LONGWOOD
SENIORS
IT was a mixed bag for local football sides this weekend, with some teams battling hard and others feeling the full weight of strong opposition.
But it was the Longwood seniors who stole the spotlight Saturday night with a determined and hard-fought win, bouncing back to a 2-2 season record under testing circumstances, sealing a 38-point win.
The side started with pace and clean ball movement which converted into early scoreboard pressure, but a sluggish third quarter let Tallygaroopna back into the game.
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A three-quarter-time rev-up from coach Jordan Formosa helped steer the Redlegs to a strong win.
Longwood's assistant coach Scott Stephanos sat down for a quick sideline chat after the match.
“They were pretty good today,” Stephanos said.
“A little bit patchy… just struggling to put four quarters together at the moment.”
The third quarter lapse saw the side down a man after a send-off, but the team responded with grit.
“It was comfortable in the end, but they had to work hard,” Stephanos said.
“They dug in deep and got the win.”
When asked about standouts, Stephanos did not hesitate to name Flynn Pianta-Cook as the 'terrific' best-on-ground, while down back Braden Klemke and Braden Muir stood tall.
Muir’s return from a week off was especially timely, helping solidify the defensive unit.
“It was just a pretty even spread, really.
"A lot of different goal kickers, a couple of threes and fours, which was nice."
In terms of focus ahead of next week’s clash against ladder leaders Murchison-Toolamba, the message was simple: contested ball.
“We got beaten a little bit around the ball today - and it’ll be really hard against Murchison.
"They're top of the ladder, very hard to beat."
BD North East Electrics Best players: Flynn Pianta-Cook, Michael Celestine, Brodie Muir
RESERVES
The reserves put up a strong effort and, despite injuries and fatigue, the side kept pace until Tallygaroopna pulled away in the final term.
White Hart Hotel Best players: Shaun Bridges, Hayden Cartwright, Caleb Illbury
The Redlegs head to Murchison on Sunday for a Mother’s Day special.
Tune into 98.5FM for live commentary.
The next home game on Saturday, 17 May will be our Past Players/Supporters Day and the 1985–2000 premiership reunion.
For tickets and event information, visit www.longwoodredlegs.com.au
AVENEL V NAGAMBIE
SENIORS
Elsewhere, Nagambie reminded everyone why they’re a force to be reckoned with, holding a six-goal quarter-time lead and never letting it slip in a 107-59 win over Avenel's seniors.
Despite two early goals from coach Josh Delany, Avenel could not recover from the first-term blitz, with Nagambie's Will Dalton the standout for the Lakers with four goals with the tireless effort of ruckman William O'Brien earning him best-on-ground.
RESERVES
Earlier the Swans' Seconds had a strong 120-20 win over the Lakers, buoyed by the return of a handful of key players.
Best on ground Angus Norris and Wade Zolnierczyk got to the ball with the right attitude with the latter marking strong to help him bag three goals.
Andrew Green also scored strongly and Ryan Carrafa (3 goals) was at his mercurial best, seemingly everywhere and charging down opponents with speed.
Meanwhile Matthew 'Buster' Lomax often found himself as a pivot in the middle of several link-ups that resulted in goals.
NETBALL
In Netball results, Avenel A Grade went down narrowly, 51–55 to Nagambie in a spirited match.
Coach Georgia Velt said the high-scoring game was 'very physical'.
"A strong first quarter from both sides had us up by 2 goals at quarter time," Velt said.
The game essentially then went goal-for-goal for the next two quarters, with accurate goaling from Ash Hansen Arandt and Madison Albers."
Fatigue appeared to set in for both sides in the final quarter, and a strong defence from Adison Thornberry, Maddie Richards, and Ebony Heers kept the Swans in the game but Nagambie ultimately came out with the win by 4 goals.
BEST: Ebony Heers, Adison Thornberry
The B Grade struggled for rhythm, falling 36–48, while C Grade delivered a highlight of the weekend with a close 44–40 victory.
