Big wins for Breakers and Saints in round 12

With three rounds to go Coffs Harbour Breakers have all but sealed top spot on the ladder with a comprehensive win over Port Macquarie Magpies.

Port were down on troops and had a number of players who had to back up from Reserve Grade just to put a Senior team on the park. The writing was on the wall early when Breakers opened with a five goal to none first term, then extended this lead to 63 points at the half time break.

The going didn’t get any easier for the Magpies in the second half but they did produce their best effort in the third quarter when Breakers were only able to extend their lead by a further 14 points.

By the final term Breakers were able to overrun Port to pile on five unanswered goals. Nick Stanlan-Velt kicked seven goals for the day, Ben Gibbeson had four, and Gabe Ellicott added three for the victors.

Luke Boxhall was the only Magpie to score multiple goals with two, while Blake Nelson and Matthew Dawson rounded out the scoring.

Coffs Harbour Breakers 22.11 (143) defeated Port Macquarie Magpies 4.6 (30)

Sawtell Toormina Saints booked their place in this year’s Finals Series with a win over Grafton Tigers that sends a message to the rest of the competition.

The Saints were white hot in the opening quarter kicking 12 goals to none to lead by 75 points at the first break. Sawtell couldn’t maintain this level of intensity after the break but still had too much quality for the Tigers and won each quarter comfortably. Grafton’s best effort came in the second quarter when they opened their scoring account and were able to limit Sawtell to just five goals for the term.

Sawtell forwards Will Christopher and Mitch Napier had their own private shootout which saw Christopher land eight goals to Napier’s seven. Felix Dunn chipped in with four of his own.

For Grafton, Noah Swarski was the lone goal kicker on a tough afternoon.

Sawtell Toormina Saints 34.16 (220) defeated Grafton Tigers 1.4 (10)

A report on the Women’s competition will appear online on Tuesday (30 July).

For full results click here.