Match Report: Woods win in the mud

Round 15 of the Hills Football League was a dour affair in wet and muddy conditions at Echunga Oval. The end result saw the Blackwood Football Club record its eleventh win of the 2017 campaign with a six victory win, 6.8.44 to 5.8.38.

The Woods started the match making two changes to the selected line up with Troy Edwards and Steve Woods replacing James Catford and Chris Williams both out through illness. For those unfamiliar with Echunga Oval, the Woods started kicking towards the northern end of the venue in the first quarter. This end of the oval looked in much better condition compared to the southern end which was heavily chopped up. Going against the breeze the Woods made the initial centre break. Holding the ball inside the forward 50 for the first few minutes the Woods were unable to score with the wind having an effect on their kicks going at the goals. As often happens in football, Echunga moved the ball down to the ground to kick the first major of the day through Brad White. The game moved into a tight contested play for the next patch of the quarter. Blackwood managed to get two majors on the board with Mark Reynolds and Ryan Dijksman kicking goals in the tenth and thirteenth minutes. When the quarter time siren blew, the Woods lead by 5 points.

Both sides were given their retrospective coaches at the first break as heavily focused on playing simple football and taking the opportunities when they came. The home side made the better start at the start of the second period. With Dylan Reinbreicht getting on top around the contest, the Woods defence were being put under pressure. Reinbreicht managed to find at acre of space in the centre of the ground in the third minute but failed to convert as the breeze took his kick for a minor score. Echunga continued to pressure and captalised with goals to Luke Carey and Joel Aish. The home side had hit the lead much to the pleasure of the vocal crowd huddle around the warmth of the wood heater. Blackwood lifted in the back end of the quarter with goals to Lucas Herbert, Dijksman and Nick Homburg to maintain a five point lead at the major break.

Harry Wake does the team thing as Daniel Bennetts gets a kick away

Ryan Dijksman celebrates at the final siren sounds

With the weather closing in, the supporters looked for warmth during the 15 minute interval. For those who walked past the open change room windows, both coaches could be clearly heard during the main break. As the sides ran out on the ground for the so called premiership quarter, it poised to be an interesting second half as the Woods were looking to keep their winning ways going whilst Echunga were looking to claim a scalp and move their way into the top 5. Blackwood were battling the start of the third quarter being down to only one fit man on the bench. Locking the play up, the quarter turned into a real scrap with Blackwood looking to nullify to the advantage the Demons had with the gale force breeze. Kicking 1.3 for the quarter to only one behind, the home side could have had a greater lead at the final change.

As good sides do, Blackwood continued to scrap in the final term as the side from Echunga continued to press. The only goal of the last quarter was scored through Phil Hopton with a scragging kick coming into the forward 50 resulting in the sixth goal for his side. Blackwood had more opportunities to finish the game off but failed to convert. With a nervous finished as Echunga pushed to get that final goal but ultimately the defence for the Woods held strong to see the scoreboard have a six point advantage when the final siren blew.

The best players for the victorious Woods were Senior Colt Captain Levi Grigg in this fourth game of A Grade football receiving best player in the eyes of the coaching staff, Phil Hopton who worked tirelessly across centre-half forward to provide a target, Kurt Thompson who patrolled centre half back , Nick Homburg and Steve Woods.

Best on ground Levi Grigg leaves his opponents in their place

Paul Magarey clears the ball from the pack with his trusty left boot

Summary

Overall this game wasn’t one that will be remember in the years to come with only 11 goals scored for the match. In tough conditions it was a tough battle particularly around the midfield with both sides throwing plenty of numbers around the ball. Echunga play a traditional game style relying on key positions players and not rotating heavily though their bench. The weather conditions played into this game style but as good sides do in this style of game, Blackwood was able to grind out the game and record the victory something which they might not have done in previous seasons. A defining statistic which both sides will look at after the season it completed is how settled they have been across the season. For Blackwood they have used the equal lowest number of players in the competition with 32 players pulling on the Red and the Green whilst Echunga have used 42 players the most of any side in the competition to date.

Looking forward for the Woods, with players still set to return in the coming weeks, the side should only be strengthen coming into the last three minor round games of the season.