An eight goal to two first half from Blackwood has helped the side recorded its seventh A Grade victory of 2019 defeating the Uraidla Districts Demons by 47 points in Round 14 of the Mortgage Choice Hills Football League. Speaking the rooms after the victory, senior coach Ryan Anderson said he was delighted how the team played today, “We put in a lot of work in the two weeks we had off. I don’t know of many sides who wouldn’t have had a session off across a two-week break. It really showed out there today with our extra fitness.”
On a perfect day for football at U-Install-It Kitchens Oval, the Woods made three changes to the side from its previous game, with Nathanael Dudley, Kurt Thompson and Jan Warbout coming into the selected 21 player squad. Kicking to the southern end of the ground in the first quarter the Woods made a quick start kicking the first three goals of the match. In only his third game of the season, Ben Macreadie hit the scoreboard early taking a mark and kicking straight from the pocket. When Jak Baldissera kicked straight from a set shot and James Hopton snapped a miracle check side goal from the boundary line, the large home crowd in attendance was very buoyant. Michael Tudor Tsourtis replied for the visitors converting straight over the goal umpires hat from a set shot. Some clever work on the goal line late in the term resulted in Daniel Benson kicking the fourth goal of the term for the Woods and take a 15 point advantage into the first break despite both sides having the same number of scoring shots.
With the Woods able to find quick ball movement across the ground they were looking back to their dangerous best at the start of the second term. Playing-coach Anderson got the first goal of the quarter from a long range set shot. Uraidla instantly replied through full-forward Travis Oakley from a set shot. Blackwood then stepped on the accelerator kicking three goals from Macreadie, Phil Hopton and Nick Homburg as they took a 32 point lead into the half time break.
The Woods coaching staff would have been impressed with the first half performance of the side with it being only the fourth time in the past 33 games since the start of 2018 they had kicked eight goals in the first half. Luke Thomas helped Uraidla make the perfect start in the third quarter kicking a long range running goal to kick the quarter off. Not long after, a turnover from Woods player Jacob McCarthy across the middle of the ground saw the Demons able to move the ball quickly forward and result in Oscar Walters swop on the loose ball to snap the fourth major for the Demons to pull the margin back to three goals. When Nick Jordan kicked a set shot from 30 metres out directly in front, Uraidla were well and truly in the match. Making up for his earlier mistake, McCarthy snapped a goal for the Woods as time on approached to pull some momentum back. A third goal to Macreadie from the goal square very late in the term gave the Woods a 26 point advantage at the final break.
Giving the team one last message, Coach Anderson urged his players to finish the match off. With the Woods half back line of Kurt Thompson and Scott Bricknell providing drive, the Woods were able to move the ball quickly in the last term. Kicking long inside 50, Macreadie took a contested mark by the behind post. Snapping truly for his fourth of the game the Woods were in complete control. Kicking a further three goals for the term through Macreadie, Baldissera and James Hopton the Woods ran out the game to record a 47 point victory and kick their highest score since the 18th of May.
Nick Homburg was adjudged best player for the Woods having numerous disposals and setting up many plays. Jake Atkinson, Bricknell, Macreadie and Liam McCarthy also caught the eyes of the coaching panel being named in the batter players.
Final scoreboard
Blackwood 4.0 8.1 10.2 14.6 (90)
Uraidla Districts 1.3 2.5 5.6 6.7 (43)
Goal scorers – B Macreadie 5, J Baldissera 2, J Hopton 2, R. Anderson, D. Benson, N Homburg, P Hopton, J McCarthy
Better players – N Homburg, J Atkinson, S Bricknell, B Macreadie, L McCarthy
Other HFL Results
B Grade – Blackwood 4.8 (32) defeated by Uraidla Districts 6.7 (43)
C Grade – Blackwood 9.3 (57) defeated Kersbrook 6.2 (38)
Senior Colts – Blackwood 11.12 (78) defeated Uraidla Districts 3.5 (23)
Junior Colts – Blackwood 11.14 (80) defeated Uraidla Districts 2.0 (12)
Mini Colts – Blackwood 6.6 (42) defeated Uraidla Districts 3.2 (20)
Open Womens – Bye
Under 16 Girls – Blackwood 6.5 (41) defeated Onkaparinga Valley 1.2 (8)
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