The Blackwood Football Club recorded its third loss of Season 2018 going down to Hahndorf by 23 points in Round 11 of the Mortgage Choice Hills Football League. In a match with a finals like atmosphere, the sides went blow for blow in the opening half before the Magpies kicked away kicked away scoring six goals to two after the main break.
Post-match coach Damien Salievic said it was a disappointing result. “Our skill level let us down today. We must be better in the little things to win games like this”
Coming into the match both sides ranks as one and two for defence and that’s how the opening quarter panned out. Moving the ball was tough in the opening quarter with both sides applying tremendous pressure to the ball carrier. The first goal of the match came to Hahndorf in the fourth minute through a free kick and resultant 50 metre penalty for language.
The home side then control the next 15 minutes of play with the defence intercepting any forward attacks the Magpies made. The Woods lost Scott Bricknell in the middle part of the quarter after he was collected by Darcy Hourigan in a marking contest. Despite this, the Woods were able kicking three majors through Ryan Dijksman (twice) and Mitch Smith to hold a steady lead. A late goal from Hahndorf in red time brought the margin back to five points at the first break.
Going down the slope in the second term, the Magpies got the early jump kicking two majors in the opening five minutes of the term. With Scott Purling intercepting any attack the Woods made, Hahndorf were starting to control the play and field position holding the ball inside their 50 for long periods of the quarter. The home side could only manage two behinds for the term to trail by 9 points at the main break.
Like the second quarter, the visiting Magpies made a great start in the third quarter kicking the opening goal within two minutes. The goal came through live-wire David Hankin was able to find space out the back of the Blackwood zone and waltz into the goals to kick his first major of the match and give his side a 15 point lead. The Woods got the immediate reply through midfielder Jacob McCarthy who was able to scramble a goal from the square after the ball got over the back of the pack. The Woods controlled the middle period of the quarter but were unable to capitalise only kicking three behinds for all their hard work. Once again in red time, the Magpies were able to move the ball with forward and convert a goal to give themselves a 14 point lead at the final break.
Like the opening three quarters, the Magpies got the first goal of the quarter in quick time. The goal came from star player Matt Jaensch who was able to find space and kick a long goal, much to the delight of all team-mates who came and celebrated. Hahndorf was running over the top of the Woods, kicking their second major of the term in the ninth minute when Jaensch torpedoed a ball from the kick out to the centre circles which then found Hankin loose in the forward 50. Additional goals to Hourigan and Cooper Nykamp sealed the win for the Magpies. Phil Hopton was able to get a late goal for the Woods to pull the margin back to 23 points before the final siren sounded.
It was a match which was very much like a final with both sides applying tremendous pressure the player in possession of the leather. The final scores represented this as it was the lowest scoring match of Round 11 with 107 points in total scored. Using their height and weight advantage, the Magpies were able to get on top around the midfield and give their forwards more opportunities to score. At the end of the match the Magpies had eight more scoring shots (20 to 12) and that proved to be the difference.
For the unsuccessful Woods, Matt Waldron was named best player for his job on Darcy Hourigan whilst Daniel Bennetts, Steve Woods, Kurt Thompson and Matt Tuck also featured in the better players.
Final scoreboard
Blackwood 3.1 3.2 4.6 5.7 (37)
Hahndorf 2.1 4.6 6.8 10.10
Goals – Dijksman 2, Hopton 1, McCarthy 1 and Smith 1
Best – Waldron, Bennetts, Woods, Thompson, Tuck
Other Hills Football League results
B Grade – Blackwood 7.5 (47) defeated by Hahndorf 13.8 (86)
The B Grade recorded their second loss in a row going down by 39 points in a tough match. The young Woods matched it with their more experienced opponents in the first half. Coach McCarthy said after the match that the loss of concentration at points really hurt the side. “We lost by six goals and conceded five goals from free kicks or 50m penalties.” Veteran ruckman Nick Work was named as best player with Moe Milsom, Ryan Williams, Deqlhan Files and Tyson Aiston also earning a special mention. The side slips to fifth position one point behind fourth but seven points clear of sixth.
Senior Colts – Blackwood 8.4 (52) defeated by Hahndorf 10.8 (68)
The Under 18s faced the top of the table Magpies in key battle. Trailing by three goals at quarter time, the team kicked into action pulling the margin back to one goal at the main break. The second half was similar to the first with Hahndorf kicking away in the third quarter to end up recording a 16 point victory. Troy Hocking had a dominate display up forward kicking five majors to be named best player whilst Harry Bailye, Cooper De Zylva, Jackson Pole and Deqhlan Files also featured in the top five. With other results, the side remains in second position by percentage with games against fifth, sixth and eighth place to come after the bye.
Junior Colts – Blackwood 17.4 (106) defeated Hahndorf 0.4 (4)
The Under 16s faced the undefeated Hahndorf side in the Courier Cup Final. Looking to atone for Round 4 loss, the side made a great start kicking six goals to none in the first half. Continuing the form in the second half, the side kicked 11 further goals to run out 100 point winners, their seventh win in a row. It was a remarkable match as it was the biggest loss Hahndorf have had in any junior colts game since 2010 (they’ve only recorded 19 losses from 152 games) and the first time they have been kept goalless in that period. On return to the club, Mitch Robertson starred with four goals being named third best player with Eduard Van den berg, Jordan Cock, Sam Matters and Noah Brown also featuring in the top five. The win sees the team jump Hahndorf into first position.
Mini Colts – Blackwood 4.2 (26) defeated by Hahndorf 4.7 (31)
The Under 14s faced the second place Magpies is in a close game. Leading by 8 points at the main break the side fell behind in the premiership quarter conceding 2.5 (17) to no score. Digging deep in the last quarter the side outscored the Magpies but ran out of time trailing by 5 points when the final siren went. Oscar Whitehouse kicked two goals whilst Max Guthleben, Levi Mullins, Pat Hall, Archer Byrne and Laurence Strachan were named the best players. After other results, the side remains in fourth position on the ladder one points and 3.10% behind the third place Onkaparinga Valley.
