Border Mail Round 13 – Review
CULCAIRN faces a monumental battle to secure the double chance after going down to ladder leader Brock-Burrum by 51 points at Burrumbuttock on Saturday.
The loss leaves Josh Hillary’s side four premiership points and percentage behind second-placed Osborne with five rounds remaining.
They take on Henty in a season-defining clash this weekend.
Brock-Burrum has no such problems with the reigning premier’s star-studded midfield of Darcy I’Anson, Ron Boulton and Nico Sedgwick feasting on the ruck dominance of Matt Seiter.
The home team led by 30 points at quarter-time and, with Aaron Livermore and Josh McCudden restricting Lion dangerman Jye Shields, held sway for the remainder of the match.
“Our pressure was really good,” coach Kade Stevens said.
“That was what we trained for and it held us in good stead against one of the best sides in the competition.
“We didn’t worry about the scoreboard, it was just about maintaining pressure.
“It was a good win.”
Dane Hallinan was typically strong for Culcairn while Trent Logue played well in defence and Dennis Pedemont had his moments with four majors.
Adam Prior also kicked four opposed to young backman Mitch Reilly.
Brock-Burrum lost Livermore early with a calf injury which resulted in the unlikely match-up of McCudden picking up Shields.
Lockhart consolidated its position in the top-six with an impressive 33-point win over Billabong Crows at Lockhart.
With Jordan Harrington best afield, the Demons seized the initiative early and went on to record arguably their best win of the season.
Jesse Margosis, Sean Wilkinson and Andrew Emery also stood up for the home team.
Emery kicked three goals in a titanic battle with Crows’ defender Zach Kerr.
Lockhart did particularly well late in the second term when it successfully covered James Creasy being sent from the ground.
Crows’ recruit Nick Brockley oozed class, Bronson Schofield provided plenty of run and Harry Stonnill did well in the ruck particularly when Demon Neil Irwin pushed forward after receiving a knock to his shoulder.
The visitors sorely missed the class of Josh Evans.
The win came at a price for Lockhart with Luke Argus breaking his collarbone.
CDHBU ended Howlong’s finals push with a one-point win at Coreen.
Russell Anderson, Cal Butler and Brad Talbot played well for the Power while Steve Jolliffe starred for Howlong.
FOURTEEN-year-old Rand-Walbundrie-Walla forward Nathan Wardius kicked five goals on debut in the Giants’ 192-point mauling of Murray Magpies at Walla on Saturday.
Wardius was called up from the thirds with the club having a spate of injuries and didn’t disappoint playing in a forward pocket.
The elusive youngster is still three months shy of his 15th birthday.
Wardius, who kicked seven goals in the thirds earlier in the day, snared a goal with his first kick when he took a strong mark over a Murray Magpies opponent.
He played in Rand-Walbundrie-Walla’s under-14s premiership last season.
Despite missing some of their best players including Myles Aalbers and Chris Hutchison, the Giants dominated their opponents from the outset with Josh Star booting 11 goals.
Chris and Jeremy Duck and Ryan Lavery were also prominent while the Murray Magpies were best served by Hayden Edwards.
