Border Mail Round 7 – Review
BILLABONG Crows are enjoying their best start to a Hume league season after accounting for a depleted Henty at Urana on Saturday.
The Crows now sit third with a 5-2 record after securing a 20.9 (129) to 11.9 (75) victory.
The Swampies indigenous recruits returned home for a funeral with Jared Brennan and the Bin Busu brothers among those missing.
The Crows broke the contest open in the second term when they piled on nine goals to three with Bronson Schofield, Josh Evans and Hayden Wishart dominating.
Coach Al Austin was mindful the Swampies were well below full-strength.
“We are not getting carried away with the win and are fully aware they were missing more than a third of their side,” Austin said.
“But we played some pretty good football in the second-quarter.”
The Crows have another winnable match against Jindera this week.
HOLBROOK snapped a four-match losing streak with an impressive 31-point win over finals aspirant Lockhart at Lockhart on Saturday.
Coach Matt Sharp was delighted to return to the winning list after a tough month.
“We were more proactive and took the game on,” Sharp said.
“We got rid of the safe word.
“I don’t like making excuses but for the past six weeks we have had six in and six out and this week we were more settled.
“It’s such an even competition, getting an away win is massive I reckon.”
Although Lockhart man-mountain Neil Irwin took control of the centre bounces, Holbrook had more winners at ground level with youngster Lachie Holmes leading the way.
He bobbed up with three goals and received support from Sam Harris, Jake Way, Luke Carman, Brock Knights and Brendan Dess.
Culcairn forward Dennis Pedemont kicked a goal seconds before the final siren to sink a gallant Rand-Walbundrie-Walla by one point at Walbundrie.
Pedemont, who had been dangerous all day inside the arc with Adam Prior, cooled slotted his shot from 30-metres to keep Lions within striking distance of the top two.
Rand-Walbundrie-Walla led by 16 points early in the final term before the visitors charged home to kick the final three goals of the match on the back of good performances from Ben Gould, Jye Shields, Dane Hallinan and Shaun Turvey.
Giant ruckman Jack Duck was outstanding home team while his cousin, Chris, won plenty of possessions at the fall of the ball and Josh Star provided a target in attack kicking three goals.
Brock-Burrum continued their strong form by disposing of Howlong by 91 points.
Although both sides went into the clash missing key players including Matt Seiter, Kade Stevens and Steve Jolliffe, the Saints’ depth was evident as they raced to a 37-point lead at quarter-time.
Mitch Koschitzke was in everything while Tyson Neander and Luke McLellan were lively in attack.
Howlong were best served by Peter Hancock and Brad Fyffe.
Osborne hammered Murray Magpies and Jindera beat CDHBU.
