LLOYD ILETT – SWDFNL – Coleraine Football


COLERAINE maintained its great form in the South West District Football Netball League after smashing Westerns by 95 points on Saturday at Silvester Oval.


With seven rounds remaining in the season, the Maroons are well placed to finish in the top three on the ladder having only been defeated by Heywood and Cavendish in the first nine rounds.


Coleraine has games against Dartmoor and Cavendish as the only teams above them on the ladder in the remaining seven games before finals and with victory in these games, the Maroons can claim a top two finish or even the minor premiership.


Saturday saw the home side well held in the opening term as Westerns applied pressure across the ground to trail by 11 points at the first change of ends, with only four goals kicked between the two teams.


In the second quarter the Maroons held Westerns scoreless as they added four majors to lead by 42 points at the long break and the game was safely in their keeping.


The visitors returned to the ground with renewed vigour and went with the home side kick for kick as both sides added 3-4 as the ball travelled to both ends on the ground.


The final period saw Coleraine kick into top gear as the majors flowed, with the ball piecing the big sticks eight times while the visitors could only muster a behind in reply as the home side ran away with the match.


Kieran Barker made a welcome return to goal-kicking form with five majors to climb to second on the league goal kickers list.


“Kieran’s had a great start at Coleraine kicking bags of goals through the early games, but the last few games defenders have made it harder on our forward 50 entries, which makes it harder for the forwards,” Maroons’ Senior Coach Adam Ward said of his new recruit.


“The luxury with ‘Kizza’ (Barker) is that we can take these opportunities to move him into the midfield to change things up, but to have him back kicking another bag of goals was good for the weekend just gone.”


“Luke Ferguson really stood up through the midfield, putting his body over the ball, creating run through the inside and elite decision making finding the right targets.


“Harry Armstrong’s pressure in the back half and quick run from the backline gave us speed out of trouble, along with Kieran Barker back in form down forward.”


Coleraine travels to Heathmere next Saturday where they should record a percentage boosting victory, while Westerns is at home to ladder leaders Cavendish who are on the rebound from a huge defeat at the hands of Dartmoor.


“Heathmere, away, cannot be underestimated,” Ward said.


“They play well on their home ground.


“We are just making sure that we keep building our momentum and focusing on our strengths as a group to achieve where we want to see ourselves.


“Luckily no injuries and we should have a few more fresh bodies soon.”