HAWKESDALE-MACARTHUR has claimed its biggest scalp of the Mininera and District Football League season after defeating reigning premier, Tatyoon, by 10 points at Macarthur Recreation Reserve on Saturday, 11.13 (79) to 10.9 (69).
The saying goes that you cannot win a game in the first quarter, but you can go a long way to losing it, and so it proved true for the Hawks, as they failed to get going in that first period with only four shots on goal compared to the Eagles’ eight.
The second quarter had tough footy on display with each team adding a single goal, as the defence of both teams stood tall to repel all attacking thrusts, but the home side held on to a 17-point lead at the long break.
The Eagles extended their lead in the third term to 25 points when the siren sounded, before Tatyoon came roaring back in the last quarter.
The visitors finally found their mojo, as they kicked straight to pile on six goals, but Hawkesdale-Macarthur held firm to claim the victory.
Eagles coach, Xavier McCartney said the team lifted for the round five clash against the Hawks.
“I think we played well as a team, and especially the want to win in which was a big game after both teams were on eight points heading into the match,” he said.
“We just want too keep winning games of footy.
“We know the comp is tight, so need to keep winning, we can’t just go into games thinking it’s going to happen.”
The Eagles got through the clash without any new injuries, and should welcome back some personnel over the coming weeks, strengthening the team’s push towards finals.
The Eagles were also buoyed by the celebration for reserves skipper. Adrian Bos, who ran out for his 300th game.
Penshurst d SMW Rovers
PENSHURST was ruthless against SMW Rovers at Mininera Recreation Reserve, as the Bombers smashed the Bulldogs by 234 points, 38.26 (254) to 3.2 (20).
Ther home side couldn’t have foreseen what was going to happen, as the visitors kicked eight goals in the first quarter, only to go and add bigger goal returns in each quarter, as the Bombers unleashed their running game.
The lead had blown out to 107 points by the main break, and the Bulldogs were then kept scoreless for the final two quarters, as the Penshurst team finished strong to claim a comfortable win.
Josh Rentsch filled his boots with 12 goals for the Bombers and was named best-on-ground, with Elijah Satala, Ryan Smith, Cooper Rentsch, Sam Weston, and Nathan Rentsch giving the star forward great support.
Wickliffe-Lake Bolac d Glenthompson-Dunkeld
WICKLIFFE-LAKE BOLAC remains undefeated after the opening five rounds, as the Magpies took care of business against Glenthompson-Dunkeld at Dunkeld Recreation Reserve, 14.14 (98) to 10. 7 (67).
This was a big game for the Rams, as they had a tenuous grip on the top five before the game and needed to win to show the rest of the competition they belong in any talks of premiership success this season.
The first half was tight football with neither team prepared to give the opposition a chance with each goal being answered quickly, before the Magpies found some breathing room to hold a 16-point margin at the long break.
When the teams returned to the field for the second half, it was more of the same with only two majors kicked for the third term, as the teams added one apiece.
The final term saw the visitors land the killer blow with four majors to two in reply, despite the best efforts of Tyler Staude, Ben Cole, DJ Woods, Ben Potter, Lachlan Phillips, and Jezza Woods.
The Rams fell to seventh after the loss, but retain a good percentage, but the task doesn’t get any easier next week, as the side travels to Woorndoo-Mortlake.
Other Games
DERRINALLUM Recreation Reserve hosted one of the games of the season on Saturday, as home team Lismore-Derrinallum just failed to defeat Woorndoo-Mortlake, 9.9 (63) to 9.12 (66).
This was always going to be a close encounter and the teams gave the spectators a wonderful display of tight, tense football.
The biggest margin between the teams occurred at the first change of ends, as Demons held a 10-point break, but that margin continued to fall throughout the game as one team gained ascendency then the other.
The home side continued to hold sway through the first three quarters, but the final term saw Woorndoo-Mortlake kick into gear and produce a match-winning quarter.
