Heart stopping win for Magpies
• Tyler Towns played his first game for the club on Saturday and was congratulated before the game by life members Marc Nunan and Scott Hill.
By Peter Fish
May 15, 2019
SCOTTSDALE’S thrilling victory at home over Rocherlea has promoted the team into the top five in the NTFA but it took until the last few minutes before victory was assured.
The Magpies led at every change in a low scoring arm wrestle but had they taken their opportunities should have won without causing their supporters some heart ache in the final term.
The back six in this team continue to stand tall and have conceded fewer points than any other team in the competition. And the midfielders are holding their own. The problem remains up forward which is still lacking a big target who can take a contested mark.
On Saturday the Magpies had edged to an 11 point break at three quarter time and looked in control but Rocherlea came home with a rush and hit the front with only minutes remaining, prompting some hardy supporters to put up the white flag and walk away.
But nobody can be critical of this team's resilience and the midfield led by Elliot Tyson and Joey Robinson rushed the ball forward where vice-captain Brady Gee earned a hard won free kick 35 metres out on a slight angle.
Gee kicked accurately erasing memories of his duffed shot in the goal square against George Town on Anzac Day.
After the game coach Geoff Mohr congratulated his team and highlighted the efforts of Tyson whose tough physical work in the clinches was so crucial in the win.
Mohr himself was also important in the key defensive role. He was well supported by Bradley Whish-Wilson, Jacob Singline and Christian Barnes, and the defensive group remains the backbone of this team.
This week it's an away game at Bridgenorth who are one of the association's pacesetters. They will pose a major challenge.
Successive wins have steadied the Magpie ship but it's a fair way off from the form that carried them into a preliminary final in 2018.
The senior women's team had a big win over reigning premiers Evandale and gave notice that they will again be a major threat in this enlarged competition this season.
Rebecca Irwin and Britt Woolley led the way in the ruck giving midfielders Keeley Lester, Letitia Johnston and Raigan Kettle plenty of the ball. Up forward Jess Casey ( 3 goals) and Ally Marshall (2 goals) made the most of their opportunities.
The Reserves looked to be on their way to a second win of the season but a couple of unforced errors in the dying minutes saw them go down by two points. Ben Brown was again good in defence and it was great to see Rhoy van den Bosch back in club colours after making the trip from Melbourne where he is now based.
Luther Cronley impressed in his first game with the club and should be an acquisition.
The Under 18s had a big win after putting the writing on the wall last week. They led for most of the game before pulling away in the final quarter in their best four quarter effort for the season.
Tom Barnett, Liam Chorley and Riley Probert led from the front while first year players Rhett Coniston and Bradley Milne played their part in the team's first victory for the year.
All four teams will play at Bridgenorth on Saturday.
SCORES
Seniors
Scottsdale 8.10 (58) d Rocherlea 8.4 (52)
Goals: B Gee 3, J Robinson 2, J Rattray, L Nichols, E Tyson
Best: E Tyson, B Whish-Wilson, G Mohr, J Singline, C Barnes, B Gee
Women
Scottsdale 6.7 (43) d Evandale 0.3 (3)
Goals: J Casey 3, A Marshall 2, G Dare
Best: K Lester, R Irwin, L Johnston, B Woolley, R Kettle, C Kelly
Reserves
Rocherlea 5.15 (45) d Scottsdale 7.1 (43)
Goals: C Hopkins, M Nunan, J Saville, L Forsyth, J Hayward, L Cronley, D Hall
Best : B Brown, J Hayward, J Bennett, R van den Bosch, O Knight, M Nunan
Under 18s
Scottsdale 11.12 (78) d Rocherlea 5.4 (34)
Goal: R Probert 3, W Monson 2, H Mather, C Brown, J Drake, R Coniston, S Tomkinson, J Harper
Best: T Barnett, L Chorley, R Probert, R Coniston, J Harper, B Milne