Blues notch first senior win

Author Name: bradgreenshields | Posted 2:16 pm on Wednesday 19th May, 2021

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Photo: Paul Taylor
Northern Beaches recorded its first victory of the year in the senior competition by overcoming Nambucca Valley in wet conditions.
The win not only gives the Blues a morale boost but also keeps them in touch with the top four.
Leading by only 10-points ta the main break, Northern Beaches set up the victory with a five goals to one third term which gave the Blues an unassailable 32-point lead in the heavy conditions.
Returning from injury to play his first match of the season, Evan Duryea showed why he’s considered to be one of the best players in the competition with six goals from full forward.
Blues’ coach Rory Evans said getting the first win means so much to the club and that it’s a “first step toward being where we want to be”.
“It’s exciting for a brand new group to get that first win and there were a few people who had to learn the song on the run after the game,” Evans said.
“Getting that win up is good for a few reasons. It’s good for the belief of the group and it’s really, really good to learn how to win games.
“We’re in our infancy as a group and being able to learn how to win games is an important step.”
Nambucca’s effort was their best of the season and the return of key forward Aaron Clarke who kicked four goals in his first game makes the Lions a more dangerous opponent.

NORTHERN BEACHES 2.3 4.5 9.5 10.6 (66)
NAMBUCCA VALLEY 2.0 3.1 4.3 5.4 (34)
Gaols – N.Beaches: E.Duryea 6, L.Paige, B.Petrolo, J.Berryman, F.Duryea. Nambucca: A.Clarke 4, R.McGrath.

The Coffs Breakers have roared to the top of the AFL North Coast ladder with a resounding win over the previously undefeated Lismore Swans.
The 63-point win was built on the back of a dominant performance by Breakers’ midfielder Michael McMahon who booted nine goals.

COFFS BREAKERS 6.5 8.11 13.12 19.16 (130)
LISMORE SWANS 1.0 3.2 7.4 10.7 (67)
Goals – Coffs: M.McMahon 9, B.Neary 2, D.Cook 2, J.Guthrie 2, T.Roberts-Potter 2, O.McKenzie, N.Stanlan-Velt. Swans: Kickers: M.Schafer 4, D.Bruce 2, D.Parish, A.Baker, M.Murray, L.Foenander.

OVER the years Grafton has copped some terrible hands at the hands of Port Macquarie when the Tigers have traveled to the home of the Magpies.

Even last year when the Tigers won the premiership they couldn’t get the points in Port Macquarie losing by a solitary point.

On Saturday though the Tigers took care of business in the first half to make sure they won down south for the first time in a decade.

Grafton coach Adi Campbell was thrilled with the 39-point half time lead his team had built.

“The first half was brilliant, probably the best footy we’ve played in a long time,” Campbell said.

The margin could’ve been greater if assistant coach Tim Churchin kicked straighter.

The one-time contestant on The Rookie who’s joined the Tigers from Hastings on the Mornington Peninsula kicked 6.7 which could’ve easily been 10 or more.

GRAFTON 3.4 8.7 10.9 13.11 (89)
PORT MACQUARIE 1.1 2.4 5.8 7.8 (50)
Goals – Graf: T.Churchin 6, J.Hodges 2, D.Lovell, R.Leslie, A.Ashby, T.Mullins, B.Nelson. Port: Q.Close 2, J.Page 2, R.Close, W.Kelly, B.Saggers.

THE challengers have come to try and knock the Coffs Breakers from the top of the women’s tree but none have been able to do so.

On Saturday it was the turn of the Lismore Swans to see if they could do it. Heading into the match with an unbeaten record and playing at home, some thought the Swans had the capacity to inflict the first defeat on the Breakers since the 2019 finals but it was not to be.

COFFS BREAKERS 6.4 (40) def LISMORE SWANS 2.3 (15)
Goals – Coffs: S.Goodenough 2, T.Kachel, E.Rickards, A.Johanson, D.Watson. Swans: H.Wall, A.Keen.

Port Macquarie’s women earned their first win of the season with a strong display against Grafton.

The Tigers travelled with 13 players but the hosts loaned Grafton a couple of players to make the match a 15-on-15 contest.

After a relatively even first quarter the Magpies were able to pull away by kicking a goal in each quarter. The final 33-point margin perhaps could’ve been greater if it wasn’t for poor conversion in front of goal.

PORT MACQUARIE 1.5 2.8 3.13 4.15 (39)
GRAFTON 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 (6)
Goals – Port: A.Kirkby 2, C.Templeman, C.Grey. Graf: E.Crispe.

 

 

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