WOODSIDE registered their second win of the season with an impressive 44 point victory to claim the silverware in the battle for the "Toms Cap Cup" against rival Gormandale.

The Wildcats overcame a sluggish first quarter which hinted at a first round hangover to explode with a four goal to one third quarter and never looked back as the home side piled on the goals, running rampant in the closing stages of the 15.19 (109) to 9.11 (65).

Matt Scholz was outstanding in the midfield and was pitted early against Gormandale's Daniel Domaille. Josh Griffin was a tireless workhorse around the contests, while Brock Dyke made the most of Gormandale loosing Brent McFarlene to injury during the contest to run rampant from that point with his main impact felt on the scoreboard. Hank Norman showed his value to the team as second ruck with the Wildcats tall timber winning the contest against the Tigers tall's.

Wildcat Adrian Fazroli got plenty of the footy, and was damaging when drawing forward finishing the match with three majors, among other shining lights for the Wildcats was the combined defensive pressure of the back six who dominated the one on one contests.

Gormandale kicked the opening goal of the game through David Ivey before Woodside hit back through coach Chris Pettitt and Rob Michaelides work across centre half forward with consecutive majors which saw full forward Justin Staley open his account.
Michaelides was causing havoc in the Wildcats forward line with his late goal putting the home side 14 points up at quarter time.

The charge on the scoreboard was led by an impressive collective of midfielders Clint Staley, Pettitt, Michaelides and Fazroli dogged at the contest as they slowly began to dominate against the Tigers Sam Marks, Brendan Solomon, Luke Heggarty and Domaille who struggled to get first touch of the ball.

The scoring dried up in the early stages of the second term as the two sides went back and forward between the half forward lines as the backlines felt besieged by the pressure.

An undisciplined 50 metre penalty put Pettitt directly in front of goal 10 metres out to the Wildcats coach sailing the ball through the posts of a major. At the other end of the ground it took some 20 minutes of play before Ivey registered his second with a shot at goal tight on the boundary.

Ivey was at it again. Solomon worked hard to gain possession in the middle ground his direct kick hitting the chest of Ivey who lined up for consecutive majors. Tested by the distance his shot was marked by Wayne Henry tight in the pocket who reeled the margin back to 11 points.
Making their way along the wing, Dyke opened his account with his first of three, before he made it back to back majors as the Wildcats kept the Tigers at arm's length ahead of half time.

Lacing pace in the midfield last season, it was the inclusion of their new recruits which elevated the Wildcats performance in the third term. Dominating key position players were hungrier than the opposition as they chased down and pressured the man to win the turnovers time and time again.

Ivey registered his third and the Tigers first for the third term as the quarter quickly counted down. As it had been all day, each time the Tigers mounted a challenge on the scoreboard the Wildcats won the centre clearance and drilled forward time and time again to goal. In familiar fashion it was Fazroli that finished off the hard work of the fleet footed running brigade.

The final term saw a barrage of late goals to Woodside which blew out the score line of what until that point was described by the Woodside coach as "a tight hard physical contest."

Reminiscent of last week's final term, Sale City again came home with a wet sail in their contest against BOISDALE/BRIAGOLONG but it wasn't enough as the clock counted down on their challenge, with the Bombers doing enough to hold onto victory.

Booting seven goals to one in the final quarter, the Dogs ate into what appeared like a match winning three quarter time lead. Taking a six goal lead into the final break the Bombers appeared poised to open their season account with a comfortable victory. But like they did last week the Dogs bark proved damaging in the final stages of the game booting, 7.4 (46) to 1.1 (7) as the Bombers could do little but watch their match winning lead slowly disappear.
With time against them the Dogs fell short by under a kick, 13.9 (87) to 11.16 (82). Bomber Danny Pratt the impetus in front of goal finishing the match with a bag of seven while Owen Sim was judged best on ground.

For the home side, it was premiership duo Tom Bowman and Tom Wilson who were instrumental in the last quarter challenge while the goals were shared across eight individual scorers.

Reigning premiers HEYFIELD dispatched Glengarry with ease, saluting by a dominating 14 goals to post their first win on the board, 17.11 (113) to 3.6 (24).

Five goals from Nathan Wellins and four from coach Adrian Cox helped the Kangaroos sink a lack lustre Magpie outfit who failed to register a major until the second term. From there it didn't get any easier, while the Kangaroos again sprayed simple shots on goal they managed to pile on 12 goals to two in the second half to impose their mark on a wanting Glengarry line-up.

The Magpies could do little to stem the Kangaroos attack on the ball, it was Heyfield at their imposing best against an opponent who was left wanting.

Heyfield's Nic Dowse was simply sublime in a best on ground performance. The pacey midfielder amassed possessions around the ground and was a catalyst in providing the Kangaroos with first touch of the ball in the contests. He wasn't the only shining light, Daniel Stevens was impressive, Jesse Leeds was an imposing figure with new recruit key defender Scott Anderson marked the job of holding the Magpies key forwards at bay.

For the visitors, Alexander Bermingham was judged best on ground while the side's goals were shared across three individual goal kickers.

Very little separated Cowwarr and ROSEDALE in the match of the round, a four point lead favoured the Blues at the long change before the Saints rallied in the premiership term to hold a slender two point lead at the final break.

The two sides went blow for blow in the final 30 minutes of the contest, Tim Johnston and Chris Stasinowsky the go to men in front of goal for the Saints while the duo of best on ground Brad Caldwell and Andrew Flanagan lit up the forward line for the Blues.

Trading blows on the scoreboard the Saints kept within arm's reach of the visitors before a late major for the term saw the Blues hold on in a nail biting four point victory, 14.11 (95) to 13.13 (91).

Rosedale's majors came through Caldwell and Flanagan who scored three a piece, Rohan Diamond continued his solid start to the season while defender Justin Smith was the general of the backline none more so in the final term when the Blues kept the Saints at bay in the dying minutes of the contest.

For the Saints, Johnston has made his mark back at his former club running into solid form, Pat Tainsh impressed while last week's best on ground Jordan Sandy backed up his efforts with another vote worthy performance.

Six goals to two in the final term from TTU saw the Bombers reel in CHURCHILL'S five goal three quarter time lead.
Starting sluggishly the Bombers were found wanting as the Cougars burst out of the blocks strongly with a five goal to nil opening term, continuing their dominance of the contest in the second term booting a further three goals to take a 33 point lead into half time.

Lead by Chris Burke and Travis Brighton, the Cougars were damaging their delivery into the forward line to the two prong power forwards Tim Darby and Brendan Holt was sublime. Darby and Holt finished the match with 11 majors between them.

With their backs against the walls, led by coach Matt Stolarczyk and captain Luke Middleton the Bombers mounted a spirited final term come back which saw the side fall short by seven points.

By Lauren Carey