CASTERTON Sandford has continued to show it is a front runner in the Western Border Football League this season, with last week’s triumph over reigning premiers East Gambier backed by a convincing 64-point victory over 2017 runners-up North Gambier at Vansittart Park on Saturday.
The Cats left nothing to fate as they hit hard from the first bounce, kicking 6.0 in the opening term to the Tigers 1.2 and setting up a buffer the hosts would not recover from.
Another high-scoring term for the Cats saw them bag six more majors and a minor in the second quarter, while North scored just a single behind to trail by 64 points at the long break.
From there the game was all but won, with the Tigers left with a big task on their hands as they took to the change rooms.
To its credit, North came out with some renewed passion and managed to triple its score in the third quarter, but it was too little, too late for the hosts.
The Tigers opened the half with three unanswered goals, with Nick McInerney playing his part in setting up the first two, which saw Malcolm Lewis and Nick Blachut finish with majors to their names.
However, the Cats replied with two goals of their own through Callum Currie and Noah O’Brien, leaving little chance of a comeback for the Tigers.
Currie was in devastating form around the goals and took an abundance of impressive grabs, many of which converted towards his game-high six goals.
Based on his performances so far, Currie has more than filled the position of out-going Cat Nic Upton, who was renown for his impressive marking ability.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the ground Ben Guthrie stepped up in the backline with capable hands, intercepting many of the Tigers’ attempts at goal.
Will MacDonald also found his groove in the squad this week and was rewarded with the Cats’ second best for his efforts, as his hard work in the ruck and in a contest paid dividends.
Trent Nesbitt was named as the best-on-ground for the Cats, with his presence around the ground deciding the outcome of many contested balls, while Jackson Gibbs, Madison Rogers, Dylan Ayton and Thomas Sullivan were also among the top performers.
Ayton finished with two goals for the game alongside playing coach Hamish Jarrad and with no shortage of goal kickers on the day six players bagged single majors.
For the Tigers, Blachut claimed the best-on-ground honours, finishing with two goals to lead his team on the scoreboard, while Will and Malcolm Lewis also earned their places among the best players with a goal each.
McInerney was named as second best for the hosts, while Sam Egan and Thomas Gould were also praised for their efforts.
Jarrad continues to impress as the Cats’ playing coach, with his influence over the team and presence around the ground the glue which binds the side together.
He played another good game on Saturday in what he described as a solid team effort from the Cats.
“The boys played well,” he said.
“It was a really good consistent four-quarter team effort.
“I am really impressed with them.”
With the damage dealt early by the Cats irreparable for the Tigers, Jarrad said the scoreline did not reflect the toughness of the game.
“Our pressure was really good early,” he said.
“I do not think the scoreboard really reflected the game though.
“We only kicked one point (by half time), so I think we just took our opportunities and applied good pressure on the footy.
“It was a lot harder game than the scoreboard reflected.”
This was shown in the second half, when North regained some control in the clash, holding the Cats from breaking away as they did in the opening quarters.
However, Jarrad said it was in the second half where his side most impressed him, as it dealt with the extra challenge from their opponent.
“They (North) are a good footy side and we knew they were going to challenge us all day and they did that,” he said.
“What really impressed me was when they challenged us after half time and we absorbed it.
“Then we sort of got the game back on our terms.
“That is something in the past we have not really been able to do a lot.
“When teams come at us, we have sort of folded over a little bit.
“To stand up and get the game back on our terms, I was really impressed.”
With plenty to choose from in the way of best players, Jarrad said it was the midfield and the backline which really stepped up and allowed the Cats to secure the win.
“I thought our midfield group played outstanding,” he said.
“Will MacDonald in the ruck, Callum Currie, Dylan Ayton, Tom Sullivan and Josh Stephenson, they worked together really well and gave us first use.
“Then I thought our back six really held it strong.
“There was a lot of times when they won one-on-two’s or one-on-three’s, just held it up and allowed the cavalry to arrive.
“That’s where we won the game I think, the mids and the backs.”
With the Cats sitting in the box seat compared to the start of last season, Jarrad said he is happy with where they are at the moment and is impressed by the level of game his team is delivering in the early stages of the season.
“We played really good team-first footy,” he said.
“It is probably the best we have played as a team since I have been here.
“That’s what really impressed me.
“It’s going to be a tough trip to Millicent next week and that’s when I think we will find where we are at.”
