The Blackwood Football Club has recorded it best start in 12 seasons winning the five games of the season after a 34 point win over the Echunga Football Club in Round 6 of the Hills Football League.
Since re-joining the Division 1 ranks in 2014 the Echunga Football Club have had a good record over Blackwood winning five out of the seven matches played between them and two out of three at the Windy Hill venue. Both sides entered the clash with high hopes, with Blackwood looking to make it 5 wins to start the season and Echunga looking to test their abilities and bounce back from the round 5 loss to Mt Barker.
Brad Jones gets a kick in his 150th senior game
Jake Atkinson uses the post to help him mark the ball
Echunga made five changes with Nathan Ellis, Haydn Pocock, Jarryd Rice, Brock Rothe and Daniel Stone coming into the side in the place of Kyle Biersteker, Liam Doecke, Sam Grave, Tom Schumacher and Fraser Thorn. Whilst Blackwood made two changes with big man Jake Atkinson and Adam Ridley replacing Dustin Head and Jacob McCarthy.
Echunga started kicking down the hill and made a great start winning the first centre clearance. Both sides felt each other out early with scoring hard to come by. It took until the fifth minute of the game for the first major to be scored by former Norwood and Glenelg player Dylan Reinbrecht. Echunga then scored another goal at the seventh minute mark and were on top of the game early. Lead by captain Kurt Thompson, the Woods held strong for the next few minutes as Echunga pressed forward again on numerous occasions. Blackwood then moved the ball forward with speed and scored their first goal through midfielder Michael Minuzzo in the fifteenth minute. The game then opened up and scoring became easier for both sides. When the siren sounded for quarter time the scoreboard read, 4.3.27 apiece.
The Woods came out the better side at the start of the second quarter. They controlled much of the early play going down the hill with the aid of a breeze. Echunga unfortunately lost Brodie Fleet early in the quarter with a nasty shoulder injury. The Demons were still fighting hard with Joel Aish looming dangerous up forward and were keeping pace with the home side. Blackwood turned up the heat mid-way through the quarter with Phil Hopton and Ryan Dijksman scoring majors. When Adam Ridley popped up for two goals deep into the quarter the home side managed to take a 22 point lead into the main break.
Nick Homburg side steps an opponent
Matt Waldron making a last ditch attempt to stop the ball
Both sides regrouped in the rooms as the crowd searched for refreshments. Blackwood started the first 12 minutes of the 3rd quarter with only 17 players as Nick Homburg received a yellow card late in the second quarter. Echunga hoped the extra man would be an advantage. The visitors got the first goal of the quarter inside 2 minutes as they looked to make a run. Blackwood forward Jake Atkinson got an immediate reply after being awarded a free kick at the top of the goal square, much to the dismay of Echunga defender David Liston. Both sides went goal for goal for the next 10 minutes as neither could gain an advantage in the game.
In the 19th minute of the 3rd quarter, the game was paused for 5 minutes as Daniel Bennetts was stretchered off after being knocked out courtesy of a sling tackle. The home side lifted after this point with a goal to Michael Minuzzo to steady the ship. When Blackwood’s Ryan Anderson was given a late hit on the 3 quarter time siren it resulted in a down field free kick to Minuzzo. He went back and kicked straight as the Blackwood players celebrated accordingly and took a 34 point lead into the final change.
Echunga coach Mick Duncan urged his players to continue fighting as they had done in the first three quarters and if they played man-on-man they could keep up with the home side. They came out hard at the start of the opening quarter looking to apply heavy body pressure to the Woods. Blackwood held strong continuing to play an attractive brand of football. When Nick Homburg and Minuzzo kicked early goals for the Woods the game appeared to be all over. Echunga managed to get late goals through Reinbrecht, Carey and Aish to draw the margin closer but it was all to no avail and the home side lead by 34 points when the final siren was blown.
Jake Atkinson competes for a mark under immense pressure
James Catford looks to break away from this opponents
The better players for the home side featured the goal kickers with Minuzzo, Dijksman and Ridley receiving acknowledgement from the coaching staff whilst Steve Woods and James Catford also got a special mention.
In summary, the game was a physical affair as Echunga looking to physical assert themself against the hosting Blackwood side. They have some high quality players who know how to play football however depth is an issue with the 16th to 21st players for Blackwood contributing more to the game than their counterparts for Echunga. Blackwood continued to be able to score during the game kicking over their average of 108 points per game as they play a fast moving attract brand of football.
The Woods statistically based on 2016 the second most improved side in the competition scoring twenty-three more points a game whilst conceding seven less. With the other results coming, the Woods remaining in second position on the ladder (on percentage) after the competition of Round 6.
In other results
It was another successful weekend for the Blackwood Football Club winning 73% of games played for premiership points. The results read:
Hills Football League
B Grade: Blackwood 27.9.171 defeated Echunga 3.1.19
C Grade: Blackwood 5.10.40 defeated by Hahndorf 16.11.107
Senior Colts: Blackwood 12.10.82 defeated Echunga 9.5.59
Junior Colts: Blackwood 17.7.109 defeated Echunga 2.1.13
Mini Colts: Blackwood defeated Echunga
Chad Simmons runs through the banner to celebrate his 200th senior game
Brad Jones gets chaired off after his 150th senior game
SANFL Boys
Under 14s: Blackwood 4.4.28 defeated by Lockleys 8.8.86
Under 12s: Blackwood 0.0.0 defeated by Mt Lofty 4.4.28
Under 11s: Blackwood v Glenunga (score not uploaded)
Girls
Under 18s: (No game played)
Under 16s: Blackwood 6.14.50 defeated Seaton Ramblers 3.3.21
Under 14s: Blackwood 2.14.25 defeated Seaton Ramblers 0.0.0
Next weekend
In the Hills Football League there is a bye this weekend due to the Interleague carnival. The Blackwood Football Club will still be in action with our SANFL Boys and Girls teams playing. Our modified juniors also have games at various times across the weekend.
The fixtures are as follows:
SANFL Boys
– Under 14s: Blackwood v Colonel Light Gardens (Sunday 21st of May @Blackwood Hill Oval from 1.20pm)
– Under 12s: Blackwood v Colonel Light Gardens (Sunday 21st of May @Blackwood Hill Oval from 12.00pm)
– Under 11s: Blackwood v Unley Jets (Sunday 21st of May @Kingswood from 12.00pm)
Girls
– Under 18s: Blackwood v Kenilworth (Friday 19th of May @St Marys Park from 8.00pm)
– Under 16s: Blackwood v Ironbank (Sunday 21st of May @Blackwood Hill Oval from 10.40am)
– Under 14s: Blackwood v Glenunga (Sunday 21st of May @Blackwood Hill Oval from 9.30am)
Next HFL Game
The weekend after, Blackwood travel to Uraidla in Round 7. Uraidla is a less than happy ground for the Woods in the past seasons, winning only 4 out of the last 11 games they have played at the venue and only 10 of the last 26 games against Uraidla since 2006.
Saturday 27th of May @ Uraidla Oval
#honourthecolours
