Big win soured by knee injury
PALM Beach-Currumbin have had the euphoria of a huge win against Western Magpies soured by a seasonending knee injury to young defender Josh Lys.
Coach Chad Owens said scans yesterday confirmed that Lys had torn an anterior cruciate ligament and will not play again this year.
“Everyone here is shattered for Josh,” Owens said.
“It’s a real shame because he had not missed a game since his debut as a 17-yearold in the first round of 2015.”
The Lys injury was the only sour point for the Lions who started slowly with five straight behinds – the Magpies kicked the first two goals.
“We started slowly but kicked the next five goals,” Owens said.
“We bombed a few easy ones bit I always thought we were in control.”
The sheer pace of PBC was way too much for the Magpies to handle.
The Lions enjoyed strong efforts from Jed Harrison and Ben Headland across halfback, Jake Dignan and Jason Burge in the middle and young Caleb Graham, who kicked four goals on debut.
Broadbeach somehow managed to blow a 20-point lead at the 21st minute mark of the final term to share the points against Sandgate at Lemke Road Oval.
The game ended all square with Sandgate on 10.20 (80) and Broadbeach 11.14 (80) for a result left Cats coach Brett Andrews exasperated.
“First up there was a stoppage 30 metres out from goal and a Sandgate player did a Pele, kicking the ball off the ground and through for a goal,” Andrews said.
“Then right at the death young Connor Nutting had a kick to win it from not far out but as he ran in the siren sounded and he appeared to stall and didn’t make the distance.”
Half-back flanker Xavier McMahon and centre halfback Evan Panozza served the Cats best.
At Hickey Park in Brisbane premiers Labrador kept their unbeaten run going with a 15.14 (104) to 7.9 (51) win against Wilston-Grange.
Reigning Grogan Medallist Wayde Mills was again outstanding for the Tigers who led by only nine points at half-time. Adam Clarke and Billy Hicks were also good.