Positive signs for Saints and Tigers

There were no surprise results on the weekend, but matches were closer than expected suggesting that there’s still the chance for upsets across the rest of the home and away season.

An experimental Coffs Breakers team overcame the Grafton Tigers but not by as big a margin as in recent encounters.

Breakers held a handy lead to the half time break but the Tigers were still close enough that a three goal blitz would have brought them right into the mix. However it was the Breakers that applied the blitz in the third quarter to blow the game wide open and leave the result beyond doubt. A further seven goals to nil in the final term put the icing on a 115 point victory for the competition leaders.

Aidan Wallace kicked six goals for the victors, with Nick Stanlan-Velt adding four on a day when the Breakers had nine individual goal kickers.

Noah Swarski continued his great run of form for Grafton with two goals. His effort was matched by that of Matt Bosch who scored Grafton’s other two majors.

Coffs Harbour Breakers 20.21 (141) defeated Grafton Tigers 4.2 (26)

Port Macquarie Magpies started slowly against Sawtell Toormina Saints who were firing from the opening bounce. The teams couldn’t be separated at either of the first two breaks which was a fitting reflection of the closeness of the game.

Midway through the third term the Magpies kicked into gear and the match took on a completely different perspective. The Saints were held scoreless for the quarter while Port added four goals to set course for the win which was sealed with a further five goals to three in the last stanza. Ill discipline in the final minutes didn’t hurt the Magpies from the perspective of the result but will be an area the club won’t want to see repeated.

Jesse Schmidt led the line for Port with three goals, while George Maguire, Fraser Carroll, Tom Marmo, and Kye Taylor each added two goals.

Dan Pritchard and Leif Stuart both managed two goals for the Saints with four other players adding singles.

Port Macquarie Magpies 14.8 (92) defeated Sawtell Toormina Saints 8.4 (52)

A report on the Women’s competition will appear online on Tuesday (2 July).

For full results click here.