Liam Durkin
CHURCHILL returned home from Stephenson Park on Saturday with a 34-point victory over Sale City during round six of North Gippsland football.
Kicking with the breeze during the first quarter, the Cougars had the better of play, yet kicked only three goals from 10 scoring shots.
With the Bulldogs kicking just one goal for the term, the visitors led by 18 points at quarter-time. After the change of ends, the Bulldogs kicked four goals to two to reduce the deficit to one point at half-time, before the Cougars slammed on 8.5 (53) to no score to reassert control on the match.
Some consolation goals in the final quarter flattered the scoreboard for the Bulldogs, as the Cougars more or less put the cue in the rack on their way to winning 14.16 (100) to 9.12 (66).
Michael Diaz was best-on-ground for the winners, along with Bailey Flanigan and playing coach Chris Williams. Best for Sale City was Bohdi Walker, Lachlan Carman and Abe Schuback.
WOODSIDE got up in a one-point thriller over Rosedale.
The visiting Wildcats trailed for most of the game, but led when it mattered most, scraping over the line to win 9.6 (60) to 9.5 (59).
Down by three goals in the final quarter, Woodside hit the lead with three minutes to go and managed to hang on. It was the second one-point result for the Wildcats in three weeks, after the team lost by the same margin to Sale City in round four.
Brett Waddell, Josh Kennedy and Ben Johnson were instrumental in the win. Having defeated the previously unbeaten Heyfield last week, the Blues missed a great opportunity to claim two genuine scalps in as many weeks.
While the season is still in its early stages, the repercussions of losing to Woodside by one point and drawing against Sale City might come back to haunt their quest for a double chance and perhaps even a spot in the finals.
Luke Stuckey, Joel Bristow and Sam Bristow were Rosedale’s best players.
YARRAM showed no mercy on Gormandale, winning 21.20 (146) to 2.1 (13). Up by 130 points at three-quartert-ime, at which point the Tigers only had one behind registered on the scoreboard, Yarram was able to give its percentage a huge boost.
Jack Weston, Boadie Motton and Griffin Underwood led the way for the Demons, with Kayleb Pearce kicking four goals. Mitchell Jones, Josh Pearce and Steven Burgess battled hard for Gormandale.
GLENGARRY got its first win of the season, prevailing against Cowwarr, 7.17 (59) to 5.8 (38).
The visiting Magpies appeared on track to cruise to victory after going into half-time with a 21-point lead, however, the Saints pegged the margin back to a seven point deficit at the final change of ends.
With a chance for either team to register its first win since 2019 at stake, the Magpies found something extra in the fourth quarter to pull away. Adrian Slottje proved a match winner up forward, kicking three goals for the Magpies.
Layne Heatherton, Dean Pearce and former Essendon player Jay Neagle also performed well.
Cowwarr was well-served by Nick Wozniak, Jack Casson and Siaosi Lay-Blake.
THE “Battle of the Bombers” went the way of Yallourn-Yallourn North.
Sporting its new jumper, to be adopted full time next season, North Gippsland’s newest club broke away after half-time to register a convincing 61-point win over Traralgon-Tyers United, 14.13 (97) to 5.6 (36).
Only seven points separated the teams at the main break, but YYN kicked five goals to none in the third term to set up the win. YYN did more of the same in the fourth, as TTU was held scoreless.
YYN’s best players were Campbell Staff, Jai Massese, Dean MacDonald, who kicked five goals, Dylan Bath, Braden Paulet and Josh Keyhoe. Best for TTU was Jack Brown, Jacob Albanese and Kieran Jones.
HEYFIELD had the bye.
