A look back at the weekend’s results from Round 10 of the Northern Football League’s junior competition.
In the Under-18 Girls competition, Diamond Creek Womens came from behind to defeat South Morang at Mill Park Lakes Reserve. Trailing for the majority of the day, the Creekers were down by as much as 11 points at the final change. But on the back of a best-on-ground performance from Shazi Cappello, the Creekers kept the Lions to just two points in the final term as they recorded a two-point win to leap frog the Lions into fourth-place on the table. It was smoother sailing for Darebin, Epping and Montmorency who all produced more comfortable wins over Greensborough, Hurstbridge and Mill Park respectively.
In the Under-17 Blue competition, Eltham produced one of its best performances of the season, beating ladder-leader South Morang by 16 points at Eltham Central Park. On the back of a seven-goal haul and best-on-ground performance from Patrick Lipinski, the Panthers led for the whole day in a spirited performance which now seems them move into third place on the table. Mill Park also recorded a tight win, travelling to Diamond Creek to win by 14 points, whilst Research had a much more convincing victory at Greensborough, keeping the Boro to six behinds in a comfortable win at Beale Oval. Montmorency had the bye.
Whittlesea recorded a big win in the Under-17 Red competition, keeping Hurstbridge scoreless in the first half of their win at Ben Frilay Oval. On the back of a best-on-ground performance from Alex Hybinett and a 10-goal haul from forward Joel Naylor, the Eagles reaffirmed their status as the ladder-leaders of the competition. Meanwhile, Wallan and Thomastown endured a much tighter affair, with the Magpies holding off a late final quarter surge from the Bears to record a 20-point win. The other winner for the round was Epping who accounted for South Morang to remain hot on the tail of the ladder-leader Whittlesea.
The Under-16 Blue competition Epping put together a much better performance than the last time it faced the undefeated South Morang, going down by 21 points at Epping Recreation Reserve. The ladder-leading Lions’ tenth-straight win for the season was set up by best-on-ground performances from Nathan Viotto and Ben Muscat. Wallan and Yarrambat also recorded wins, accounting for West Preston Lakeside and Diamond Creek respectively.
Greensborough got on the winners’ list in the Under-16 Red competition, beating a much improved Bundoora Park outfit by 28 points at Bundoora Park Oval. Close throughout the day, it was an inaccurate Bolts side whose lack of finishing cost them a chance of their first win as the Boro went on to record their fourth win of the year. Research and Eltham on the other hand did it more comfortably, accounting for Montmorency and Mill Park away from home.
Whittlesea recorded a tight win in the Under-15 Blue competition, defeating Eltham by 13 points at Eltham Central Park. Close throughout the day, it was the Eagles who had their noses in front at the siren to remain in touch with the top three and further separate themselves from the fifth-placed Panthers. Laurimar Black flexed its muscles as ladder-leader, beating Mill Park at Redleap Reserve. Riley Edwards and Jack House led the way for the Power, booting nine and five goals respectively. Montmorency and South Morang were the other winners, victorious away from home over Greensborough and Wallan.
South Morang produced a five-goal final term to come from behind to defeat Laurimar Teal in the Under-15 Red competition. A sea-sawing affair throughout, the Power held a one-point advantage heading into the final term but were kept scoreless thereafter in a 32-point results. That was the closest result of the round in the competition, as the top three sides Epping, West Preston-Lakeside and Research all recorded more comfortable wins.
Diamond Creek Womens Red and West Preston-Lakeside produced a thrilling game in the Under 15-Girls competition, with the Creekers coming from behind to win by one-point at J.E Moore Park. Trailing by seven-points at the final change, the Creekers kept the Roosters scoreless during the final term as they recorded a memorable win on the back of a best-on-ground performance from Portia Ricardo. Montmorency and Yarrambat also produced tight wins, defeating South Morang and Eltham to the tune of 14 and 13 points respectively. Diamond Creek Womens Blue, Epping and Wallan were the other winners in Round 10.
Good luck to all teams in this weekend’s Round 11 matches.
