Round 11 Wrap: Top Teams Bounce Back
The two leading teams were determined to return to the winner’s circle this week, and both did that in style!
Sawtell Toormina Saints were far too strong for the Grafton Tigers and had the game wrapped up by half time. The Saints hit the ground running, opening the match with a 6 goals to 1 first term, then accelerated in the second to pile on a further 8 goals to the Tigers’ none to lead by 84 points.
Whilst the Saints eased up slightly in the second half, the Tigers inability to register on the scoreboard meant that they weren’t able to take any kind of advantage from the Saints easing off. Sawtell went on to post a further 11 goals after the main break with Grafton only able to register 6 behinds in the final quarter.
The leading goal kickers for Sawtell were Dan Pritchard and Darcy Tees with 4 goals apiece, while Jed Ellis-Cluff added a further 3. This was a real team effort by the Saints, evidenced by the fact that they had 12 individual goal kickers who contributed to their team tally of 25 goals.
For Grafton, Rhys McDonald posted the sole goal of the match on what was a very disappointing day.
Sawtell Toormina Saints 25.14.164 defeated Grafton Tigers 1.7.13
It was an almost identical story at Leisure Park where Coffs Breakers were comfortable victors over Port Macquarie Magpies whose resurgence was short lived.
The Magpies put up a good fight to half time to be 7 goals down and in with a slim chance of staging a memorable comeback, but a 9 goal third quarter by the Breakers put paid to any slim hopes the Magpies had. Port ran out of steam during the third term and had no answer to the Breakers relentless forward thrust.
Breakers continued to power away in the last term, posting a further 8 goals. Port steadied in the last quarter and were able to produce an improved performance that resulted in 2 goals of their own to restore some pride.
In a fair sign of the way the match was played, Breakers best players were dominated by key scoreboard contributors. Chris Frangos (3 goals), Darcy Donelly (4), Fraser Duryea (5), Luke Valdes (4), and Nic Stanlan-Velt (3) were the players who lead the way and set the tone right from the outset. One of the most pleasing aspects of the game for coach Nic Von Schill would have to be the fact that 14 players registered goals, showing that there were no passengers.
Port were well led by Scott Dalton, Fraser Carroll, and Luke Boxhall who suffered a rotator cuff injury in the first quarter but battled through the game and finished with 3 goals. Sam Johnson added a further three but there were only two other goal kickers with 1 apiece in what is a stark contrast to the Breakers performance.
Coffs Breakers 30.14.194 defeated Port Macquarie Magpies 8.5.53
Next week’s fixtures are headlined by the third local derby of the season between Sawtell Toormina Saints and Coffs Breakers in what will also be a battle for top spot on the ladder. Port Macquarie Magpies make the long trip to Grafton to play the Tigers in what is a must win battle between two teams desperately needing a win.
