Magpies ‘choke’ at Bridgenorth
• Mid-fielder Ellen Simons shows clean heels breaking away from opponents.
By Peter Fish,
MAY 12, 2021
Scottsdale was in a comfortable position at Bridgenorth on Saturday, four goals up at three quarter time and kicking to the favoured end.
But that comfort zone was a false dawn, as the home team coached by former Magpie Philip Lethborg showed they were made of stern stuff.
Bridgenorth booted five unanswered goals as the Magpies capitulated.
Not for the first time this season they endured a quarter where they were totally outplayed.
It is becoming a worrying trend and has resulted in losses to Deloraine and Bridgenorth, when they simply stopped and allowed their rivals to run over the top of them.
Prior to their final term surrender, the Magpies were impressive.
The defence, led by Jacob Singline, Connor Young and Bradley Whish-Wilson, was on top, and at full forward the athletic Kyle Lanham was feasting on balls coming into him quickly.
Tuffin was out-jumping his opponent in the ruck, and leaders Petterwood and Robinson were winning plenty of inside possessions.
But the tide quickly turned, and the team's inability to stop a run-on by the opposition is becoming an issue that must be addressed.
The loss resulted in the Magpies dropping to seventh on the ladder, albeit just a game from top spot, and a berth in the final five is going to be fiercely contested. Dropping games as occurred on Saturday is not going to help their cause.
The women's team was also beaten.
Unavailability due to work commitments resulted in a below strength line-up, but they had their chances and the scoreboard indicated just how inaccurate they were.
Midfielders Alex Hall, Maggie Cuthbertson and Grace Cornish had plenty of possessions, but despite numerous inside 50s the team simply couldn't buy a goal.
It was groundhog day for reserves.
They started well but the further the game went, the further they fell behind failing to score at all in the final term.
Bryton Mullins and Joel Hayes were dominant throughout and their skilful disposal was a feature all day.
An undermanned Under 18 team was always under pressure and not having a bench made life very difficult the longer the game went.
Hamish Auton, Bradley Milne and Liam Hall were again prominent refusing to buckle against overwhelming odds.
This week all four teams are at home against George Town, with the senior men's match under lights at 6.00pm
Times for Saturday's games at home are: 12.40pm Under 18s; 2.35pm Reserves; 4.30pm Women; 6.00pm Seniors.
SCORES
Seniors: Bridgenorth 10.11 (71) d Scottsdale 10.7 (67) Goals: K Lanham 5, S Baker, L Burr, C Deacon, B Gee, E Petterwood. Best: L Cox, C Young, K Lanham, L Burr, J Singline, B Whish-Wilson.
Women Bridgenorth 4.2 (26) d Scottsdale 1.10 (16)
Goals: A Hall. Best: A Hall, R Irwin, P McLennan, G Cornish, M Cuthbertson, K Minchin.
Reserves Bridgenorth 13.12 (90) d Scottsdale 2.5 (17)
Goals: W Burr, B Mullins. Best: B Mullins, J Hayes, D Cash, B Davis, A Stevens, L Forsyth.
Under 18s Bridgenorth 23.17 (155) d Scottsdale 1.1 (7)
Goal: L Hall. Best: H Auton, B Milne, L Hall, H Burr, D Tomkinson, X Clifford.
Senior Ladder
Longford 12
Bracknell 12
S Launceston 12
Deloraine 12
Bridgenorth 12
Rocherlea 8
Scottsdale 8
Hillwood 4
George Town 0