Sport
21 July, 2023
Roosters dominate Hampden
LADDER leaders South Warrnambool have moved two games clear of Terang Mortlake following last weekend’s victory over the Saints.
The Roosters have become the benchmark for the Hampden League in season 2023 and will take great confidence from their narrow six-point win over the third-placed Koroit Saints last Saturday.
The Roosters were quick to stamp their mark on the game at Friendlies, going out firing from the first bounce, kicking five goals three in the opening term while restricting the visitors to just one behind.
But the Saints retaliated in the second, adding four goals four to the board to get within seven points heading into the main break. In what was a sea-sawing scoreboard, the third quarter saw the Saints add just two points while the Roosters kicked two goals seven to extend their lead to 24 points at three-quarter time.
And in the final term, the Saints finished strong, adding four majors, while containing the home side to just 1.1 – bridging the gap to six-points by the final siren.
Final scores were South Warrnambool 8.13.61 to Koroit 8.7.55. Shannon Beks kicked four goals and was named best for the Roosters, alongside Ollie Bridgewater, Isaac Thomas, Daniel Nicholson, Sam Thompson and Jed Henderson.
Will White kicked two for the home side while Jack Dye and Liam Youl added one goal each.
For the Saints, Thomas Baulch, Liam Hoy, Connor Byrne, Jyron Neave, Paddy O’Sullivan and Jack Block were all named among the best.
Goals went to Connor Byrne and Tom Couch (two each), Thomas Baulch, William Couch, Mitchell Lloyd and Jyrone Neave.
In other Hampden League games last weekend, the Warrnambool Blues went down by 15 points to Camperdown, Port Fairy were 60-point winners over Hamilton, Cobden accounted for North Warrnambool and Terang Mortlake defeated Portland.
Round 14 tomorrow will see Koroit host the Blues, Camperdown home to Cobden, Hamilton will travel to the Reid to take on the Roosters, North Warrnambool will host Portland and the Bloods will host Port Fairy at Mortlake.
