Border Mail – Round 17 – Review
CULCAIRN locked away a spot in the Hume league finals with a 36-point victory over Rand-Walbundrie-Walla at Culcairn on Saturday.
Culcairn were too strong for the Giants at the coalface with Caleb Simmonds, Jed Andrew and Adam Eady in everything and Jamie Robbins dominating in attack with five goals.
The victory came at a price with young forward Joel Merkel breaking his wrist in the third quarter.
Rand-Walbundrie-Walla, who lost ruckman Mitch Thomas with a leg injury before the match, had strong performers in Brian Lieschke, Jeremy Duck and Lewis McCrae.
Henty star Damian Cupido is only two goals away from bringing up his century after turning on a masterclass in the Swampies’ 60-point win over Lockhart.
Cupido was unstoppable with 10 goals and should have little trouble notching up the milestone against the Giants in the final round.
Daniel Cox, Josh Klemke, Will Farrer and Heath Ohlin were also prolific for the Swampies.
Lockhart’s Chayte Burkinshaw and Jamie Clough tried hard.
Brock-Burrum defeated CDHBU by 86 points.
With both sides decimated by injury, the Saints’ depth proved telling with Matt Seiter leading the way in the ruck.
The big-man was again outstanding with Eddy Ziebarth, Joe Boulton, Josh McCudden and Nico Sedgwick providing support in the absence of Kade Stevens, Nick Brockley, Kade Garland, Jarod Koschitzke, Ron Boulton and Luke Brauer.
CDHBU were again best served by midfielder Kade Rowe.
Jindera hammered Murray Magpies by 114 points at Jindera.
The visitors kicked their only goal in the final quarter as the pace of Dylan Pettingill, Ryan Speed and Sam Myors proved too much.
Osborne’s Sam Rutland was best afield with five goals in the Cats’ 66-point win over Howlong.
The home team stormed out of the blocks with Rutland, Sam Gleeson, Josh Griffin and Declan O’Rourke also winning plenty of the ball.
Spider Blake Williams was again solid but the absence of experienced duo Steve Jolliffe and Matt McDonald hurt them dearly.
Holbrook picked up the tempo after half-time to defeat Billabong Crows by 36 points.
The Crows took a one-point lead into the main break on the back of good performances from Zac Kerr, Darcy Collins and Michael O’Riordan.
But Holbrook regrouped with Luke and Brad Carman, Alec Sullivan and Jake Way in the thick of the action with Brock Knights, Aaron Baker, Lachie Trethowan and Simon Turner unavailable.
