PENSHURST has started its Mininera and District Football League season in perfect conditions with a huge victory against Caramut at Penshurst Recreation Reserve on Saturday, 28.30 (198) to 2.5 (17).
Given the build up to the whole season for the Bombers with the club celebrating its 150th anniversary, it was no surprise that the team came out in the first quarter and put the game to bed with 11 goals from 17 shots at goal for the term.
Caramut had no answer to the attacking onslaught, as the hosts continually moved the ball into its forward line with ease.
The pattern continued in the second quarter, but the kicking was astray, as only one major was added to the Bombers’ score, along with 11 behinds.
The Swans failed to post a major in the first half having scored three behinds, as their hosts enjoyed most of the possession with 29 shots on goal.
The visitors finally found the middle of the big sticks in the third term, but Penshurst rediscovered its radar and added a further nine goals for the quarter, while the final term saw the Swans add a second goal, as Penshurst finished full of running with a further seven majors to record a 181-point percentage-boosting victory.
While happy with the result, Penshurst coach, Jayden Watson, noted areas that his team needed to improve going forward.
“I was very pleased with our team mentality mindset and our ability to share the ball and keep the ball off the line with our movement going forward,” he said.
“Improving on our goal kicking accuracy will be a starting point, but also I’ll be looking to improve our transition into defence when opposition gain control of the ball.”
Glenthompson-Dunkeld d Great Western
GLENTHOMPSON-DUNKELD made a winning start to its campaign, as the Rams made the road trip to Stawell’s Central Park to battle Great Western and claimed the points with a 17.11 (113) to 9.14 (68) victory.
As a Lions home game, the match would have normally been played at Great Western Recreation Reserve, but a revamp of that venue has the side playing all its home games in Stawell this season.
The two teams provided an even first quarter where defence was the order of the day with each kicking only a single goal for the term with the visitors taking one-point margin into the break.
The second term saw the Rams break free of the Lions grasp with four goals to lead by 30 points at the long break.
The third quarter again saw the sides trade goals with two apiece, but the final term saw the visitors gain the ascendance with two goals to one to end the game 45 points in front.
Glenthompson-Dunkeld Coach, Tom Waters, was pleased with his team’s first hit out of the season, especially as the Lions were a much bigger team.
“They were bigger bodies as we expected, some seasoned senior players and some genuine talls, which create some difficult match-ups, and they stayed in the contest all day, and despite a significant margin we felt like they were right there and we had to keep working hard for four quarters,” Waters said.
“I was really satisfied with our work rate around the contest, and our willingness to gut run and break down our opponent.
“It was just a balanced performance across all lines, looks like there’s some guys who have really gone to another level from what I’ve seen so far, and it just meant there was no weak links.”
Jack Burton, Ben Potter, George Knobloch, Peter Brooker, Brodie Reynolds, and Benjamin Wallis were the pick of the visitor’s players, while Ashley Leggety, Riley Thomas, Jackson Thomas, Alexander Bonner, Joshua Reid, and Charlie Waites were the Lions’ best.
Wickliffe-Lake Bolac d Hawkesdale-Macarthur
HAWKESDALE-MACARTHUR failed to run out the match with Wickliffe-Lake Bolac, as the Magpies swooped in during the final term to come from seven points down at three-quarter time to overrun the home side by seven points, 9.2 (56) to 7.7 (49) at Macarthur Recreation Reserve.
The Eagles put together a solid first term to open a 19-point lead at the first break, only to have the Magpies come right back in the second term to draw level at the main break.
In a tight third quarter, both teams failed to inflict a telling blow on the scoreboard and the home side enjoyed a seven-point lead with one term to play.
The visitors refused to be bowed though, and they roared back into the contest with a three goals to none final quarter to claim an important first up victory.
Hawkesdale-Macarthur coach, Xavier McCartney, was happy with the team’s even spread of contributors.
“I was pleased with the whole team as we were right into the whole game, even been a couple of goals up at one stage through the second quarter, and I thought the majority of the 21 contributed in some way throughout the game,” McCartney said.
Other results
LISMORE-DERRINALLUM accounted for Moyston-Willaura, 18.20 (128) to 3.6 (24); Ararat Eagles 15.18 (108) defeated SMW Rovers 8.6 (54), and Tatyoon had its premiership flag unfurling spoiled after Woorndoo-Mortlake ran out winners, 8.13 (61) to 5.9 (39).
