James Murphy
CASTERTON SANDFORD 5.7 (37) d SOUTH GAMBIER 1.7 (13)
IN wet and trying conditions, Casterton Sandford claimed its fourth win of the 2023 Western Border football season.
The Cats visited South Gambier at Blue Lake Sports Park for the Round 8 clash, leading throughout for an eventual 24-point victory.
The conditions kept scoring to a minimum and in the end Casterton’s opening quarter was enough to seal the deal.
The guests slotted four-goals-two in the first term to lead by 25 at the change.
“We were able to get control around the contest which was probably the difference in the game in the end,” Cats coach Kane Forbes said.
“Our intensity around the ball, especially our tackle numbers and those sorts of things, were really good in the first quarter.
“It allowed us to get repeat entries and then score off the back of that.
“To come into quarter time with that four-goal lead was definitely a good way to start.”
From there only two more goals were scored for the game, one at each end and both in the final quarter.
South doubled its score in the second term to have two points on the board at half time, while the Cats did not trouble the scorekeeper during that period.
“We probably defended a fair bit harder in the second and third terms,” Forbes said.
“South had a lot more momentum with the ball.
“They went away from one-on-one type footy and started to flood some numbers back behind it.
“It was played between the arcs and a bit of a stalemate with no goals kicked.”
Another goalless quarter followed and at the final break the Cats maintained a 25-point margin.
The Demons found a patch of form in the fourth and finished the game with plenty of possession, rewarded with their only goal of the game from young-gun Mitchell Sims.
However, a Casterton goal earlier in the term kept them at arm’s length and there was little the hosts could do to deny the Cats the win.
“I felt like the boys did a really good job to withstand that pressure,” Forbes said.
Sims was named best on ground for his efforts for South, in a day where the young brigade stood out for the hosts.
Harrison Mitchell and Oliver Thomson also featured highly, while Emerson Marks and Harry Wright rounded out the best.
The Cats were best served by Jarrod O’Brien, with his effort down back holding the Demons at bay and helping to push the ball forward.
Forbes was pleased with his performance and said it was good to see him having a good run after an interrupted start to the season.
“He had surgery on his ankle at the end of pre-season and missed Round 1, then he got his eye split open against Millicent (in Round 4).
“On (Saturday) he just showed his class and leadership and I think he probably took 10 intercept marks.”
Joining O’Brien on the best player’s list were more players all-too familiar with the territory this season.
“I think it puts proof in the pudding in the saying that good players get better in the wet,” Forbes said.
“Michael Krieger’s first half was unbelievable and Diarmid Cleary was everywhere as well.
“Our class really stood up.”
Dylan Ayton, Alastair McCrae and Damian Wombwell also impressed and they rounded out the best on the day.
The result further cements Casterton Sandford’s hold on fourth place, now with a three-win buffer over South sitting in fifth.
