Round 6: Lower Plenty too good in the second half

Lower Plenty: 18.19-127
Panton Hill: 11.13-79

Goal Kickers: P. Davey 3, D. Butler 3, J. Singh 2, J. Whitcher, W. Box, R. Woods
Best Players: B. Strongman, S. Huf, W. Box, G. Mc Auliffe, C. Seaman, D. Pratt

Against a side we’ve never beaten, this game was built up as an important one in the context of the season, not only to improve the win-loss ratio, but coming off a solid win last week the boys wanted to benchmark themselves against one of the stronger team in the competition. And the early signs were good! It was a solid first quarter by the Redbacks, but with plenty of room for improvement and only a one point deficit, Coach Ramsay was optimistic. Three goals to two in the second term saw the Hills snatch the lead by half-time and during the break you could feel the desire and enthusiasm to create some history.

Unfortunately the second half didn’t go to the script. The Bears managed to get on a roll and the Hillers were unable to reverse the trend. Lower kicked six and seven goals respectively in third and forth (to our three and two) and ended up running away with the victory 127 – 79.

Once again our captain, Strongman, saw plenty of the footy and picked up best on ground honours. Huffy kept going about his business as he does week in, week out, as did vice-captain Will Box. ‘Super-fist’ (Stringa) was up to his usual standard and Chris Seaman was very impressive across the half-back line. Pratty had another good week in the ruck, particularly in the first half as we matched it with the Bears.

The end result was bitterly disappointing and unfortunately (as this is our only match against them in 2008) Lower retain the bragging rights for another year.


BEARS THUMP HAPLESS REDBACK RESERVES

Lower Plenty: 45.19-289
Panton Hill: 2.1-13

Goal Kickers: C. Tanti, B. Trim
Best Players: T. Dummett, R. Agius, M. Paterson, M. Constantine, A. Solum, W. Wenborn

A week is a long time in football. After last weeks fantastic team effort the Redbacks were this week stunned by the fast and direct Lower Plenty team. A bitterly disappointing and one-sided affair, this match was anything but, and illustrates the rift between the stronger and weaker sides in the competition. Nonetheless, the result should not have been so extreme.

On a day where individual performances were few and far between Ty Dummett, team Captain, was an absolute standout on the field. Coach John Manzoney declared on Saturday that Ty’s work rate and leadership in what he does and says on the field is unmatched and he should be seen as a role model for the playing group.

For the remainder of the side, Saturday’s effort would not be a memorable one from either a team or individual perspective.

After three weeks away, the Hills will finally return home this coming weekend, where they will be after plenty of local support to help them take on the power of the Whittlesea side.