Sport
19 May, 2023
Narrow win for Saints
KOROIT returned to the winners’ list last Saturday with a narrow four-point win over the Blues.
Coming off a 62-point loss at the hands of top-side South Warrnambool in round four, the Saints were keen to get back on the board last weekend.
In perfect conditions at Reid Oval on Saturday, the third-placed Saints got an early jump on the home side, kicking six majors in the first quarter while keeping the Blues to just two.
To their credit, the Blues fought back hard in the second quarter, adding two goals six to the scoreboard while restricting the Saints to just one behind.
The Saints held a slim eight-point lead going into the third but piled on four majors for the term.
The final quarter proved a tight contest between the two, with the Blues almost taking a come-from-behind victory – falling just four points short on the siren.
Final scores Koroit 10.11.71 to Warrnambool 8.19.67.
Best for the Saints were Paddy O’Sullivan, Thomas Baulch, Jack Block, Finn O’Sullivan, Clem Nagorcka and Tom Couch while for the Blues, Reggie Mast, Rhys Jansen van beek, Nicholas Hooker, Will Lord, Daniel Weymouth and Jye Turland were among the best.
Tom Couch booted five for Koroit and was well supported by team-mates Jayden Whitehead with two and singles from Matthew Bradley, Connor Byrne and Paddy O’Sullivan. For the Blues, Jackson Bell and Damien McCorkell kicked two each, while Sam Cowling, Rhys Jansen van beek, Harry Ryan and Jed Turland added one each.
The loss left the Blues in seventh spot on the Hampden ladder, with just two wins on the board but only a game out of the five – percentage behind sixth-placed Cobden and a game behind North Warrnambool Eagles who round out the top five.
Koroit will take on the fast-improving Camperdown at Leura Oval tomorrow, in a third versus fourth match-up. In other Hampden League matches this weekend, the Blues will host Hamilton, Portland will travel to Cobden to take on the Bombers, Terang Mortlake will host South Warrnambool in a top-of-the-table clash while North Warrnambool will be home to Port Fairy. In the reserves, the Blues proved too strong for the Saints, 12.12.84 to 4.3.27.
McKenzie Royals booted three for Warrnambool, while Isaac Duerden and Finn Radley added two each and Nicholas Cowan, Darcy Dobson, Matt Holt, Steven Lampton and Noah Turland each added one.
Among the best for the Blues were Jordan Foott, Steven Lampton, McKenzie Royals, Declan Hoffman, Jack Dowd and Nicholas Cowan.
In last week’s under 18.5s match at Reid, the Saints enjoyed a 35-point victory over the Blues, 9.10.64 to 4.5.29.
Best for the winning side were Harry Noonan, Zaine Atkins, Talor Byrne, Jordan Lathwell, Jag McInerney and Connor McDonald while for the Blues, Sam Carter, Sam Barker, Hugh Morgan, Kye Brereton, Lachie Cook and Ryan Barnes were best.