By Max Davies
WHILE Lancefield demonstrated an impressive fourth-quarter performance in round 14 action of the Riddell District Football Netball League senior football competition, the search is still on for that elusive full-game effort.
Despite kicking four goals to Macedon’s one in the final quarter, it was not enough to get the Tigers back into contention after trailing by 49 points at three-quarter time.
The Tigers were missing seven players from their ranks that could have made the difference against the Cats, however coach Tim Bannan said the circumstances provided a chance for more young players to have their chance in the senior side.
Bannan, who recently signed for another two years as Lancefield’s senior coach, said the turnaround in the final quarter helped the side get a ‘bit of respectability back on the scoreboard’.
“We gave them a head start pretty early on, our first three quarters weren’t great but I just had a chat to the boys at three quarter time and they got four goals to one goal in the last quarter,” he said.
“I don’t know what flipped but we got aggressive, our tackling was unbelievable, and our pressure and stoppages were really good. The boys know they can do it, they’ve just got to put it together for four quarters.”
Bannan named Riley O’Meara, Zach Webb and Michael Conlan as standout performers for the match, while young gun Benjamin Sankey again impressed, while the Tigers’ main ruck Thomas Waters returned following multiple weeks out of action.
Defender John Morgan suffered a slight hamstring strain, adding to the list of about 15 Tigers who have suffered long-term injuries this season.
“Hopefully next week we’ll get a few back into the side and then hopefully by the third-last round, we’ll be at full strength,” Bannan said.
Speaking on his re-appointment, Bannan said he was encouraged the club had stuck by him and shown faith in him as coach.
“I’ve just got to get cracking now and get these players firing and hopefully add two or three [players], and then we can start pushing for the final rounds,” he said.
Lancefield will this weekend travel to face the winless Western Rams, a match that Bannan said they ‘should win’ as he looked forward to potentially causing an upset against one of the top five sides in following rounds.
In other Riddell League action, Wallan went down in a tough match against undefeated Diggers Rest despite holding the lead at half time.
The Magpies got off to a strong start and led by 14 points at the end of the first quarter, however the Burras were able to quickly adapt to record a four-goal lead by the final siren.
The loss means Wallan slips to third on the ladder behind Woodend-Hesket, however this weekend’s bye will mean the Magpies have a chance to recover before travelling to Lancefield on August 5.
Elsewhere, the Western Rams’ grim season continued as hosts Romsey comfortably secured a 164-point thumping.
With 10 players scoring at least one goal for the Redbacks, it was Jack Jedwab who took out bragging rights with 10 goals to his name as the team continued to chase Riddell for fourth on the ladder.
Romsey will this weekend travel to face Woodend-Hesket as the season enters its final four rounds.
Netball
Lancefield’s A Grade netballers were unable to overcome hosts Macedon at the weekend, going down by almost 40 goals.
While Darcee Ellard, Amanda Bruce and Keeley Holter all played a part to record their team’s 32-goal total, the second-placed Cats easily accounted for the winless Tigers.
Wallan was back on the winner’s list after defeating Diggers Rest in a strong team performance. Headed by goalscoring efforts from Georgia Stevenson and Rebekah Konstantopoulos, the visiting side took home a 55-39 victory.
Romsey’s netballers also had a good run at the weekend, coming out on top against the visiting Rams by just four goals.
