Gippsland Times |
ONE word would describe Maffra's performance at home against Wonthaggi - disappointing.
With the chance to consolidate a place in the Gippsland League football top five and to defeat a finals contender, the Eagles were outplayed in soft conditions underfoot.
After trailing by 15 points at quarter-time, Wonthaggi won 8.20 (68) to 7.4 (46). The Power should have won by more if not for its inaccurate kicking in front of goal.
Keen to rebound from a home loss to Bairnsdale, the Power showed its finals credentials, hard at the ball, running in packs and restricting the Eagles' moving of the ball out of defence.
The Eagles looked good early, leading by as much as four goals midway through the first term with Darren Sheen kicking two of his three goals. From then, the Eagles would only kick two more goals.
From the middle of the first quarter, the momentum swung in the Power's direction with two goals reducing the margin to 15 by the first break.
From seven scoring shots, the Power kicked three goals in the second term to the Eagles' one as the teams went into the long change level on the scoreboard. The Eagles' accuracy in front of goal served them well.
Only one goal was kicked during the third quarter, with the Power particularly wasteful, kicking eight behinds. Sheen kicked the only goal of the term with the Power leading by a point at three-quarter-time.
With the game still up for grabs, the Power kicked 3.5 to the Eagles' 0.2 to win by 22 points.
Winston Gieschen, Michael Coleman and Kel Power did their best to combat the strong Wonthaggi midfield.
Owen Booth and the returning Brent Connolly worked hard against Power ruckman Earl Shaw.
Joel Lambourn was the best of the Maffra defenders.
Byron Dryden, Jack Blair and Shaw caused problems for the Eagles for much of the game.
