Mathoura relishes first win
Mathoura and Yarroweyah did battle in round five of the Picola District Football League, and after a dire off-season for both clubs it was the Timbercutters who finally had something to smile about.
Mathoura broke through for its first win of the 2022 season, and its first since round 15 last year.
Nick Ferrari’s 10 goals headlined the ‘Cutters 101-point win, with a closely fought first quarter giving way to a Mathoura onslaught, flipping the script on its early-season woes.
After both sides booted a solitary goal in the first quarter, Mathoura broke away to a 31-point lead at the half-time interval before putting the foot down in the second half, running away 19.16 (130) to 4.5 (29) winners.
“It’s obviously lifted the spirits of the club and the team,” Mathoura coach Stan Gilday said.
“Being our fourth game together, you can see their fitness has improved and it allows us to play a better brand of footy.
“We had a few players missing as well, so it made it an even better win. The boys loved it and they’ll get a lot of confidence out of it.
“They sang the song with gusto. And of course all the other people involved with the club, our die-hards, they enjoyed it immensely.”
Thomas Creighton once again performed strongly for the Timbercutters, while Connor Wright played a “pearler”, according to his coach.
Jack Duggan has been a consistent feature on the best players listing alongside Creighton, and this match was no exception.
“Jack’s fitness levels are getting up there, so he’s able to impact a few more contests,” Gilday said.
“He’s a darn good mark and he’s hard at the football.”
Yarroweyah is another club in the PDFL which has experienced troubles.
Struggling to field a senior side for the season, much of
Saturday’s team was made up of the club’s reserves.
Tom Scott and Dylan Langshaw battled manfully for the Hoppers, with goals coming through Geoff Benson, Andrew Giblin, Coleby Hellyer-Maud and Langshaw.
“The league allowed either side to collect their four points. (Yarroweyah) were a good bunch of people,” Gilday said.
Mathoura’s own troubles have been well documented, losing the majority of its senior list and club committee during the off-season.
Mathoura will now be hoping for a roll-on after a confidence-boosting win, and is set to regain several senior squad members next Saturday when it travels to face Berrigan.