The Blackwood Football Club had mixed results in the first semi-finals playing at Uraidla Oval on Sunday afternoon. The club had four teams playing (Under 14s, Under 18s, B Grade and A Grade) with the A Grade and Under 14s securing victories, whilst the B Grade and Under 18s went down in narrow defeats. Match summaries below:
A Grade
The match between Blackwood and Mt Barker was poised to be a close affair with both sides having won once from the two matches played against each other during the home-and-away season. The Woods made a late change with Jak Baldissera taking the place of Jan Warbout. The Woods kicked the opening major of the match in the seventh minute through Jake Atkinson after he received a free kick in the scoreboard pocket. Mt Barker then controlled the play in the later part of the term kicking three majors to take a 13 point lead into the first break.
Going with the breeze in the second quarter, coach Damien Salievic urged his players to lift their intensity at the first break. “We must get back in control around the midfield and not allow them to have time to dispose of the ball when in possession.” With half backers Jones, Kenny and Thompson able to get in the game at the start of the second quarter the Woods began to work their way into the match. Getting out the back of the Barkeroos the Woods kicked four goals to one in the term to turn the 13 point quarter time deficit into an 8 point lead.
Coming back after half time, it was going to be an important quarter for both sides with the season of the loser finished. Blackwood got the first goal of the quarter through Nick Homburg after one minute. Getting the initial centre clearance and forward stoppage, Homburg roved the tap from Jake Atkinson to snap the ball over his right shoulder from 40 metres out. Scott Bricknell lit the game up kicking two goals in two minutes in the middle part of the term the Woods extended their lead to 21 points. Two late goals to Adam Eckermann and Henry Johnson saw the Barkeroos draw to within nine points at the final break.
With the season on the line in the last quarter both sides went goal for goal at the start of the last term. Ryan Dijksman kicked his first major of the match in the fifth minute but the Barkeroos were pushing back hard. When star players Homburg and Macreadie kicked majors in the middle part of the term the Woods were doing enough to keep the charging Roos at bay. A tense final few minutes saw the Woods lock down in defence to run out 11 point winners when the final siren went.
Final scoreboard
Blackwood 1.2 5.6 8.8 11.11 (77)
Mt Barker 3.3 4.4 7.5 10.6
Goal kickers – Bricknell 3, Homburg 2, Macreadie 2, Atkinson 1, Catford 1, Dijksman 1, P. Hopton 1
Best players – Macreadie, Thompson, Woods, Benson, Homburg
B Grade
Coming into the match the Woods had a 2-and-1 record over the Devils in the three matches in 2018. Both sides got away to inaccurate starts in the opening quarter kicking 1.5 (11). The Woods made the most of their chances in the second quarter kicking 2.1 to 1.3 to take a four point lead into the half time break. Going against the breeze in the premiership quarter the Woods found themselves defending for much of term. The defenders managed to hold back the tide till late in the term when the Devils stepped on the accelerator to take a 17 point lead into the last change.
Coach McCarthy gave his players one last rev up urging them to take move the ball forward at all costs. Kicking the opening goal of the term the Woods gave themselves a chance in the final quarter but couldn’t ultimately pull the margin back.
Final scoreboard
Blackwood 1.5 3.6 3.7 4.10 (34)
Mt Lofty 1.5 2.8 5.12 6.14 (50)
Goal kickers – N. Work 2, Greaves 1, A. Work 1
Best players – Herbert, Dunn, J. Hopton, Semba, L. McCarthy
Under 18s
With the three matches between the sides being decided by 10 points it was going to be a close match for the cut-throat semi-final. Taking the most of their opportunities in front of goal the Woods lead the remained in front on the scoreboard for the first three quarters to lead by 8 points at three quarter time. Going against the breeze in the last quarter, the young Woods couldn’t hold back the Devils who managed to get control of the ball around the midfield to run over the top kicking six straight goals to one to run out 22 point winners.
Final scoreboard
Blackwood 2.1 3.2 5.5 6.5 (41)
Mt Lofty 0.2 1.8 3.9 9.9 (63)
Goal kickers – Bailye 3, Brown 1, Evans 1, T. Hocking 1
Best players – L. Hocking, Tagni, Dinning, Wishart, Bailye
Under 14s
The Woods came up against Onkaparinga Valley, a side which they hadn’t defeated in the home-and-away season. The Woods dominated the first half but didn’t take full advantage on the scoreboard kicking 1.4 (10) to no score. Fighting hard in the second half, the Woods held off the Bulldogs who gave everything they had to get back into the game to record a nine point victory and progress into the preliminary final.
Final scoreboard
Blackwood 0.2 1.4 2.6 3.6 (24)
Onkaparinga Valley 0.0 0.0 1.2 2.3 (15)
Goal kickers – Finlayson 1, Markham 1, Strachan 1
Best players – Jones, Salangsang, Finlayson, Torode, Simpson
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