Gippsland Times |
SALE edged Maffra in a contest which turned into a slog after half-time because of persistent rain in the third term.
The Magpies prevailed 14.8 (92) to 10.9 (69) to retain second spot on the Gippsland League football ladder.
John Gooch was awarded the Carter-Hill Medal for best-on-ground, providing a good target at half-forward for the Magpies and finishing with five majors.
Persistent rain at the beginning of the third term turned the final term into a real slog, each team adding one goal in a torrid quarter.
Each team played with a three-on-three forward line and with half-forwards and wingers pushing into the centre, a contested ball game ensued. With a very congested mid zone at times, the match was well umpired given some of the rolling mauls that eventuated from the heavy traffic.
Maffra's Ben Coleman and Kel Porter were closely checked by Sale from the outset, with their limited output going a long way in ensuring a Magpies' win.
Team defence was a highlight, with the Magpies teaming to defend against Maffra spearhead Darren Sheen, but Sheen showed his class, looking dangerous at times one-on-one and on the lead to finish with five majors.
Bohdi Walker began the first term in good form across half-forward, and goaled from a pack mark to put the Magpies on the board. Mitch Davis burst his way through a pack soon after to goal and give the Magpies the early ascendency.
Maffra ruckman Owen Booth won a tap on centre wing, finding David Adams on the run but again the Eagles would fall down at half-forward, with some errant handballs in the forward 50 allowing the Sale defenders to clear.
Defensive pressure in the middle of the ground forced a turnover for Maffra, with Brad Caldwell converting from a holding the ball free kick to register the Eagles' first major.
A strong mark from Gooch at half-forward set-up Walker for an attack, but the Magpies could only manage a behind from the resultant throw in.
Maffra's defensive unit was also effectively teaming to defend Sale coach Matt Ferguson, but a costly turnover in defence proved costly for the Eagles, with Davis converting from the pocket to kick the Magpies clear.
Maffra hit back following good lead up work from Daniel Bedggood, with Caldwell converting after receiving a free kick for high contact.
James Read running back with the flight of the ball to prevent a Magpies score was another highlight for the Eagles.
With both teams going goal-for-goal, Tom Hams kicked a classy left foot goal for Sale to swing the momentum the Magpies' way.
Pressure from Sale's midfielders worked the ball forward, with Gooch converting from centre half-forward. Sheen responded for the Eagles with a strong contested mark against two opponents following good lead-up work from Bedggood and Dan O'Brien.
Sheen would be in the action again soon after, evading his Sale opponent but could only manage a behind from his snap.
Still in the game despite overusing handball at times in the opening term, the Eagles quickly hit back in the second term, adding a goal following a free kick before Sheen took another contested mark and convert to draw the Eagles level.
Ferguson set-up Sale's response at the other end, firing out a creative handball while still in mid air to set-up Justin McLay for a major.
Ryan Pendlebury provided good drive for the Magpies from half-back, quickly moving the ball to Davis but the shot was touched into the post.
Gooch took a strong mark following a shot on goal falling short and converted to again kick Sale clear, with the Magpies scoring a goal from a boundary throw in to open up 13-point lead.
The Magpies were peppering the goal face late in the term. A Tye Morrison shot for goal sailed wide before Gooch cut-off a Maffra pass from defence and converted to extend the lead to 20 points.
Andrew Quirk was manning Sheen well, spoiling a pass out of bounds, with desperate tackling a feature of Sale's defence.
Ben Coleman won a free kick, but missed, with Sale winning a downfield free kick following a late tackle before Sam Bristow encroached on Davis to send the Magpies forward.
Luckily for the Eagles, Davis' shot swung wide, with Sheen adding another major late in the term to close the gap to 20 points.
Lights came on to begin the third term, with the contest turning into a slog.
Walker and Morrison set-up Magpie attacks in the third term with some fast breaks, while Ben Batahla kept cracking in for Maffra along with Bedggood to set-up opportunities for Sheen at the other end to keep the Eagles within striking distance.
Team defence continued to be a highlight, with Caldwell gang tackled shortly before the final change.
A smother from Shane Fyfe set up Sale's next attack, but the Magpies couldn't capitalise, holding a 26 point-advantage at three-quarter-time.
The final term was a stalemate, with Sale holding on to win by 23 points.