B Peter Wilkie                   

CHFL ROUND 8

 

Ballan v Waubra at Ballan

Saturday, 16/6/2007

 

Reserves Ballan 13.1 def Waubra 6.5 (?) 

 

 

INJURIES: -Ballan:                     Waubra C. Landry (knee)            REPORTS: -Nil

 

Reigning Bendigo Bank Central Highlands Football League Premier Waubra remains locked at the top of the 2007 Ladder with Daylesford as both teams maintained their unbeaten run on Saturday.

 

For the classy Kangaroos this was one of their best wins this year, because although the final margin was 91 points, Waubra had to dig deep into its reserves of courage before blowing away a ferocious Ballan, 19.13 to 5.6.

 

Ballan hit the field like a side knowing its season was on the line, and desperate to measure up against the best in the league.

 

The Blues ran very straight and seemed to have Waubra players in two minds about some contests after some huge early clashes of bodies.

 

For one and a half quarters Ballan had more possession and danger appeared to lurk for Waubra, because although the ‘Roos were more efficient up forward, the Blues stayed in touch, and appeared to be playing with more hunger for the ball.

 

Waubra also suffered an early blow when star Cam Landry was carried off with what appeared a serious knee injury, the second injury stoppage of a torrid first term.

 

Ballan’s Mr Fixit Rod Watts had set up in defence early, helping to nullify Waubra’s ever dangerous Lee Brown, and as some momentum swung Ballan’s way in the second term, Watts went forward to boot a team lifting goal just before half time and the Blues faithful went for a pie thinking that a big upset was very possible.

 

Waubra was getting excellent drive from Danny Liston, brave and creative as he put his body on the line to begin many attacking moves, but Ballan had Salesi Uhi looking ominous and Lloyd Bennett was bursting through packs as the physical Blues threw everything at the ‘Roos.

 

An early third quarter goal would have set Ballan away again after carrying the momentum into half time, but the Blues missed a couple of early chances before the class that has carried Waubra to 16 straight wins began to prevail.

 

Paul Dodds began to find space wide on the tight Ballan ground, and put his team inside the 50 meter zone on several occasions, as the tide swung firmly Waubra’s way.

 

Six third quarter goals broke the game open, but then the ‘Roos piled on another 8 in a stunning last quarter to blow away the tenacious Ballan side.

 

Ballan remain in touch with the five but will need to string together some wins, starting next week against a similarly tough Bungaree, while Waubra will again be measured against the improving Newlyn.

 

BEST PLAYERS: 

BALLAN- L. Bennett, H. Cartledge, R. Watts, S. Uhi, J. Branch, B. Collier.

WAUBRA- D. Liston, L. Oliver, P. Dodds, M. Sordello, P. McDonald, R. Allen.

BALLAN – S. Uhi 2, A. Kent, R. Watts, J. Branch 1.

WAUBRA- L. Brown 5, J. Coleman 4, M. Sordello, S. Nicholson, P. Dodds 2, T. Mullane, S. Mullane, M. Molloy, M. Clark 1.