THERE can’t be many sides that have been more promising after losing four of their first five contests than Heywood are this season, and they showed why on Saturday with a dominant 17.12 (114) to 4.4 (28) win at home over Heathmere.
The Lions put themselves firmly in the driver’s seat in the first term, taking a 42-point lead into the second term, and continued to grow the margin over the rest of the match, to claim a big win.
Heywood senior coach Sammy Walsh-Bannam said his side was “super happy” to get another win on the board, especially after they’d been on the losing end of so many close games.
“We’ve got the wrong end of the stick against some quality sides recently, so it was a good confidence-booster for the boys,” Walsh-Bannam said.
“We’ve played some of the top sides in the competition really close… we know we’re almost there, we just needed to put a full four quarters together and we managed that (on Saturday).”
The emphasis has been on developing the youth at Heywood, with Walsh-Bannam praising his younger players’ efforts throughout the season thus far.
“Nyawi Moore has been a stand-out, but all our young kids are just getting better and better,” Walsh-Bannam said.
“A lot of credit also goes to our senior players, those older guys being there for the younger guys to lean on.”
John Bell bagged six for the victors, but it was Jarod Donovan, Moore, Nathan Hardingham, Aaron Johnstone, Billy Bell and Jack Fadersen who were named in Heywood’s best.
Meanwhile, Craig Blackberry, Jed Barclay, Luke Driscoll, Luke Sartori, Matthew Payne and Matthew Gore were strongest for the Meres.
Bloods dominate Giants
While many would have expected Cavendish to defeat last year’s premiership opponent Dartmoor, few would have expected them to do so as comfortably as they did, with the Bloods taking out an 11.14 (80) to 2.2 (14) victory.
The game was close in the early going, with the two sides inseparable after the first term, however the Bloods’ defensive intensity stepped up to a new level for the remaining three quarters, as they prevented the Giants from finding a major even once.
Brodhi Carracher, Edward Purvis, Christopher Quinn, Luke Purcell, Jonathon Coghlan and William Luhrs were strongest for Cavendish, while Mark Cowland, Nathan Bell, Kaleb Bowd, Rhys Malseed, Sam Hayes and Kyle Carlin were strongest for the Giants.
Coleraine outclass Westerns
Coleraine once again showcased their credentials with an emphatic 35.18 (228) to 5.9 (39) win over Westerns, maintaining their spot one game clear on top of the ladder.
A 10-goal first quarter set the tone for the Maroons, and from there they never looked back, with Charles Youngman, Will Slattery, Patrick Sinnott, Connor Deutscher, Robert MacKinnon and Alexander Richardson in their best.
Noah Knight, Rhys Carlyon, Chase Jones, James Corbett, Robert Holmes and Aaron Bamblett were in Westerns’ best.
Tyrendarra beats out Saints
Tyrendarra continued their winning ways, winning a close battle with Branxholme-Wallacedale 11.13 (79) to 10.7 (67).
The Darras took a strong lead into the first change, leading by 22 points, however the Saints managed to hang around before rattling off a seven-goal final term to almost pip their opponents at the line.
Luke Evans, Dylan Murray, Brett Uebergang, Mitch Arnold, Jordi Withers and Patty Haylock were Tyrendarra’s best, while the Saints got solid efforts from Toby Hawthorne, Samuel Brewer, Thomas Scott, Kade McCallum, Samuel Lambevski and Bradley Gauci.
