Southern footy results

Southern Football League
Round 15 match reviews

Central Hawks v New Norfolk
THE Eagles took the long road trip to Oatlands Oval in freezing conditions to face the win-less Central Hawks after the match was transferred from Bothwell due to ground conditions. In what was always going to be a tough assignment for the home side, they started quite well against their more fancied opponents and only trailed the Eagles by 19 points at the first break. Again, the home side was extremely competitive in the second term, and while the Eagles managed to kick four majors, the Hawks managed to add one themselves mainly through the efforts of Brown and McWilliams to trail by 40 points at half time.

Whatever coach Matthew Smith said to the visitors at half-time worked as they came out fired up, and through Thompson, Bonnitcha and the work of Joseph piled on seven goals to the Hawks' one to open up a big lead going into the final term. The Hawks continued to fight the match out and managed to hold the Eagles to another five goals in the final term. Generally poor kicking for goal in the second half could have seen the Eagles final winning margin of 115 points be far greater. Best players for the Eagles included Clayton, Bonnitcha with three goals, Booth (three goals) and Hayden, while for the brave home side Horne, Brown, McWilliams and Nibbs battled hard all day against the odds as they still remain to win a game for the 2012 season.

Brighton v Sorell
THE Brighton Robins finally got themselves back into winning form and back in the race for a finals spot with a solid 44 point victory over a gritty Sorell team at Pontville Oval. The Robins who have been in a real form slump started brightly but the Eagles were also up to the task as Brighton held a five-point lead at the first break. Sorell really kicked into gear in the second term, and started winning the ball from the middle of the ground through Williamson and Hitchens to run and spread creating head-aches for their opponents. Five goals to two had the Eagles only trailing by two points at the long break, with the Robins knowing they had a real fight on their hands in a critical game.

In a game of ebbs and flows the Robins emerged and played the better football in the third quarter, and with Willing and Conolon working hard, they kicked four goals to Sorell’s one, to open up a 15 point lead with a quarter to go; however Sorell were still very much in the contest. As players from both sides began to tire in the conditions, it was Brighton who managed to break the Eagles shackles kicking another three goals and wasting numerous other goal scoring opportunities in keeping the Eagles to only two points to run out 44 point victors. Best players for the relieved Robins included Delaney, Howlett, Conolon (three goals) and Steele, while Martin also added four majors. 

Claremont v Lindisfarne
LINDISFARNE travelled to Abbotsfield Park to take on the Claremont Magpies in what loomed as a real danger game with Claremont fighting hard to hold onto fifth spot in the final six. The game opened at a frenetic pace with both sides endeavouring to gain control of the midfield and stoppages. In a physical encounter, both sides managed four goals each in the opening term with Lindisfarne leading by four points at quarter time. The second term became a real battle of the backlines with neither side able to break the other open on the scoreboard. Phillips and Proctor were working hard for the Two Blues while Corbett and Cowley were instrumental in keeping the Magpies in the contest with scores locked at 35 apiece at half time in a low scoring and entertaining affair.

Lindisfarne managed to gain some run in the third term to slightly break the game open and kicked three goals to the Magpies' one to take a handy 14-point lead into an intriguing final quarter. The final term witnessed Lindisfarne slowly but surely wear the Magpies down, and with their mid-fielders starting to dominate, kicked another five goals whilst keeping the Claremont side to a solitary behind to eventually go on and record a very good 44 point victory in front of a big Claremont home crowd in cold and bitter conditions. Better players for the victors included Marriott with three valuable goals, Phillips, Proctor and Smith while the Magpies were best served by Bennett, Bedford, Cowley and Corbett. There we no multiple goal-kickers for the Claremont side.


Cygnet v Huonville
CYGNET and the Huonville Lions played out a thrilling draw in front of a very good crowd in cold and wet conditions at Cygnet Oval.

Dodges Ferry v Kingborough
THE match of the round between Dodges Ferry Sharks and the Kingborough Tigers at Shark Park turned into a "fizzer" with the Tigers thrashing the Sharks on their home ground.