A review of the Round 7 junior action.
In the Under 18 Girls competition the closest game was played between Mernda and Epping, where the Demons prevailed by three goals to strengthen their hold on fourth spot. South Morang moved two-games clear in first after defeating third-placed Diamond Creek Womens, while Hurstbridge recorded its second win by beating Eltham.
In the Under 17 Blue competition, Diamond Creek bounced back from its Round 6 loss, defeating Epping convincingly by 51 points. Despite only leading by five points at the major break, the Creekers booted nine goals to three in a dominant second half display to tear the game apart. They were led by Lochlan Brannelly with four goals and Kieran Brick. South Morang continued its winning form, coming from behind to defeat Research by 22 points. The Lions were trailing by 12 points at the final break, but a last quarter burst saw them kick six goals to none on their way to a very good win. The other winner was ladder-leader Montmorency, who accounted for West Preston in a dominant display.
Eltham and Hurstbridge both recorded comfortable wins in the Under 17 Red competition, beating Wallan and Yarrambat respectively. Whittlesea was the other winner as it accounted for Diamond Creek by 34 points. The win sees the Eagles cement their top three spot, trailing Hurstbridge and Eltham. The Bridges hold a two-point advantage over the Panthers in the top of the table race. Northcote had the bye.
The Under 16 Blue competition saw South Morang continue its unbeaten run, defeating Research in a one-sided result. The win sees the Lions sit clear atop the ladder. In a much closer affair, Eltham got over the line against a gallant Epping, beating them by four goals in a close encounter. Leading by nine points at the final break, the Panthers kept the Pingers scoreless for the final term as they went on their way to a good win. The other winner of the round was Mill Park who doubled Montmorency’s score in a 49-point result.
South Morang kept its winning run alive as it remains atop the Under 15 Blue ladder following a big win over Greensborough. Nathan Viotto and Ben Peterson led the way for the Lions, each bagging five goals up forward. Greensborough’s best in defeat was Lachlan Jepsen and Nathan Jasper. Despite having its early score wiped after succumbing to an on-field head count, Wallan was still able to beat Research by 13 points. The other winner of the round was Epping, who beat West Preston in a dominant display as it seeks to rectify its number one status in the Blue division.
The Under 15 Red competition saw Eltham beat Diamond Creek in a very close encounter by one goal. The Creekers will be ruing poor kicking efficiency, as they had four more scoring shots than the Panthers. The win sees Eltham sit clear atop the ladder with the Creekers snapping at their heels. The other winner was Montmorency after it defeated Mill Park by 26 points in very good display of football.
In the Under 15 Green competition, Bundoora Park recorded its third win in a row by comfortably beating Kinglake. The Bolts were led by James Healy booting three goals and Matthew Cox who was dominant in the middle. Whittlesea also recorded a win as it accounted for Keon Park by 53 points. The results leave Whittlesea and Bundoora Park fighting it out for top spot.
South Morang remained undefeated in the Under 14 Blue competition, after proving far too good for West Preston. Montmorency bounced back after its heartbreaking loss to the Lions in Round 6, by defeating local neighbour Eltham. Laurimar Black was the round’s other big winner after accounting for Epping.
In the Under 13 Blue competition, South Morang Blue remains atop the ladder after it had a big win over Epping. Whittlesea beat Greensborough by 16 points in a very low scoring affair at Whittlesea Showgrounds. Meanwhile, Montmorency also recorded a win as it accounted for Bundoora Park by 37 points, where a 45-point first quarter lead set up the win.
In the Under 12 Blue competition, Research and Mill Park both recorded close wins over South Morang Blue and Diamond Creek respectively. The results see the Search sit second on the ladder, whilst the Lions sit in third. Ladder leader Eltham recorded another win when it beat Wallan.
Finally, Yarrambat kept rolling along in the Under 11 Blue competition, beating South Morang Blue by eight points in the first of many tight matches for the round. Eltham scraped over the line against Greensborough, winning by five points. Epping was the other winner as it just beat Montmorency by one goal. The Magpies will be ruing kicking 2.7 in the third quarter, eventually losing despite recording four more scoring shots than the Pingers.
