Reserves keep finals hopes alive

Following on from a big loss in the first week of the finals, the Tocumwal reserves were keen to make amends in the semi-final against Katandra in Yarroweyah on Saturday.

They went into the game with a positive and confident outlook.

With a loss meaning their season would be over, the boys were really keen to put in a huge effort and give themselves a chance at a peliminary final on home soil.

On the smaller Yarroweyah ground, with the wind in their sails after winning the toss, the Bloods started the game full of hunger and a real desire to be first to the ball and win the contest.

However, things did not go to plan in the first half of footy.

The Bloods got sucked into the contest and allowed the Cats to move and spread the football with a lot more ease when they won the ball.

With defence from both sides getting on top, it was a low scoring affair.

The Bloods were trailing by two points at half time - 1.3 (9) to 1.5 (11).

The scoreboard pressure was evident in the half-time address.

The Toc boys knew their third quarter effort, with the breeze, was going to play a big part in the game’s outcome.

With the extra time on in the last half, and the bodies starting to tire, the scoring became a bit easier.

But the Bloods did not make any real inr oads on the scoreboard in the third term.

Corey Parish and Will O’Leary started to provide some better link up play through the midfield and Jesse Colstan, Matt Petersen and Greg Whelan up forward managed to get their hands on the footy with a few clean passages of play.

Despite this the Bloods took a three-point lead into the last break and were kicking against the wind in the final term.

A few changes were made on the board with Petersen going back and the forward line restructured to make it more open, but Katandra still managed the first goal of the term.

This gave them a three-point lead early in the last, and really put some pressure back on the Bloods.

A quick reply from the Bloods really changed the momentum of the game and seemed to ignite a real spark in the Toc’s effort.

The final 15 minutes of the term was all oneway traffic, as the Bloods kicked the final four goals to run out 25-point winners.

Jesse Colstan ran riot with five of the team’s seven goals and some great desperation by Conner Crowley in the last term really epitomized the Bloods’ fighting spirit.

Emotions were high after the game, with the boys really celebrating a hard-fought win, justifying their position on the ladder, and allowing them to take on a home preliminary final this Sunday.

Final score Tocumwal 7.7 (49) def Katandra 3.6 (24).

Goals: Jesse Colston 5, Greg Whelan and Paul Quick.

Best: Jesse Colston, Will O’Leary, Corey Parish, Glenn Braybon, Kenny Chellew, Matt Petersen.

Dates to remember: Club Junior Vote Count and Presentation Night - Friday, September 16, 6.30pm.

Club Senior Vote Count and Presentation Night - Saturday, September 17, 6.30pm.