, however the small ground was curtailing their ability to go wide and run.
Ryan Marshall was doing good curtailing the influence of Wes Russell in the ruck, as co captain, Hamish Nettleton (four) provided a solid vocal point in attack.
The Bombers held a handy 12-point advantage at half time, largely due to their efficiency of their ball use and run around the ground.
The Blues’ fortunes began to turn in the third term as they started to win more stoppages, which made life easier for the big forwards, Orbost outscoring the Bombers by three goals to two, moving within six points with 30 minutes to play.
Last quarter was a goal for goal affair, with both teams playing hard and desperate to bank the vital four points.
A brain fade by Johnson cost his team a player and Boisdale Briagolong was forced to play one short for the final 10 minutes.
The Bombers worked their way back in front courtesy of an infringement by the water carrier, as the Blues continued to use Welsh’s reliable long left foot to launch attacks.
In the dying moments, with the Bombers looking likely to hang on, Boisdale captain, Jim Reeves, who had kicked three goals, headed for the safety of the boundary and was pinged for deliberate.
The Blues moved the ball on quickly, finding Gus Rogers, 35 metres from goal, who kicked the ball as the siren blew, the ball floated over the goal line to produce an epic five-point victory, much to the delight of their faithful fans.
Best players for the Blues were Rogers, Thomas Smith, Cody Robertson, Jarrah Nettleton, Henry Vine and the emerging William Walker.
Smith and Vine have been welcome additions to the Blues line up in recent weeks, both fitting in and finding form quickly after injury interrupted starts to the season
The Bombers were well served by Nicholas Marshall, Jackson Glenane, Porter, Thomas Jolly, Billy Marshall and the hard nosed Paddy Mack.
Lucknow remain unbeaten after a hard fought away win over a determined Stratford.
After a busy first term when seven goals were kicked, the game turned into a dour struggle with only six added between the two sides for the match.
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From page 40
The Magpies outscored the Swans in each of the first three quarters and by three quarter time had a 24 advantage, which was insurmountable in a low scoring affair.
The Swans opened up some scoring opportunities in the final term, but the damage was done, eventually going down by 17 points.
Two goal contributions from Dallas Smith and high profile forward John Gooch were significant in a low scoring match, with defenders Andrew Nelson, Sam Park and Jesse Glassborow joined in the best by hard running midfielder, Nick George and ruckman/forward Jake Richards.
Better players for the Swans were Ryan Thatcher, Harry Langford, Jack Rietschel, Brodey Reid, Justin Slattery and Ryan Auld.
Lakes Entrance has scored its first win of the season, moving up to sixth place with a 24-point win over Lindenow on the road.
Marquee Seagull recruit, Tom Hudson was dominant up forward kicking six goals, despite losing his radar at set shots in the second half.
Hudson currently sits on top of the competition with 20 goals from five games.
Coach Ben Rotheram was inspirational, finishing with three goals, while proving vital at clutch centre clearances Lindenow got the jump on the seagulls early kicking four goals to one in the opening term, with Peter Harrison (four goals) causing plenty of headaches up forward for the Lakes Entrance backmen.
Rotheram layed down the law to players at the first change, they immediately responded kicking four early second term majors, with Hudson showing his class and exquisite skill with the football in hand.
Just when it looked like the Seagulls would take take control of the game, the Cats lifted, both sides chasing its first win for the campaign.
Both sides missed shots at goal late in the term, as the sides went to the main break at a deadlock.
The third term belonged to Lakes Entrance who dominated inside 50s, kicking four goals to one, as Liam Carroll, Alex Jerkins, Angus McKenzie and Matt Duggan gained ascendancy in the midfield over the fearlessly competitive Brett Waddell and Justin Gould.
Cats giant, Alexander Stanton was the leading big man on the ground but the Seagulls were finding away to shark his taps.
The Seagulls had an opportunity to put the game out of the Cats reach but they missed getable chances towards the end of the quarter with Hudson the culprit on two occasions, both his goals in the second half were clever snaps.
Rotheram goaled late with class from 35 metres to make the margin 20 points at the last change.
The last quarter was intense and the football hotly contest, the Cats got within 14 points when Harrison goaled with time on beckoning.
He was spending more time around the middle as the Lindenow tried every avenue to get the ball forward.
Rotheram put himself in for the next centre bounce, sharking the ball and sending it forward, late goals to Matt Pearce and the unstoppable Hudson seeing the Seagulls home, with the excitement on the faces of players and spectators painting a picture of relief and happiness.
Best players for the Seagulls were Hudson, Carroll, Jerkins, McKenzie, Duggan and Brendan Bassett, while the Cats were well served by Stanton, Waddell, James Hood, Noah Rutherford, Harrison and Gould.
NETBALL
Stratford caused an upset, winning its third match for the season, impacting Lucknow’s first defeat for the season by an impressive 11 goals.
The Magpies are still on top the league ladder on percentage from Wy Yung and Boisdale Briagolong.
The Tigers outclassed Paynesville by 49 goals, with the Bombers were 10 goal winners over a determined Orbost, who occupy fourth place on the ladder.
Lindenow broke through for it first win of the season, 11 goal victors over Lakes Entrance.
The win not enough to get the Cats off the bottom of the ladder.
THIS WEEK
Round seven sees the match of round between Wy Yung and Lucknow at Bullumwaal Road.
The Tigers will be hoping to create enough scoreboard pressure to cause the Magpies first defeat of the season.
That will be hard task, as the Lucknow back six have showed constantly in the opening rounds how miserly they can be.
Lakes Entrance will go in full of confidence against a Stratford side which will be keen to bounce back with a win and reclaim its top four position.
Orbost Snowy Rovers should be too good for Lindenow at home, as should Boisdale Briagolong for Paynesville at AJ Freeman Reserve.
