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Neighbours do battle in top of table clash Print E-mail
North Gippsland FLNeighbours and arch rivals GORMANDALE and GLENGARRY will meet in Sunday’s showdown.Neighbours do battle in top of table clash.


Neighbours and arch rivals GORMANDALE and GLENGARRY will meet in Sunday’s showdown.

Many pundits predict that this weekends clash may be a taste of things to come in the closing weeks of the finals series, with a grand final showdown on the cards.

For the second week running Gormandale will partake in the top of the table clash.  The Tigers in scintillating form coming off the back of their 65 point disposal of premiership contender Boisdale.

The Tigers could do little wrong against Boisdale, the ladder leaders brushing aside the second placed Bombers who struggled to counteract the depth of the Tigers line up.

Gormandale’s midfield dominated play coach Steve Hazelman, Shayne Simpson, Leigh Cummins and Daniel Domaille instrumental in delivering the ball into the waiting marking forwards.

Paul Richards and Daniel Trease had the ball on a string as they booted 11 between them.

While the forwards continued their form in front of goals, it was the back bone of the Tigers line up who played an integral role in shutting down the Bombers forwards.

Defenders Lee Renton, Marc Adams and Rob Voss appointed key roles in closing down the oppositions scoring ability.

Gormandale’s defence to match up against the competitions second ranked offensive side of the competition, with questions over wether missing forward Josh King will return for the clash.

The Magpies scoring options aren’t limited to the competitions leading goal kicker, former Tiger Dylan Hvalica stepping into the fold after returning to the line up to boot four.

Rory Jennings, Jonathon Bell and the Smith brothers Brad and Peter joining Hvalica in scoring multiple goals over past weeks.

Covering the lose of King through a multi prong forward structure, the Magpies defence led by Linton Sizeland and Brett Downey has also stood tall throughout the season holding opposition sides to an average of 68 points a game.

Glengarry’s back line will have their work ahead of them this week, the Tigers scoring options endless.  Among the Tigers leading scorers is the fleet footed Trease who was a standout in the side’s earlier clash.  The forward finishing the day with six goals earning him best on ground honours in the Tigers 13 point victory.

Very little has changed for the Tigers since that day, the side having dropped just the one match against Heyfield.  While for Glengarry it became the first of three consecutive loses as the side struggled against Rosedale and Cowwarr.

Playing to secure a double chance in the first week of the finals there is plenty at stake for the Magpies who will have a tough task in knocking over the ladder leaders.

COWWARR have strung together their last two matches after strong showings however the momentum may come to a grinding halt when the Saints come up against a rebounding BOISDALE outfit.

Suffering their first lose in 10 weeks the wheels fell off the Bombers bandwagon, the side unable to cover the lose of Winston Gieschen early.  While the gap left by forward Matt Forsyth also became evident in the sides inability to find a strong marking option.

The Bombers will need to refocus this week, the Saints having demonstrated that they are more then capable of knocking over quality opposition.

The sides last encounter a high scoring affair with the Bombers prevailing by 28 points, Forsyth and Gieschen the catalysts in front of goals scoring six and four respectively.

SALE CITY’s season ambitions may be over however it didn’t stop the Dogs from dishing it up to Glengarry for three quarters, a costly second term lapse resulting in the Pies reversing the tables to run out eventual victors.

Pushing top sides throughout the season, the Dogs have been close to claiming a top scalp. Saturdays clash against Rosedale a prime opportunity for the young side to carry some momentum into next season.

Elevating their game against the competitions best, the Dogs contested a tight clash against the Blues in round six with the scores level at the main change.

Although dropping away in the second half to be outscored nine goals to three, the Dogs were impressive Luke Hopman and David Downes among the side’s best with Clint Counahan the standout in front of goals kicking three.

ROSEDALE’s chances of partaking in finals action were dashed after slipping up against Churchill last Saturday.

Left flat footed in the first term, the Blues were relegated to play catch up football for the remainder of the day only to fall short by a kick.

This week’s result is paramount if Rosedale is to keep their slim finals chances alive.  The Blues now need to rely on other results going their way if they are to have any chance of knocking reigning premiers Heyfield out of the five.

Rosedale has lost four of their last six matches, their only wins in the last month coming against lesser ranked sides.  The Blues dropping the points against four of the top five, the margin less then 10 points against Gormandale and Churchill.

Ninth plays host to tenth place in the bottom of the ladder clash when TTU and STARTFORD meet.

Demonstrating continued improvement Stratford has pushed Cowwarr and Heyfield in past weeks before being over run over the top.

Kicking two season high scores during these contests the Swans have boasted numerous goal scorers.  Dale Pendergast adding five to his season tally of 29 against Heyfield.

Matching quality sides in all aspects the rewards haven’t been forth coming for the Swans, the clash against TTU viewed as Stratford’s best opportunity to record their second victory.

It won’t be an easy task although sitting in ninth place the Bombers have won three matches for the season, recording their first victory against the Swans by over 12 goals.

The Bombers have been the hard luck story of the season, TTU dropping a number of matches in the dying minutes which were well in their grasp.

A win to either side would boost both lists as they look towards next season.

Holding firm in fifth position HEYFIELD can ill afford to drop the points against WOODSIDE, with a tough two weeks on the fixture against Boisdale and Gormandale.

The Kangaroos convincingly disposed of the Wildcats last time round to the tune of 94 points.

Heyfield’s list was bolstered last round with the return of key players Lyell Berry and Andrew Lambie, however were without defender Trent Anderson and Aaron Duffy.

Claiming the points in three of their last four matches the reigning premiers have continued their solid mid year performance, with this weeks clash an opportunity to fine tune the squad before meeting Boisdale in round 18.

CHURCHILL has the BYE

By Lauren Carey
 
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