Blighty start strong against Bloods
Blighty seniors ventured to Tocumwal to take on the Bloods in round five of the Picola and District Football League on Saturday.
On a very fresh night, the twilight game playing conditions were challenging for both sides.
The Redeyes welcomed Rhys Holden for his first senior game, who presented well all night for the side.
Unfortunately, the game started out with an early ankle injury for John Lawton.
The backline stood up under fierce early pressure from Tocumwal.
Their fast ball movement and open forward line made life difficult, but Blighty withstood that pressure to produce some exciting football, which had coach Kyel Bain up and about at quarter time.
After the first quarter the guys were simply outplayed, but to their credit they fought it out to the very end, especially in the last quarter where their bench was down to the bare minimum.
Best players were Luke Charlton who played his best game for the year so far.
Luke Hay had another impressive game down back.
Nick Hay gave plenty of drive all night on the wing.
Brett Napier turned back the clock finding plenty of the football, and Aaron Litchfield who rucked all night doing a commendable job for the team.
Final score: Blighty 2.4 (16) lost to Tocumwal 22.14 (146).
In the reserves, spirit was shown early on in the game, with the side tackling well and putting pressure on a strong Tocumwal outfit.
George Ried and Jarrod Andrews were solid down back all day, as well as Cam Schultz who provided the run.
Daniel Smits gave his all for his first game back as did Riely Lynch and Will Ried.
The side put in a good effort against a really tough side and will continue to improve into the season.
Final score: Blighty 0.0 (0) lost to Tocumwal 17.19 (121).
Playing later in the day was a change for Blighty’s thirds side.
In the first quarter the midfield players turned it on and got away to a good start.
In the second and third quarters Tocumwal came back hard at us with the backline working overtime.
The last quarter was certainly a nail biter and the game could have gone either way, but the Redeyes held strong and came away with the win.
Harry McIlwain at full back was best on, playing an awesome game.
Dustin Lawson, Max Caruso and Bryce Lea were standouts running hard all day.
All in all it was most definitely a whole team effort to come away with the win on Saturday.
Final score: Blighty 7.11 (53) to Tocumwal 7.6 (48).
Blighty’s fourths side played an afternoon game at the weekend rather than their usual morning game.
Unfortunately, the young Redeyes still seemed to be sleeping as they came out of the blocks very slowly.
Tocumwal came hard out the gates. They are a quality side and definitely will be there at the pointy end of the season.
Coach Tim Brown said the side will use this as a lesson and learn from it.
“We know now we have a lot of work to do,” he said.
Better players for the day were Jarrod Hislop, playing an absolute cracking game all around the ground.
Jack Culton played a very strong game down the back line and his ball use was amazing.
Xander Strong, played another cracking game storming out of the back line.
Haydn Sampson, running off the wing, played a brilliant game.
Cobi Johnson just didn’t stop all day, getting plenty of the ball and battling all day.
Pip Bain, showed us she is improving week by week, getting amongst it and getting a few touches.
Final score: Blighty 0.0 (0) lost to Tocumwal 12.11 (83).