Two draws highlight juniors
Conditions were ideal for Warragul and district junior football at the weekend with exciting games including two drawn results.
A number of players celebrated milestones including two that reached 100 games.
The Under 12 and Under 14 interleague squads, each of 24 players, have also been finalised for the carnival to be held at Sale on July 2 and 3.
David Carpenter will coach the Under 12s and Rob Reid the Under 14s.
ELLINBANK v LONGWARRY Under 10 Ellinbank hosted Longwarry on an amazing morning for football. From the opening siren both teams tried hard and displayed some great skills by hand and foot.
There was diving marks, shepherding for team mates and some excellent talk.
In the end Ellinbank got the win with both teams able to be proud of their efforts. Under12 Under slippery conditions the ‘Battle of the Birds’ (Eagles v Crows) was always going to be a slog for the Eagles to upset the undefeated Crows. Both sides showed up with fire in the belly, hungry to take the points. It was the Crows tall players that who stood out with linking passages of play that produced a convincing win. Under 14 In good conditions to start the game it became a classic battle of defences with the backmen of both sides excelling to produce a hard fought draw.
YARRAGON v BULN BULN Under 10 On a beautiful morning at the Yarragon ground both teams fought hard all day.
A very young Yarragon side battled throughout but struggled to get on the scoreboard.
Accurate kicking by Buln Buln and teamwork around the ball helped it to its win. Under 12 Buln Buln pulled away to a quick lead in the first quarter before Yarragon clawed their way back into the game and reduced Buln’s lead by half time.
There was solid tackling by both sides and some fine long kicking skills and intensity at the contests.
Buln Buln’s young players eventually took control and ran away with a well-deserved win.
Yarragon’s Will MacLean played his 50th game. Under 14 Some great ball skills displayed by both teams.
Buln Buln kicked away in the first half and with their experience against a young Yarragon side went away for a good win. BUNYIP v NEERIM DISTRICT Under 10 The stage was set for an exciting match with the top team against third on the ladder.
Neerim started strongly and as both teams settled the competition became fierce.
Clean disposals from Bunyip got it a goal ahead at the end of the third quarter.
Tension built in the final quarter as the Cats forged forward and kicked a goal to draw the game. Under 12 A terrific game throughout in which Bunyip got off to a great start on the back of its great pressure.
Neerim fought back and led for most of the game and although Bunyip did get in front late Neerim fought back to take the points.
Bunyip’s Brodie Brasier celebrate his 50 games. Under 14 Cool conditions greeted the teams at kick off.
The smaller Neerim District side worked hard to match the stronger and taller Bunyip.
Neerim started well but was unable to maintain the intensity after the first quarter. Bunyip kicked to be an easy winner. Bunyip’s Oliver Dennis played his 50th game and Rylan Berryman his 75th.
GARFIELD v COLTS Under 10 Both sides played determinedly and displayed and some great skills but it was Colts that proved too strong to run out winners. Under 12 Conditions were overcast but fine as Garfield started strongly in the first quarter with three unanswered goals.
Colts steadied in the second term and were competitive but Garfield reapplied the pressure in the second half with a great display of teamwork and a goal-kicking bonanza to run out convincing winners. Under 14 Garfield was strong across all four quarters.
Colts applied plenty of pressure and were hard at the ball but couldn’t tame the Stars that ran away with the game.
Garfield’s Jesse Wouters notched up 100 games. DROUIN MAROON v HALLORA Under 10 The Saturday morning game between Drouin Maroon and Hallora at Bellbird Park started with Drouin on top in the first quarter kicking the first two goals.
Hallora fought back with a goal in the last quarter but it was Drouin that came out on top in a great contest. Under 12 Drouin Maroon played Hallora in a hard-fought contest.
Drouin got out to a small lead in the first quarter in what was a very low scoring affair.
Both teams applied a lot of pressure in the ball carrier with the result coming down to the last few seconds and Drouin just prevailing in a tough contest. Under 14 In very competitive game Hallora tackled well and put Drouin Maroons under plenty of pressure.
However, Drouin proved to strong overall to win comfortably. THE BULLS v CALDERMEADE Under 10 The sides both played hard football and defended well with the first quarter scoreless.
Scores started to tick over in the second quarter in an even game in which the Bulls were able to put one more score on the board to win. Under 12 Caldermeade travelled to Loch for the match and kicked the first goal with some strong plays down the ground.
The Bulls put in some hard defensive work and tackling but it was the Cannons that prevailed on the day. Under 14 A tight contest for the first five minutes saw neither side get the ascendancy.
The Bulls were the first to kick into gear and had a two-goal lead by quarter time.
They then took full charge with link play that usually ended in goals to five them a commanding 10-goal lead at three quarter time that hey maintained until the siren.
WARRANOR v DROUIN GOLD Under 10 In a wonderfully skilful game of football Warranor was able to defend well to stop a few of Gold’s goals.
Gold’s marking skills were the difference in helping them to the win. Under 12 A great game of football played by both sides.
A top team effort by Drouin gave it a good lead that enabled it to hold off a fast finishing Warranor for a tight win.
Gold’s Brodie Atkins played his 100th game. Under 14 The weather stayed fine for two evenly matched teams to fight out their game at Logan Park.
There was never more than one kick between the sides’ scores.
Scores were level going into the last quarter but Warranor edged ahead and hung on for a thrilling win.
Warranor’s Regan Caddy and Lachlan Armour both played their 75th games.
Blues had the bye.