A LOOK back at the weekend’s results from Round 4 of the Northern Football League’s junior competition.
In the Under-18 Girls competition there were four convincing winners, with Montmorency, Diamond Creek Womens, Epping and South Morang all recording big victories. The Pingers recorded the largest victory, as they amassed 30 goals to beat Mill Park on the back of seven-goal and five-goal performances from Joanne Liatsas and Bianca Bell. Other notable displays throughout the competition were a five-goal display from South Morang star Taylah Barbara in the Lions’ win over Hurstbridge and a pair of four-goal efforts from Diamond Creek Womens duo Monica Eisner and Zarah York in their win over Keon Park.
In the Under-17 Blue competition, Montmorency caused a boilover with a win over last year’s Under-16 Blue premiers and previously undefeated South Morang. A four-goal haul from Jordan Steele wasn’t enough to maintain the Lions’ winning run, as the Magpies, led by a match-winning performance from Kyan Watson and a three-goal haul to Jackson Jones, claimed a six-point victory. The lead changed often throughout the match, but the Magpies were able to hold on in a nail-biting encounter by a solitary goal. Eltham and Research were also able to produce another closely-fought match, with the Panthers getting over the line by 10 points. That was as close as the results got as Diamond Creek and Mill Park each recorded solid wins.
Wallan bounced back from a Round 3 loss in the Under-17 Red competition, defeating South Morang away from home. Trailing by 11 points at quarter time, a best-on-ground performance from Jake Neilson, who bagged three goals for the day, saw his side take the lead in the second quarter before recording a 43-point win. Epping was also able to record a win, beating Hurstbridge away from home with Jaidyn Curzi performing strongly.
The Under-16 Blue competition saw Epping maintain its unbeaten run, but not without a scare, producing a last-gasp comeback over a gallant Wallan outfit at Epping Recreation Reserve. Wallan had the edge over the Pingers heading into the final term with a 15-point advantage, but on the back of a match-winning performance by Jordan Wilkins, who kicked five goals, the Pingers were able to pull off a comeback 12-point win. Another tight encounter took centre stage at J.E. Moore Park, with West Preston-Lakeside recording its first win of the season, defeating Greensborough by eight points. South Morang also recorded a victory, beating Yarrambat away from home.
Mill Park caused an upset in the Under-16 Red competition, defeating the previously undefeated Diamond Creek by 13 points. Close throughout the day, a match-winning performance from Jordan Kubeil was enough for the Stallions to get over the line. That was the closest result of the round, as both Research and Eltham recorded comfortable wins.
The Under-15 Blue competition saw Montmorency record a big win over Mill Park at Redleap Reserve. Laurimar Black and South Morang also recorded big wins, with the closest match taking place between Greensborough and Research, with the Boro still comfortable winners in that encounter at Beale Reserve with Jordon Smith amongst the best players.
Whittlesea got on to the winners win this week in the Under-15 Red competition, recording a victory over West Preston-Lakeside at the Whittlesea Showgrounds. Laurimar Teal also produced a win, beating Eltham to keep its recent winning run intact. Epping and South Morang also recorded wins, beating Lalor and Hurstbridge respectively both away from home.
The Under-15 Girls competition produced another good round of football, with Montmorency, Yarrambat, Epping, Diamond Creek Womens Blue, Greensborough and West Preston-Lakeside all victorious in their respective matches last weekend. Key highlights for the round included a five-goal haul from Adele Burn for Diamond Creek Womens Blue in its win over South Morang, a bag of three goals from West Preston-Lakeside duo Ciara Fitzgerald and Maddison Burridge in the Roosters’ win over Eltham and a three-goal effort to Courtney Beaton in Greensborough’s win over Mill Park.
Good luck to all sides in action in Round 5 and for the remainder of the 2015 junior season in the NFL.
