Magpies and Breakers roll on in Seniors
It was a case of business as usual for Coffs Harbour Breakers and Port Macquarie Magpies as the competition front-runners recorded comfortable victories on Saturday.
Breakers victory over the Grafton Tigers sees them maintain top billing on the ladder, albeit by just percentage margin over the Magpies who maintained the pressure with a further win against the Sawtell Toormina Saints.
The Breakers had the match all but won by quarter time when an eight goal to none opening term blitz saw them hold a 53 point lead. This was followed up by returns of six, eight, and six goals in the remaining quarters, whilst also limiting the Tigers to just a solitary behind in each, and the Breakers ran away with the match.
With a number of injured players, winning untroubled is exactly what the doctor ordered for the Breakers as the comfortable result paired with next weekend’s general bye means that they can expect to welcome back several injured players when the competition resumes in a fortnight.
Nick Stanlan-Velt had one of his best days in front of goal, slotting fourteen. Shaydan Close maintained his outstanding scoring form as he bagged a further six.
Coffs Harbour Breakers 28.19 (187) defeated Grafton Tigers 0.4 (4)
Port Macquarie’s victory over the Saints can be credited as much to defensive effort as it can to goals kicked. For the first time in many years the Saints were held scoreless in the opening term and limited to just one goal for the half. At the same time, Port managed to land nine goals to hold a 59 point lead at the long break.
The Magpies kicked a further five goals in each of the third and fourth quarters and were able to limit Sawtell to just three goals for the half.
Luke Boxhall played his first Senior match of the season and finished as the leading scorer with six goals. Kaleb Crowhurst added three goals and three other players kicked two apiece.
For Sawtell, Matt Dwyer, Callum Day, Tyler Donovan, and Isaac Lonergan each kicked one goal.
Port Macquarie Magpies 19.15 (129) defeated Sawtell Toormina Saints 4.4 (28)
A report on the Women’s competition will appear online on Tuesday (4 June).
For full results click here.