KONGORONG 27.11 (173) d NANGWARRY 6.4 (40)
KONGORONG players did not read the script as they came away from the round two match at Nangwarry on Saturday with a 133-point win.
The Hawks were the party poopers after taking control of the contest by the second term.
The home team had booted the opening goal of the game at the three-minute mark through the efforts of Justin DeJong.
The Saints led at other times during the opening term on the way to a three-goal haul, but the visitors edged in front and held a 14-point lead by quarter time.
This was stretched to 39 points at the long break and the superior skills and fitness of the Hawks then really came to the fore.
As Tyson Ploenges did not play, the Saints lacked a focal point in attack.
New Kongorong coach Will Whitty was among the winning 21 players and he said his team played well, with a good structure by game’s end.
Whitty said Nangwarry had improved on its 2018 form and the win was a positive for his club.
“There were nerves there at the beginning and they may have been due to the large crowd,” Whitty said.
“We began in a scratchy way and our disposal was average.
“We are a work-in-progress.”
For many who believe in fairy tales, the meeting of the two lowly-ranked clubs was supposed to be the day when the wheel of fortune finally turned for the embattled Nangwarry Football Club and their players would get to sing their victory song at game’s end.
The Saints last won a game in 2014 and this hosting of the Hawks was seen by many as their best hope of success in living memory.
The on-field woes of the club had been matched off-the-field as the Nangwarry licensed clubrooms were destroyed in a probable arson attack in January.
All sections of the community, ranging from Federal member for Barker Tony Pasin to some of the surviving members of Nangwarry premiership sides of 1993-4, 1997 and 1999 were present on the day to cheer on the Saints as well as past coaches Ken Mansell, Bill Crowe and Dennis Mansell.
Nangwarry Football Club treasurer Kevin Dinnison said it was the largest crowd at a Nangwarry home game in a decade, while there was an all-time record for canteen takings for a minor round fixture.
During the customary half-time social function attended by the two respective committees, the Kongorong Football Club presented a cheque for $2500 to their hosts to assist with re-building the clubrooms.
It represented the proceeds from a fundraising dinner and auction staged by the Hawks.
After the bye for Easter, Nangwarry heads to Port MacDonnell for the annual Anzac medals game, while Kongorong hosts Mount Burr.
It will be the first time freshly-minted Hawks Will Whitty and Tommy Hales play against their old club.
HATHERLEIGH 17.15 (127) d PORT MACDONNELL 9.9 (63)
THE Port MacDonnell Demons played their first game for 2019 and came away from their second-longest journey of the year to Hatherleigh with a 64-point loss.
It was not the result wanted by new non-playing coach Beau Harris, but it kept the Eagles in second place on the premiership table.
It was achieved without the services of key players Todd Watson (injured) and Ben Parish (unavailable).
The match began at a fast pace as the Demons were keen to get their hands on the leather for the first time.
The Eagles held a slender lead at quarter time and then increased it in the subsequent two terms.
The margin was around four goals at the last change but Hatherleigh coach Gerard McGrath said he was still not assured of victory.
“The margin blew out in the last quarter when we kicked away,” McGrath said.
“It was their first game and they ran out of legs
“It was a four-quarter effort which won us the game.”
He was pleased with the form and pace of wingmen Zach Jones and Lewis Walker, while he said Jase Bateman impressed for the second consecutive week.
Although star Demon Daron McElroy got hurt and had to spend time in the forward line, McGrath was nonetheless still pleased with the role played by Hatherleigh ruckman Sam Waring.
Owing to Easter and a scheduled bye, Hatherleigh players have a 21-day break from the playing arena.
Port MacDonnell next plays Nangwarry at the Bay on April 27 when the Herb Ashby and Sister Mules memorial Anzac Medals will be awarded to the champion footballer and netballer on the day.
GLENCOE 19.15 (129) d MOUNT BURR 11.7 (73)
THE Ian McInnes Memorial Shield is on the move after six years as a result of the yearly match between the Glencoe Murphies and the Mount Burr Mozzies at “Mick” and Jean Walker Oval.
The ladder-leading visitors carried some extra cargo back home along the Overland Track after the shield had spent several seasons at the rooms of Mount Burr.
The impressive 56-point win was welcomed by two Murphies marking milestones – Matt Kasparian (100 senior games) and Clay Von Duve (100 A Grade games).
It was the third consecutive loss for Mount Burr, with its last success being the 2018 preliminary final.
A warm welcome was extended to 50-gamer Cory Gamble who was back at Mount Burr after playing with Glenelg Reserves in the SANFL.
His last game had been the 2018 grand final when he won the Stan Jones Memorial Medal as best-on-ground.
Over in the Glencoe camp, on-baller Tom Edwards was cleared to play after the regional authorities issued him with a reprimand.
They had investigated why he was issued with two yellow cards in the opening round.
The Murphies outscored the Mozzies in every quarter much to the delight of visiting coach Zacc Cocks.
He said there were many positives to come out of the game including the form of key forwards Alex Hentschke, Brodie Foster and Tory Weaver who combined to kick 13 of the team’s 19 goals.
“After missing a year of football, Ben Swan was the best for us,” Cocks said.
“He did a good job of holding Tom Renzi who had kicked a couple of goals in the first term.
“I am pleased the workload is being spread around this year and we are not relying on the same four or five players to win us games.
“The Wallis brothers were very good in defence for them along with Tyler Stanley”.
An ongoing worrying sign for Mount Burr is its need for long-retired past players to field a B Grade side.
They included past A Grade premiership captain Scott Bevan along with fellow veterans Scott Lesslie, Jamie Little and Simon Hughes.
Glencoe has another memorial trophy to win back at home against Kalangadoo on April 27 while Mount Burr heads to Kongorong.
ROBE 18.12 (120) d KALANGADOO 12.5 (77)
THE Robe Roosters and the Kalangadoo Magpies had two spirited clashes last season and the intensity continued in their first meeting of 2019.
The red-and-whites triumphed at Kalangadoo by 43 points with the result seldom in doubt after quarter time.
The visitors fielded a stronger team with addition of premiership player Jordan Pettit, Terrence Wilfred and Riley Dickinson who were unavailable for the opening round win at home over Mount Burr.
However, co-captain Jonny Agnew was concussed in this contest and was relegated to runner’s duties.
Robe Football Club vice-president Roger Sweetman said the best players in a very even team performance for Robe were Jed Jarrett who controlled the half forward line all day with clean hands and accurate disposal, Tom Wachtel who dominated the ruck, coach Jack Kelly who provided movement through the forward line and set up many scoring opportunities and Quinton McCallum who provided a hard edge to the midfield all day,
“The effort by the first-year players for Robe also requires a special mention as they made up a third of the team,” Sweetman said.
“They fitted into the team structure and all played their role exactly as the coach required.”
Among those disappointed with the outcome was ex-coach and 2001 premiership skipper Ben Mules who was playing his 150th game for the Magpies.
Robe players only have six days to recover as their next outing is at home on Good Friday for the controversial scheduling of a match against Tantanoola.
The Tigers have accepted a $3000 cash incentive to play on this sacred day.
It is being actively marketed by the Roosters who wish to provide entertainment for the thousands of seaside holidaymakers.
Meanwhile, Kalangadoo next plays on April 27 when it travels to Glencoe and seeks to retain the prestigious Max Matthews Memorial Cup.
