‘Purple patch’ earns WBFL hard-fought victory over MSE

‘Purple patch’ earns WBFL hard-fought victory over MSE

A final-quarter “purple patch” netting five unanswered goals in the space of 10 minutes earned the Western Border Football League a hard-fought 34-point victory on Saturday over the Mid South Eastern Football League in Millicent at the annual Limestone Coast Regional Football Carnival.

Other than that blitzkrieg moment, little had separated the teams over a two-hour period of quality and entertaining and fast-paced football.

The match had been set for a grandstand finish after the host league had taken a nine-point buffer into the last change.

The large crowd was soon on its feet after play resumed when visiting forward Jack Skeer goaled inside the opening minute.

The momentum of the Mid SE was then overtaken by the WBFL as their stronger bodies, higher skills and better ball movement came to the fore.

The full-scale seniors game did not commence until 2.50pm  to cater for the six curtainraisers which featured two  underage grades from all three SE leagues.

Played under grey skies, the Mid SE had first use of the  slight southerly breeze which favoured the Norm Facey Oval end of McLaughlin Park.

But it was the WBFL which had the first score on the board and it was a behind registered at the two-minute mark.

Although the scores were occasionally tied, the WBFL never fell behind on the impressive digital scoreboard.

The first term was an intense and scrappy affair with frequent ball-ups on the outer flank.

Clint Gallio broke the shackles on his adopted home  ground with a fine on-the-run snap to open the goal scoring at the eight-minute mark.

Sam McManus levelled the scores with a similar six-pointer for the MSEFL before the home league’s Mark Rumbelow goaled just before quarter time.

WBFL started the second quarter well with majors to Jack Casey and Frazer Bradley, both formerly of the Mid SE.

Bradley’s goal was arguably the best of the match as he had broken clear with pace on the outer wing and then sent  a 50-metre kick accurately through the white uprights.

The home league was taking advantage of the dominance of Nick McInerney, who was  later rightly named as best-on-ground.

After trailing by 18 points, goals to the Mid SE’s Dylan Bromley and Michael Krieger cut the deficit to one straight kick at the long break.

After booting a total of seven goals in the first half, the forwards from both teams asserted themselves with the matters worse, COVID restrictions destroyed their ability to train.

But the Victorians returned to Island Park at the end of last month and used the extended break as a chance to refresh.

And the side needs to soak up every single minute of preparation for its daunting on-field return against the mighty Demons.

South is the hot premiership  favourite and for good reason, knocking over every obstacle in its way and  the COVID-enforced break should have played into its hands, giving the players a breather from their electric start to the season.

The Demons will make sure they will not lose any momentum from the mid-year gap with another textbook performance.

WEST GAMBIER V NORTH GAMBIER Some more exciting football is on the cards at Malseed Park where West and North Gambier face off for the second time in 2021.

Recent history is against the Roos with the grand final rematch also going the Tigers’ way by 21 points.

However, North stumbled into  the mid-season break and needs to regroup following two disappointing defeats to East and South Gambier.

The likes of Nick McInerney and Jake Schutz will be searching for more support, while coach Justin McConnell will be determined to find his magic after a goalless effort in his last on-field appearance.

West also hopes to snap an inconsistent run and string its first consecutive win together in 2021.

The Roos bounced into the break with plenty of energy following a strong away win against Millicent, but  each game remains a must-win proposition as they cannot quite reach level  terms in the finals fight.

Lawry Bradley-Brown has put his head over the ball all year and showed  no signs of slowing down in interleague colours last weekend.

The Tigers will need to be wary of not giving West a sniff as the latter has the ability to change games during damaging passages of play.

This was showcased for all to see at McLaughlin Park where the Roos  won after producing a scoreless opening term.

With the threat of falling outside  the top four for the loser, expect neither side to take a backward step.

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