By Bill Kuys
EMERALD headed to Yarra Glen in wet conditions for its second away game of the season.
In the first quarter neither team gained any advantage. Yarra Glen played the better footy, with eight scoring shoots to Emerald’s five, but trailed by two points at quarter time.
The second quarter was much the same, with our bigger-bodied players bursting out of the middle.
For Emerald, captain Daniel Porter led the way, but Yarra Glen kept bouncing back and took a slender one-point lead into the long break. In the third quarter Emerald started running hard, with Steve Wright out of the back line, Kristian Fidanza, Brent Hartnell, Alex Hellriegel and Josh Huisintveld denying Yarra Glen any chance of scoring and took a 10-point lead, going into the last quarter.
Yarra Glen, knowing they had a big chance, came out strong kicking the first two points under pressure only to have Emerald run the ball down the ground and kick a major.
That started Emerald’s run, with all players working hard, running the ball in numbers and Jesse Mather taking some great one-on-one marks and Scoony chipping in. Emerald kicked six goals to Yarra Glen’s one to win by seven goals, and have set up a great match against Yea at home next week.
Emerald 16.11.107 d Yarra Glen 9.12.66.
Goals: J. Mather 5, L. McKenna 3, J. Cousins 2, M. Scoon 2, M. Steer 2, K. Fidanza, C. Marsh.
Best: D. Porter, S. Wright, J. Huisintveld, L. McKenna, M. Steer, S. Sullivan.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:Reserves
After winning the first encounter at home, Emerald had recalled a couple of stalwarts to tackle the thunder at their large ground and remain entrenched in the top five. Yarra Glen opened the first term with a goal, and the Bombers nailed the next, to keep the game close, as it remained till quarter time, with Yarra Glen holding a two-goal lead.
With a few hard nuts moved on to the ball, Emerald began to win more clearances and use the ball more effectively, as the Bombers won the quarter, to move within four points at half time.
With the game in the balance, Emerald really began to hit its straps, with first use of the ball into the forward line and some great opportunistic goals, while the backline held strong to keep Yarra Glen goal-less. Then as the game progressed, Yarra’s discipline lapsed losing them two men. A great team effort by all players to win by a hard-fought three goals to beat a fellow top-five opponent.
Emerald 12.12.84 d Yarra Glen 10.6.66.
Goals: J. Lanyon 3, M. Egan 2, J. Pepi 2, J. Lewis, J. Galea, M. Abraham, D. Paull, J. Robson.
Best: M. Abraham, M. Egan, C. Williams, J. Lanyon, E. Doran, J. Robson.
Netball
The A Grade girls came out strong in the first quarter, with 17 goals, to Yarra Glen’s three.
With Emerald’s goaling being consistent and the defenders not letting the ball get into Yarra Glen’s goal ring, Emerald took hold of the game and once again made it their own.
Emerald scored a total of 32 goals to eight, in the second and third quarters, leaving an impression that they were a good strong team.
Going into the last quarter, Emerald continued their strong and accurate passing and great goaling gaining another 17 goals to Yarra Glen’s three.
Emerald 66 d Yarra Glen 14.
Goals: B. White 42, K. Walker 24.
Best: E. Borg, A. McDonough, R. Fox, B. White.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:B Grade
The girls didn’t start well with passing not being direct and goals not going in, making it a low-scoring quarter of three goals, to Yarra Glen’s 10.
Going into the third quarter, the Bombers were five goals, to Yarra Glen’s 24.
The girls really wanted to fight back and actually make a game of this, with better passing, more talking and goals going in, we scored seven goals, to Yarra Glen’s 13, still not enough, but we made a go of it.
Emerald continued to have a go in the final quarter, but Yarra Glen was just too strong for the girls, winning by 39 goals.
Yarra Glen 53 d Emerald 14.
Goals: K. Noonan 7, H. Steer 6, C. Elder 1.
Best: L. Cooper, L. Wright, C. Elder, D. Baguley.
