FIRST WIN AT SALE SINCE 2009 Warragul into ‘five’ after all the way victory
Warragul moved into the Gippsland League “five” with a 25-point win against Sale on Saturday.
It was the Gulls first win at Sale in eight years and their first back-to-back victories this year.
Warragul led at all the breaks to score 14-9 to 9-14.
The Gulls weren’t in their sharpest form but got the job done, something sides have to do to push for the finals.
And has been the case in the three wins this year they finished well.
A breeze favouring the northern end of the Sale ground freshened after half time and 14 of the 23 goals for the game were scored at that end.
Sale wasted a few chances with the breeze in the opening quarter enabling Warragul to go to the break leading 3-1 to 1-6.
The second term set up the Gulls victory.
They rammed through six goals for a 29-point half time lead.
That was pegged back to seven points starting the last quarter.
But Warragul responded, dominating the term to add 4-6 to the Magpies’ two goals.
Again Warragul was forced to make changes to its line-up, Leigh Sheehan and Caleb Serong out with injuries and Jake Orlicki unavailable.
And they lost Ashley Di Ciero (hip) and Jake Proctor (hamstring) before half time.
On-ballers Brad Scalzo and Nathan Paredes never have poor games and they were again key playmakers on Saturday.
Paredes has also been valuable when moving forward to “rest”, his three goals on Saturday bringing his season’s total to a more than handy 14.
Captain Brayden Fowler led from the front, alternating between midfield and forward roles and finishing the game with four goals. He’s now kicked 17 goals for the season. Matt Rennie seems to have found his niche in defence.
He put in another sound four quarters, his intercept marking turning many Magpie forward thrusts.
Aiden Maric on a wing played one of his best games at senior level and Under 18 player Will Cole in a back pocket, and having only his second senior game, showed calmness and clear thinking under pressure.
Sam Russell also had another solid match.
Another second-gamer Jedd Serong was important again with his second threegoal haul.
Scalzo, Jared Lane, Maric and Nic Mulqueen were other goal scorers for Warragul.
All games are important to Warragul as it chases a spot in the finals and it faces another when travelling away again next Saturday to Wonthaggi and for the first time in coach Steve Kidd’s tenure – this is his third season - tries to post three successive wins.
Power sits one game behind the Gulls on the ladder.