Sawtell and Breakers close to securing top two spots

Photo: Adam Hourigan, The Daily Examiner

Sawtell Toormina Saints sent out an ominous warning with Finals just around the corner when they ruthlessly dispatched the Grafton Tigers by over 200 points.

The Tigers were under strength, missing key players in Luke Stanford, Ethan Olsen, and Callum O’Loughlin, but they were never at the races and found themselves trailing by eight goals at quarter time. Lachlan Street did manage to kick a goal for Grafton in the opening term but that’s as good as it got for the Tigers who were unable to add to this for the remainder of the contest.

The Saints piled on the goals in each quarter, racking up eight, seven, eight, and ten respectively, as the Tigers found themselves chasing leather. The winning margin was big enough but could have been even greater as Saints added 23 behinds to their 33 goals.

Captain Malcolm Trotter kicked six goals for the match, with Danniel Johnson and Jim Angel each kicking four, and a further four players kicking three goals apiece.

Victory in this match sees the Saints needing only one further win to take an unassailable lead at the top of the ladder. Whilst coach Brandt Lee will be happy with the result he will be looking for tougher matches ahead of the Finals Series and will be sure to get that next against Coffs Harbour Breakers.

Sawtell Toormina Saints 33.23 (221) defeated Grafton Tigers 1.0 (6)

Breakers victory over Port Macquarie Magpies kept the minor premiership race alive for at least one more week and sees them extend their winning run to four in a row. This latest win also moves the Breakers three wins clear of Port in second and to within one further positive result of ensuring that they can’t finish lower than that position.

Port held a slender three point lead at the first break. Breakers fought back in the second quarter to head to the main break with a three goal lead, Port maintained contact during the third, but Breakers eased away with seven goal last term to record a 39 point win.

Nick Stanlan-Velt had his most productive day of the season for Breakers, booting seven goals. Shaydan Close (three goals), Josh Lansdowne and Harry Parker (two goals each) played important support roles in providing alternate avenues to goal.

On the plus side for Port, it was another good performance against a top two team. On the minus side, they haven’t recorded a victory against either Breakers or Sawtell since round 3 and the players must be wondering if that win will come in 2018.

Young Ed Smith continued his great start in Senior footy with three goals, an effort that was matched by both Lachie Philpott and Brendan Badenoch. Fraser Carroll and Nathan Cameron-Hancock each added two goals to the tally but it was the lack of having one player kicking a big bag that ultimately proved the difference.

Coffs Harbour Breakers 19.20 (134) defeated Port Macquarie Magpies 15.5 (95)

The win in Seniors marked an historic day for the Breakers as it was the first occasion that the club won all four grades in the same round. The highlight of this effort was the first win in a competitive fixture for the Breakers Women who put the last couple of week’s disappointment behind them with a three goal win over the high flying Port Magpies.

The first half of the match was a real arm wrestle with neither team able to gain the ascendancy and only one point the difference. Breakers really stepped up in the third quarter, kicking three goals and holding Port scoreless, to grab the advantage and put themselves on the verge of their first victory.

Although they couldn’t kick away in the last term, Breakers defence held rock solid and limited Port to just two behinds in a scene that was reminiscent of the Magpies final term effort in the previous week’s draw with Sawtell.

Experienced pair Casey Miosge (three goals) and Katika Adams (one goal) not only led the scoring for Breakers they also led an extremely enthusiastic rendition of the club song.

Port’s lone goal was kicked by Megan Cooper who was playing just her third match and is finding her place within the team.

Coffs Harbour Breakers 4.3 (27) defeated Port Macquarie Magpies 1.3 (9)

For full results click here.