COLERAINE exacted some revenge on reigning premier, Cavendish, travelling to Bloods country and returning with the win to start the SWDFNL season on Saturday.

The Bloods beat the Maroons in last year’s second semi-final, but the Maroons started 2023 with a 23-point win at Cavendish Recreation Reserve.

The game started in dry conditions, but the ground was still slippery from rain earlier in the day, as both teams’ skills were put to the test.

Coleraine burst out to an early lead, taking a 14-point lead into the quarter time break.

The Maroons pushed the margin out to 46 points by the main break, with Cavendish outclassed late in the first half.

Cavendish’s inability to retain possession and generate scoring chances proved costly, but the second half saw the home side work back into the contest.

The Bloods started to peg back the margin and got to within striking distance at the last change of ends, before closing to within four points halfway through the final term before Coleraine rallied to eventually claim a 13.7 (85) to 10.2 (62) win.

Pat Sinnott and Cody Deutscher kicked three majors for the Maroons, while Sam Gibson and Aiden Luhrs kicked two each for Cavendish.

Jack Wright and Brodhi Carracher were named best for Coleraine and Cavendish respectively.

Maroons coach, Ryan McClure said early season wins were critical and was happy to get the points against a strong Cavendish side.

“We are rapt to come away with the win,” he said

“These are the games you get out of bed for, good games against good sides and we enjoy playing Cavendish.

“The most pleasing part was the way we set up stoppage wise, the forward craft we have been working on was also good and to get the four points was a bonus.

The forward mix for Coleraine also posed issued for the Bloods’ defence, with Liam Kaine finding plenty of the ball, while also getting involved in scoring chains for the visitors.

McClure said Kaine was used up forward to fill a hole and will spread his game time between the forward line and midfield in future.

“We were going to use Kainey more around the stoppage, but with Slats (William Slattery) being away, we were looking for another hit up forward and so he went up there and did that,” he said.

“The stoppages are where Cavendish has been strong, we weren’t setting out to win but we needed to break even, so it was pleasing

“We thought we took the best of what they had after half time, and for them to come out again, that surprised us.

“We could have dropped our bundle a bit, but football is in waves and so we were able to ride it out and get it back on our terms again.”

Connor Fitzgerald injured his wrist and will be in doubt, while Rhyan Menzel, Jackson Templeton and Nick Lambert all earned plaudits from the Maroons coach for their efforts stepping up into the senior side.

Darras open season with win

TYRENDARRA has opened their account in the 2023 South West District Football League season with an emphatic round one win over Westerns, taking home the points 16.10 (106) to 5.8 (38), at Hanlon Park.

The Darras had a stranglehold over the contest right from the word ‘go,’ as they raced to a 38-point lead at quarter time after Westerns was able to register just one behind for the quarter.

They kept the pedal to the metal for the ensuing two quarters to take care of business, before slowing down in the final term. New recruit Mitch Arnold was named best on ground in his first game of senior footy, while coach Sam Anson, along with Jordi Withers and Christian Marshman, shared the spoils with four goals apiece.

Nicholas McKindley and Jack Cocks were the other players mentioned in the Darras’ best.

Noah Knight, Scott Lindsay, Stephen O’Brien, Daniel Lynch, Joseph Saunders and Ashley Clements were best amongst Westerns’ contingent.

Giants hold off Lions in thriller

DARTMOOR narrowly avoided a first-round upset against Heywood at home, eventually running out victors 15.6 (96) to 14.7 (91).

The Lions dominated the early going, racing to a 15-point lead at quarter time, but the Giants replied with an even more impressive second term which saw them take a nine-point lead into the main break.

The Giants built on this lead in the third term, earning themselves a 14-point buffer heading into the final term, however Heywood were certainly not ready to give up.

The Lions were able to muster four fourth-quarter goals and had a number of other opportunities as they registered three behinds.

The Giants held their nerve though, kicking three goals themselves to hang on to a five-point victory.

Dartmoor owed a lot of their success in front of goal to Dale Bachmann and Jordan Murphy (four goals apiece) while Dylan Ryan added three.

Leon Davis booted six for the Lions, while Jarod Donovan added four.

Lachie Polaski, Alex O’Connell, Sam Hayes, Rhys Malseed, Jordan Murphy and Jay Ropitini were best for Dartmoor, while Heywood got their strongest performances from Brad Martin, Donovan, Jack Fadersen, Aaron Johnstone, Nyawi Moore and Stephen Harris.

Saints shut down Heathmere

BRANXHOLME-WALLACEDALE earned itself a tough 42-point win over Heathmere at Heathmere, thanks in large part to the efforts of the defence.

The final scoreline of 9.15 (69) to 3.9 (27) demonstrated that this was a grinded-out effort from the Saints, who were able to hold the Meres to just three behinds in the entire second half.

The Saints kept chugging along, managing to find the goals often enough to ensure a comfortable victory, with Travis Scott, Damian Monaghan, Ashley Kelly, Lachlan Holcombe, Jack Goodman and Thomas Scott named their best afield.

The Meres will take some confidence from remaining competitive throughout the match, as they held the Saints to just three goals in the second half.

With seeing his side put in a strong four-quarter effort week in, week out being the key for senior coach Adrian Hann ahead of the season, there’s plenty of positives to build upon.

Cody Driscoll, Zac Deane, Luke Fidge, Samuel Fidge, Jamie West and Cooper Anson were strongest for Heathmere.