With four goals in that final term, the Tigers swept past the Demons and held on to claim the points.
A nine goals to zero second quarter set up Great Western to claim the points against Caramut at Central Park on Saturday, 21.20 (146) to 6.9 (45).
The Lions refused to allow the Swans into the contest in the second half, as the backline repelled all attacking forward thrusts from Caramut.
Ararat Eagles took care of business against Moyston-Willaura at Alexandra Oval with a 77-point victory, 18.9 (117) to 5.10 (40).
The first term saw the teams slug it out with the home side holding 10-point lead at the quarter time siren, but that soon changed, as the Eagles piled on eight goals to nil in the second quarter to take control of the game, holding the visitors goalless in the first half.
There must have been something in the coach’s half time talk, as Moyston-Willaura returned to the field a changed team, adding five majors to win the quarter.
That was as far as it went though, as the Pumas failed to carry that form into the last term and were held goalless in the last quarter to end a forgettable game.
Netball
HAWKSDALE-MACARTHUR has proved it belongs in any discussion about which team can win the Mininera and District Netball Association A grade premiership after falling only five goals short against Tatyoon at Macarthur Recreation Reserve on Saturday, 47 to 52.
The Eagles entered the game knowing that the Hawks had lost only one game in the last two seasons and that few association supporters gave the side a chance against the reigning premiers.
For all that, the home side started the game on fire with a 13-goal first quarter and a five-point lead on the scoreboard, while they carried that form into the second term and a lead of one goal at the long break, as the Hawks roared back into the contest.
Tatyoon came back in the second half and produced a match-winning third quarter that had the home side behind by five at the last change of ends.
The teams fought nip and tuck in the final term, as each team added 14 goals to their relative tallies, as Josie Barker and Mel Blackberry did all they could to get the Eagles over the line, while Oliva Twaddle was superb in attack with 33 goals.
Glenthompson-Dunkeld d Wickliffe-Lake Bolac
CONSISTENCY in all four quarters was the key to Glenthompson-Dunkeld defeating Wickliffe-Lake Bolac at Dunkeld Recreation Reserve, 45 to 27.
The Rams posted double figures tallies in each quarter while holding the opposition to single figure replies in a dominant display that was built on 31 goals from Jane Robertson, as Elise Bibby and Jenna Loats set up the Rams’ game plan.
Penshurst d SMW Rovers
PENSHURST has maintained its position in the top five with a strong victory against SMW Rovers at Mininera Recreation Reserve, 47 to 16.
The Bombers regrouped after losing last round to get back on the winners list with dominant displays after the last three quarters after the Bulldogs produced strong defence in the first term.
The visitors produced double figure returns in the last three terms to take the game away from the Rovers, lifting themselves into fifth place.
Sinaed Hasell and Leah Mirtschin were superb for the Bombers, continually setting up the game plan and creating turnover ball.
Other games
GREAT WESTERN and Caramut played out a brilliant contest at Central Park, with the visitors staging a second half come back to gain the victory by a single point, 37 to 38.
It was a game of two halves, as the Lions were better in the first half with the scoreboard showing a lead of two goals, 19 to 17, but the Swans came back in the third quarter to put up 14 goals to nine to lead by three.
The home side recovered to win the final term by two, but it wasn’t enough to bridge the gap and the points returned to Caramut.
Woorndoo-Mortlake travelled to Derrinallum Recreation Reserve and brought the premiership points home with victory over Lismore-Derrinallum, 55 to 34.
The Tigers produced good four-quarter netball, including a final term of 20 goals, to dominate the Demons, as Nicole Anderson, Elise Killen, and Shona Makepeace put up double figure tallies for the visitors.
As expected, top-placed Ararat Eagles took care of business against last-placed Moyston-Willaura at Alexandra Oval, 65 to 21.
The visitors were never in the contest, as the Pumas failed to post double figures for any of the four quarters, while the Eagles ensured they swooped on turnover ball to enjoy a one-sided game.
