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South on top

Monday, 18th April, 2011

ON TOP: South’s Billy Dolan was one of the best players on Saturday. ON TOP: South’s Billy Dolan was one of the best players on Saturday.

By Balldock

South have moved to the top of the premiership table after scoring a 20 point win over the Robins on Saturday. 

It was a strange contest - with the margin only 10 points at the last change the result was in the balance - but in saying that the Roos never looked like losing the game.

The difference in the end was that the Roos had a strong marking target up forward in Cody Schorn, while the Robins struggled when going inside forward 50.

West ran to the Essential Energy end in the opening term aided by a three to four goal breeze, but it was the Roos who started the better with an early goal to Cody Schorn.

The Robins got there first when Henderson kicked truly to give the Robins a two-point lead.

The Roos were getting their hands on the footy first through Dolan and Stephens and resulted in another Schorn goal.

With South on top in most departments, Staker was able to run in and kick his first to extend the South lead to nine points.

As the term drew to a close the Roos gave away a free kick down field while Hayden was the recipient of the penalty and he goaled after the siren to bring the margin back to three points.

Simon O'Brien would not have been happy as Hayden could not get a sniff of the leather in the opening term.

The second was South's first chance to run with the breeze and while they dominated most of the early going, their accuracy had deserted them as they could only manage five behinds.

The Roos then lost skipper Michael Westley as he left the ground on a stretcher. On the restart Wes Burns kicked his first and the margin was out 14 points.

The Roos continued to attack the goal face and when Ty Corey chipped in with his first, the lead was 21 points.

The Robins managed to get one back late in the term when Simon Matten marked and goaled to put his side within 17 at the long break.

While the Roos wasted many chances in kicking 2-8 for the term they still had a handy lead.

The Robins opened the second half with a goal inside the first two minutes through Zac Gentle.

The Roos were able to run the ball against the breeze and they were rewarded when Burns kicked his second.

The Robins had lifted there work rate and when Hayden kicked a long goal, the margin was back to 10 points.

With both sides now fierce at the contest and the game opening up a little Purcell was quick to seize on his chance and kick South's second for the term. The Robins then lost Christos who was also carried from the ground on a stretcher.

West were still making hard work of running with the breeze but when Rose goaled before the three quarter time break, the Robins were within 10 points with one term remaining.

South were always going to be hard to run down and when Schorn kicked his third the lead was 16 points and the job just a little tougher for the Robins.

Mr Kennedy gave his side a little hope when he goaled at the five-minute mark, but the Roos were able to again take control.

Simon O'Brien kicked his first after a screamer, then Holmes followed it up with a screamer of his own.

With the game slipping away from the Robins Schorn was able to sneak away from his opponent and kick two quick goals to make the margin 31 points.

The Robins didn't give up and they finished the game with the last two goals through McInerney and Ryan.

The margin at the final siren was 20 points in South's favor and they now sit on top of the ladder after two rounds.

Best players

SOUTH: S. O'Brien, T. Corey, D. Stephens, B. Dolan, C. Schorn, M. O'Brien WEST: J. Naden, D. Milne, B. Rose, J. Blore, C. Ryan, N. Aguis


SOUTH: C. Schorn 5, W. Burns 2, J. Staker 1, T. Corey 1, M. Purcell 1, S. O'Brien 1

WEST: R.Hayden 2, S. Matten 1, Z. Gentle 1, B. Rose 1, M. Kennedy 1, B. McInerney 1, C. Ryan 1, A. Henderson 1.
