Eastern Riverina Chronicle – Round 12 – Review

The Lions who were missing Jye Shields, Jed Andrew and Dennis Pedemont were more committed in a season-defining game for them.

Tim Haines with four goals had a great contest with his opponent Luke Carman as both were named best players for their sides.

The Brookers’ trend in recent games of being unable to kick back to back goals continued as each goal scored was met with a quick Lions reply.

Dane Hallinan, Isovaine Huddlestone and Joel Merkel were excellent for Culcairn, while Aaron Baker, Andrew Mackinlay and Matt Sharpe stood out for Holbrook.

Flag favorites Henty survived a huge challenge from Osborne to win a tight and tough encounter at Henty by 13 points.

Both sides wasted scoring opportunities throughout the first half as Osborne took a three-point lead into the main break in a low-scoring clash.

The Swampies victory was set up in the third quarter when its backline was able to keep the visitors goalless and allow just two in the final term.

Again, it was Damian Cupido who proved the difference kicking four goals, with a few very handy in the frenetic final term.

The exciting Cox boys, Dale and Daniel, were superb for Henty, while for Osborne Azzi medal fancy Marty Bahr and youngster Michael Driscoll stood out.

Brock Burrum Saints continued its excellent form in the last fortnight with an impressive 16-point win over Jindera at Jindera.

The Saints, after losing successive matches by one point in rounds 9 and 10, have bounced back with significant wins over both last year’s grand finalist away from home.

The victory has seen Brock Burrum leap frog the Bulldogs into second place, in what is one of the leagues most hotly contested seasons.

In a fiery first quarter Saints Azzi Medalist Nico Sedgwick was reported and yellow carded for fifteen minutes for head butting Jindera’s Tom Weldon.

Neither side posted a goal in that term, before the game opened into a thrilling contest with the Saints seven-goals-to-three second half the match winner.

Big men Jeremy Luff and Kade Garland were best for the Saints, while for Jindera, Mitch Lawrence, Jacob Millar and the diminutive Jessie Harris played well.

Lockhart notched up its second win for the season and in doing so put a serious dent in the finals hopes of Rand Walbundrie Walla at Walla.

The Demons were superb in the 20-point victory that was made more respectable for the Giants with its five last-quarter goals.

Whilst they can’t make finals, the Demons are going to seriously challenge and shape the make up of the top six. Ryan Argus booted four goals for the Demons.

The Giants went into the game missing several stars including coach Myles Aalbers who should return for the season-defining round thirteen clash against Holbrook.

Rand Walbundrie Walla utility Tom Simmonds was reported for striking to cap off a frustrating day at the office for the combine.

Howlong recorded its fifth and most impressive win for the season, by comfortably accounting for CDHBU by 52 points at Howlong.

With the game still in the balance at three quarter time, Howlong came home with a thundering eight goal term to impede the Power’s finals hopes.

Jay Koehler at full forward kicked four goals, while the classy Steve Jolliffe kicked three and Blake Williams had his best game of the season for Howlong.

Both Howlong and CDHBU have five wins for the season and sit one-and-a-half wins outside the top six with six rounds remaining.

A sensational eight goal first term by Murray Magpies set up its easy win at home over the Billabong Crows, winning by 51 points.

The quarter-time margin was the same as the result as the Crows fought back hard, but the damage was done despite the efforts of Al Austin and George Sandral.

Ash Murray’s four goals took his season total to 47, while Michael Simms, Daniel Maher and Tom Osmotherly were also good players for the Magpies.

Next week is a general bye in the Hume FL, before a massive final six rounds to finish off what is a very unpredictable season of results.

NEXT WEEK JULY 14 –  GENERAL BYE

JULY 21 –  ROUND 13

Brock Burrum v Culcairn (at Brock)

CDHBU v Henty

Holbrook v Rand Walb Walla

Lockhart v Murray Magpies

Billabong Crows v Howlong (at Oaklands)