General News
30 August, 2024
String's stronger in second clash
By CHRIS EARL THE Redbacks struck fast and early to inflict a repeat dose of superiority on Donald in Saturday’s North Central league first semi-final. It was the second week that a strong season finishing Wedderburn struck fast and early, had to...
By CHRIS EARL
THE Redbacks struck fast and early to inflict a repeat dose of superiority on Donald in Saturday’s North Central league first semi-final.
It was the second week that a strong season finishing Wedderburn struck fast and early, had to mettle to withstand Donald’s menacing comebacks and have the fitness edge.
Wedderburn’s performance, benchmarked on the previous week, was better.
Ruckman Jordan Hargreaves more than took honours over the Royals’ big man Andrew Browne who would have little influence on the game apart from a few second half flurries.
Hargreaves won the first tap and within a minute Tommy Campbell had his first of two goals for the day.
Junior Miller bobbed up later in the first quarter with an accurate snap. He capped off the turnover through coach Tom Metherell, Darcy Jackson and Hargreaves.
Scoring was a challenge for both sides in the opening term - Donald using the corridor better, Wedderburn in free-flowing control on the flanks.
The Redbacks hinted at an explosive second term when Louis Holt goaled within the first minute.
Dale Kerr gave the Royals’ engine some sport in the centre and Ross Young kicked the first of two Donald goals that would see the half-time margin just four points in favour of Wedderburn.
Donald could have hit the lead had it not been for two posters.
Hargreaves, Metherell, Isaac Holt and Noah Furlong led the battle against Donald’s fightback.
And then there were Jackson McEwen, Danny Benaim, Jacob DeAraugo and Corey Lowry more than putting in.
Lowry’s first half effort would prove to be nothing more than a warm-up for a commanding second 60 minutes of play.
He teamed with Metherell to stifle countless Donald lunges in the third quarter, running deep across the centre to give Wedderburn the best chance of converting in front of goal. Donald hit the lead early in the third quarter for the first time when Ryan Hards snapped truly.
Minutes later Furlong had Wedderburn back in front and goal squares were congested at both ends as the tempo heated.
Wedderburn’s tackling showed there would be no capitulation. Joe Lockhart’s grunt left opponents bamboozled and caught in the term.
The Redbacks led by seven points at the final change.
Donald came menacingly close to snatching the lead but could not break the will of Redbacks’ defenders.
Hargreaves was at his dominant best in the term, flickers of influence from Browne snuffed although Young continued the battle until the final siren.
By the 20-minute mark, there was an air of success enveloping Wedderburn.
The confidence was reaching new heights. Goals to Oscar Holt and then Louis Holt just before time-on secured a victory that will put Wedderburn into the preliminary final.
It was the first finals win by the Redbacks since its premiership year of 2014.
Can they go as far in 2024? On Saturday’s form, this year’s incarnation has the fitness edge on opponents. It was how they left Donald behind in crucial contests in successive weeks - tackling, recovering, converting.
The run of injuries that cost “should have been wins” are pretty much a memory.
Only Adam Postle was missing on Saturday after a leg injury the previous week saw him on antibiotics as part of recovery. He will be fit for preliminary final selection.
Wedderburn has shown all season it can rattle and race other top sides. There could be a few more chances yet for the Redbacks in season 2024.