DARTMOOR assumed top spot on the South West District Football Netball League ladder on Saturday after a titanic struggle against Coleraine saw the home side claim a two-goal victory, 13.7 (85) to 11.7 (73).
It was a game of ebbs and flows, as the lead swapped between the top two teams of the competition, as Dartmoor came out firing in the first term by kicking four goals to one to set up a three-goal lead at the first break.
The break came at the right time for the Coleraine players, as coach, Ryan McClure, was able to regroup his charges and the Maroons responded to his words of wisdom in the second quarter.
It appeared that Coleraine had been stung into action, as the Maroons returned to the ground and swept the ball forward at every opportunity, kicking truly to add nine second-term majors to only three in reply from the Giants, as the visitors grabbed a three-goal lead at the main break.
Upon resumption, Dartmoor’s midfield took control of the contest, as Mark Cowland won the ruck contests and Lachie Polaski and Justin Eales fed on the amount of ball he provided to feed Jordan Murphy and Christian Howlett quality ball.
Murphy was instrumental in turning the flow of the match back toward the home side, kicking five goals in a best on ground performance.
By three quarter time, Dartmoor had re-taken the lead by 14 points after the Giants posted five goals to nil to shut the Maroons down.
The final term was an arm wrestle as both teams recorded only a single goal apiece with the backlines of each team refusing to allow the opposition to gain an advantage.
The match was billed as being as a clash of the titans and that is what it proved to be, with the supporters of both clubs looking forward to a possible rematch in the Grand Final.
Murphy, Cowland, Eales, Jarrod O’Brien, Polaski and Jake Casey were brilliant for the Giants but in reality, many more players could have been added to the list.
Jack Wright, Adam Ward, Harry Armstrong, Liam Kaine, Will Slattery and Todd Hatherell were just as good for the Maroons.
Dartmoor has the tougher run home with games against Westerns, Cavendish and Tyrendarra respectively in the last three rounds, while Coleraine will face Heywood, Westerns and Heathmere to round out its home and away season.
Feasibly Coleraine will retake the ladder lead even if both teams win all three remaining games as no doubt the Maroons will increase its percentage far more than Dartmoor will over the last three rounds.
Tyrendarra d. Heywood
HEYWOOD posted a complete form reversal at home against Tyrendarra on Saturday as the Lions took to Heywood Recreation Reserve to push Tyrendarra all the way before going down, 11.2 (68) to 11.10 (76).
The combatants came into the match in vastly different form as Heywood spent the last week licking its wounds after a 155-point thrashing at the hands of cavendish while Tyrendarra was on a high after defeating the then ladder leaders Coleraine by 17 points.
The teams traded blows in the first quarter with neither gaining the upper hand as only a single goal was kicked with the visitors claiming a six-point lead at the siren.
After regrouping at the break, the Lions returned to the ground and took the game away from their visitors as they swept the ball down field to feed the forward line repeatedly as the home side banged through eight goals for the term to only one in reply.
The half time siren blew with Heywood in front by 35 points and seemingly in control, as Tyrendarra struggled to get the ball past the centre line.
The oranges must have been extra special in the visitors’ sheds, as they returned to the field for the third term renewed and looking to play the usual brand of football that the Darras are known for.
Jordi Withers began to gain an advantage on the forward line, kicking truly and a three goals to two third quarter saw the margin reduced to 27 points.
With such a lead, the Lions could have been forgiven for thinking that they had the game in hand, but the Darras refused to lay down as the goals rained down for the visitors.
Withers took his tally for the day to seven majors and the lead was whittled down, as Tyrendarra took the lead late in the last quarter and proceeded to register a great come from behind victory.
Ben Atwell, Jordi Withers, Sam Anson, Josh Atwell, Joshua Brough and Lachlan Kirk were magnificent for the visitors while Aaron Johnstone, Jarod Donovan, Brad Martin, Troy Lovett, Samual Walsh Bannam and Jed Barclay did all they could to register victory for the home side.
The victory means that Tyrendarra has sewn up at least fourth place for the finals and has the chance now to climb higher depending on results from other games while Heywood is back in a fight for fifth with Branxholme-Wallacedale after appearing to stave off a Saints challenge for its finals place.
Cavendish d. Heathmere
HEATHMERE was unable to reproduce the winning form it showed in the last round, as Cavendish descended on Heathmere Recreation Reserve on Saturday to defeat the home side, 15.12 (102) to 5.4 (34).
Although the home side failed to record a second victory, it did stifle the form team of the competition with spoiling tactics that stopped the visitors flow causing the Bloods to find different avenues to goal than normal.
Cavendish came into the match with stunning form under its belt after posting seven victories in succession (one against each team in the competition) and the visitors were looking to improve even more against one of the lower ranked teams.
The Meres didn’t allow the Bloods to settle into their normal flowing brand of football as the home side threw their bodies in each contest with vigour.
In a tightly contested first half, Heathmere trailed by only 22 points at the long break, and was well in the game as the backline refused to allow Cavendish to gain the upper hand.
Upon resumption in the third term the visitors were able to regain their flowing play and the goals started to mount as they kicked five for the term to only two from the Meres.
The final quarter was tight again as the Heathmere players fought hard but couldn’t register a major for the term while the Bloods posted another four to round out a tough win.
Samuel Gibson with four goals for the game was adjudged as best on ground with Brad Thomas, Christopher Quinn, Timothy Huf, Harrison Rees and Peter Coghlan all playing their roles, while Kyle Anson was the Meres best again as Jaiden Spicer, Luke Driscoll, Cooper Anson, Cody Driscoll and Jamie West gave their all for the home side.
Branxholme-Wallacedale d. Westerns
BRANXHOLME-WALLACEDALE has kept its finals chances alive with an incredible performance at Branxholme Recreation Reserve on Saturday as the Saints kept Westerns scoreless while posting 39.20 (254).
Sam Lambevski kicked a bag of 11 goals to be best on ground but Kieran Barker with eights goals was also on target as the home side kept the finals race alive.
The match was effectively over in the first term as the Saints posted 12 majors from 19 shots on goal and carried that kicking form into the next two terms, as they registered 10 goals in the second quarter and followed that up with another 10 in the third term.
To the Westerns’ players credit, they fought out the game to the end despite being thoroughly thrashed and the home side couldn’t register a fourth double digit goal-scoring quarter as they put a further seven on the board.
Samuel Lambevski, Thomas Scott, Ashley Kelly, Jack Goodman, Sam Rintoule and Jay Hogan had field days in racking up countless possessions while James Corbett, Samuel Atchison, Jett Sandeman, Stephen O’Brien and Sydney Ray did all they could for the visitors.
While this was the worst defeat of the season for the Roos no doubt the club will rebound, and it is to be congratulated for getting both seniors and reserves teams on the paddock this round after the reserves had forfeited seven games to date.
The task doesn’t get any easier for the Roos as they end the season with games against Dartmoor, Coleraine and Cavendish.
Branxholme-Wallacedale is within touching distance of a finals appearance and must defeat either Cavendish or Tyrendarra in the next two rounds to set up a virtual elimination final with Heywood in round 16.
