BULLDOGS GO DOWN IN LAST QUARTER
The Bulldogs pretty much controlled a close game until Merbein’s Ash Rowe’s double burst midway through the third. But a good effort is not the same as a win.
“I think this was our worst loss of the year,” South Mildura’s new coach John Pratt said.
“We just keep rolling over in the last quarter. It was a game we should have won
but it’s easy to say that. Credit to them, they played a good final quarter but we just stopped running and that’s something we have to work on at training.”
The Bulldogs’ defence was outstanding until Buckley provided another tall option to be countered up forward and the Magpies cracked open the midfield.
The following is the round 5 summary from the weekly footy guide (R6)
With Interleague behind us and a week off to take stock of the round 5 results we now take the trek down the Calder Highway to face last year’s Premiers in Ouyen United at Underbool.
Our Junior Footballers and Netballers had a successful round 5 with some awesome results across all grades. To see so much talent coming through all grades gets the mind boggling of what our future holds, knowing that these kids are having the best time playing the sport they love in an environment that is committed to their development is worth every volunteer hour that we put in, keep up the great work guys and Good Luck today.
Senior Netball in A – Grade returned to the winners list with a solid win in round 5 and have consolidated 3rd spot on the ladder. After a tough outing the week before Loretta and her team made no mistake that they we walking away with the win to cement their position in the top 4. Our opponents today are always up for the challenge and a tough hit out will no doubt be on the cards at 12pm today, we wish all our senior Netball sides the best of luck in todays matches.
Our U18 and Reserves football teams under the watchful eye’s of Luke Stone and Brayden “Chicken” Collicoat have had modest starts to the season, improving as each week goes by we will see both these sides bobbing up and taking the chocolates in coming weeks.
Again our young senior side showed that we have what it takes to become a winning outfit although closing games out in the last quarter and putting opposition sides away when it counts still eludes this growing group. The continued galvanisation and the want and the will to win of this team has only strengthened this week with the news of our fallen Bulldog Brother, Cohen Andrew………A South Mildura boy through and through taken from us well before time. Cohen played the game with an intense but fair hardness and made his opponent earn every possession as his little brother in Colby will continue to do and as their father Matty did as a Bulldog. Today we remember and pay respect to Cohen and his family by wearing black arm bands across all grades of Football and Netball to remember this young man who gave everything and more every time he pulled on the bulldog guernsey. We look forward to this afternoons contest………and Cohen……….this one is for you buddy. The Barking Bulldog
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Maddison Toms’ work in the middle of the court was vital in South Mildura’s win over Merbein on Saturday.
SOUTH Mildura strengthened their place in the top four with a 21-goal win over Merbein in a replay of last year’s Sunraysia Football Netball League A grade grand final.
It was a strong performance by the reigning premiers, who are entrenched in third position, eight points clear of fourth-placed Imperials.
Bulldogs coach Loretta Thompson said she was pleased to get the win after struggling early.
“We probably didn’t start as strongly as we would have liked but we had three really strong quarters and ran away with it in the end,” Thompson said.
“Both umpires weren’t really letting the defenders contest from both teams.
“But I think once our defenders adjusted to that we started to get some tips and turnovers and then our goalies were able to settle at the other end and score.”
Maddison Toms was again a standout for the winners.
Thompson said Toms’ ability to win the ball through the middle of the court and her speed were key ingredients to her side’s success.
“She puts a lot of pressure on opposition sides and the drive she has through the middle of the court is second to none,” said Thompson.
“I couldn’t ask to coach a better bunch of girls really.
“They have a lot of fun and they have a lot of fun out on court, but when it is needed they really dig deep and come up with the goods most of the time. I think that real team connection that they have is pretty special.
“Everyone who is out on that court plays for the team. It really helps in tough, tight games to have that bond and connection.”
Story courtesy of Sunraysia Daily
Photos courtesy of Football Mildura FB and Sunraysia Daily
