By Peter Wilkie

 

Buninyong v Waubra at Buninyong, Saturday, 4 August 2007

 

Reserves Buninyong 9.7 def Waubra 5.9

 

 

 

INJURIES:                                 REPORTS: -Nil

 

 

Waubra tuned up for another assault on the Bendigo Bank Central Highlands Football League premiership with a convincing 73 point thumping of Buninyong on Saturday.

 

Not only did the Kangaroos dominate proceedings on the big, Finals type expanse of Buninyong’s glorious new home ground, the 19.11 to 7.10 win was earned without several senior players, including gun forward Lee Brown.

 

Hopping to an early advantage with the strong, cold breeze, the ‘Roos quickly adapted to the big ground, kicking long into an open forward set up, ably led in Brown’s absence by the creative Steven Nicholson.

 

Nicholson kicked 2 of his 7 goals for the game in the first term, among seven different ‘Roos to register a major in the blistering opening quarter.

 

Both teams were tackling with real ferocity, and Buninyong were good around the stoppages, especially Mark Nissan who ran hard and straight out of the back line.

 

Waubra were regularly able to display a class edge, however, as top players like Danny Liston and Paul Dodds occasionally found enough space to be damaging.

 

The Kangaroos then displayed the clear thinking of a well drilled side to revert to carrying the ball across the lines as they attacked into the wind in the second quarter, while down back, Cam Landry, Luke Archibald, and Michael Sordello were snuffing out every Bomber attack.

 

Despite desperate efforts from Shane Lavery, Paul Roberts, Joe Gilbert and others, the Bombers would go goalless with the wind in the 2nd quarter, the lead an unassailable 12 goals at half time.

 

The second half was scrappy at times, and Buninyong had the better of the last quarter, even if Waubra had begun to ease off the gas late in the game.

 

The Kangaroos now face two mini finals against Dunnstown and Bungaree, who will each be jostling for position among the jumble of clubs chasing 4th and 5th spots.

 

Buninyong could still shape the look of the five with games against Bungaree and Learmonth remaining.

 

BEST PLAYERS: 

BUNINYONG- S. Lavery, M. Nissan, G. Kennedy, J. Gilbert, M. McKenzie, C. Mann.

WAUBRA- S. Nicholson, L. Oliver, C. Landry, S. Mullane, B. Naylon, L. Archibald.

BUNINYONG – C. Mann 3, S. Lavery, L. Paige, R. Gilbert, B. Gannon 1.

WAUBRA – S. Nicholson 7, S. Mullane 4, M. Clark, M. Molloy 2, P. McDonald, B. Naylon, L. Oliver, L. Pellissier 1.