Football
11 May, 2024
Harrow Balmoral maintain their dominance
Harrow Balmoral assert their dominance, defeating the Swifts by 25 points in the top-of-the-table clash in round five of the Horsham District Football Netball League. Elsewhere, Pimpinio join the Southern Roos as the only unbeaten team, Noradjuha Quantong bounce back, Rupanyup have a dominant win and Edenhope Apsley notch their first win of the season in a two-point thriller.
The top-of-the-table clash failed to disappoint with the Baggies kicking four of the first five goals to stun the Southern Roos early.
As all good teams do, the Southern Roos settled and slowly clawed their way back into the game to trail by six points at quarter-time.
The Roos kicked three unanswered goals to start the second quarter to get to a 14-point lead and then goals were exchanged until the Roos through Nick Pekin, Cody Deutscher and Jai Thompson late in the quarter, gave them a 26-point lead at halftime.
The Roos started the third quarter the way they ended the second, kicking three quick goals to lead by 45 points.
The Swifts responded with three unanswered goals of their own and the lead was 33 points at three-quarter time.
Jai Thompson’s message at three-quarter time was to run the game out and show what they can do, and they did just that, winning 18.7.115 to 14.6.90.
Thompson kicked an equal game-high six goals for the Roos alongside Paul Summers for the Baggies.
Ethan Appleton, Nick Pekin, William Plush and Cody Deutscher with four goals were also brilliant for the Roos.
For the Baggies, Matthew Healy, Noah Stirling and Ryan Folkes were among their best.
Roos coach Jai Thompson said it was a great team performance.
“We started a little slow and I thought being down by six points at quarter time was a good result,” Thompson said.
“At quarter time we fixed things up and in the second quarter we played the game we wanted to play and opened it up.
“We always knew the Swifts would come back in the game, so it was good to be able to wrestle that momentum back when they got within five goals early in that third quarter. Everyone played well and it was good to see them respond to the challenge.”
The Southern Roos were missing key players Michael Close, Scott Addinsall, Noah Hildebrand and Alex Rees.
Brait Headon had the task of stopping Paul Summers and did a great job, limiting his impact. Even though Summers kicked six, three of those were late in the last quarter and Thompson praised Headon for his performance.
“Headon’s closing speed was good and we knew Paul was dangerous as he has had his way with teams, so to see Headen nullify that is great.”
“Anthony Close in the ruck was solid and around the ground Will Plush and Will Burbury were strong, but it was good to see the young players step up.
“I thought George Austin and Rhys Daffey were great on the wing putting their bodies on the line and Josh Grant off halfback, creating opportunities.”
“Those guys get all the credit and they are bringing the club up to where they need to be.”
Thompson was also pleased with the way everyone stepped up to fill roles from the players that were missing.
“That’s the good thing about the club is blokes step into their roles and take their opportunity,” Thompson said.
“Everyone knows the way each other plays and they come up and put their bodies on the line and that’s all you can ask as a coach.”
The Swifts were missing coach Brett Hargreaves, Bourke Nicholls, Tallis Miles, Xac Armer and Kurt Bruechert.
Hargreaves said they can get a lot out of the loss.
“If there is such a thing as a good loss, then this is it,” Hargreaves said.
“We have learned a lot from the match and we will work on that and it will be interesting to see how they go when they travel to play us later in the season.
“It’s the consistency that we still need to work on. We had glimmers where we played good footy and kicked a few goals and looked like we were threatening and then went back to letting them score freely.”
Hargreaves rued the second quarter.
“We had the ascendancy heading into the quarter time and went away from it in the second and they came out firing and that four-goal margin at half time is where it stood, so it was the second quarter that got us,” Hargreaves explained.
“At the end of the day, we will be stronger from this result.”
At Edenhope Recreation Reserve, four goals to Fraser Thompson helped lead Edenhope Apsley to their first win of the season, in a two-point thriller against Natimuk.
The Saints were leading by 13 points at halftime but Natimuk had a brilliant third quarter to keep them to one point as they led by 10 points at three-quarter time.
The Saints hung deep and won 11.4.70 to 9.14.68. Ryan Obst and Heath Keatley were the other good players for the Saints whilst Ned Glascott led the way for the Rams with three goals with Jonathan Lovel their best player on the ground with Zachary Smith and Kaiden Sudholz.
Pimpinio is the other team that is unbeaten with the Southern Roos following a 45-point win over Kaniva Leeor at Kaniva Recreation Reserve.
Pimpinio kicked eight goals in the first half and restricted the Cougars to two which set up the game as they ran out 13.9.87 to 6.6.42 winners.
Nick Groves kicked a game-high five goals for the Tigers with Jason Westley best on the ground alongside Tyler Filcock and Adam Westley who also played well.
For the Cougars, Hamish Bennett and Charlie Maddern were among their better players.
At Dock Lake Recreation Reserve, Rupanyup kept their winning streak going with a comfortable 51-point win over Taylors Lake.
The Lakers did well in the first quarter and took it up to the Panthers, trailing by 12 points at quarter time. The Panthers flexed their muscles in the second keeping the Lakers goalless and ended up winning 14.11.95 to 5.14.44.
Brayden Ison kicked three goals for the Panthers with Mitch Gleeson again starring with two goals whilst Bill Hansen was best on the ground.
For the Lakers, Justin Beugelaar kept his goal-kicking form with another three goals whilst Mathew Millward and Connor Schiller were amongst their best.
Laharum’s winning streak ended at Quantong Recreation Reserve, losing by 71 points.
The Bombers got out to a 22-point lead at quarter time but the Demons bounced back in the second to trail by 13 at halftime. The Demons battled hard in the third to trail by 20 points at the last break, but a nine-goal to-one final quarter saw the Bombers bounce back from last week’s loss to the Swifts to win 18.14.122 to 7.9.51.
James Gregg and Jack McRae were solid for the Bombers alongside Brock Orval and Dyson Parish.
For the Demons, Riley Lenehan kicked two goals with Robbie Miller, Brett Ervin, Pat Lattanzio and Shannon Argall, Daniel Easson and Reuben Launder continuing their great seasons, among their better players.