A look back at the weekend’s results from Round 9 of the Northern Football League’s junior competition.
In the Under-18 Girls competition, second-placed Epping beat fellow top-four side Diamond Creek Womens by 24 points to keep its place near the top of the ladder. Trailing by two points at quarter-time, the Blues were able to lead for the rest of the match thanks largely to a four-goal haul from Joanne Liatsis and a best-on-ground performance by Molly Petruccelle. That was as close as the results got for the rest of the competition as Darebin, Greensborough and South Morang all recorded convincing wins in Round 9.
In the Under-17 Blue competition, Montmorency held off a fast-finishing Diamond Creek outfit to record a tight 11-point win at Montmorency Park. Trailing by 23 points at three-quarter time, the Creekers put in a big fight in the final term with four goals to two. But it wasn’t enough as the Magpies – led by Kyan Watson, Anthony Bernardi and Jackson Jones, who bagged three goals for the match – held on for the win. Mill Park was also able to register a win, consolidating second spot on the ladder with a 31-point away triumph over Research. Ladder-leader South Morang beat bottom-placed Greensborough on the back of four-goal hauls from duo Lachlan Golledge and James Hewson.
Whittlesea remained on top in the Under-17 Red competition after beating Thomastown by six goals at Whittlesea Showgrounds. Led by Jacob Tyrell, Vincent Nativo and Rhys Opdecoul, the Eagles got off to a fast start with a four-goal to zero first quarter. They then led at every change to remain four points clear atop the ladder. Snapping at their heels is Epping who recorded a big away win at Hurstbridge. Wallan was the round’s other winner, also recording a convincing win over South Morang at Wallan Recreational Reserve.
The Under-16 Blue competition saw South Morang stay undefeated after recording a big home win over Yarrambat. On the back of a seven-goal haul from Ahmad Ahmad and four-goal hauls from Adrian De Sando and Ben Peterson, the Lions stretched their unbeaten streak to nine matches. Epping widened the gap between itself and third-placed Wallan after recording a win over the Magpies at Wallan Recreational Reserve. The other winner for the round was Diamond Creek, who accounted for West Preston-Lakeside thanks to six goals from Marcus Lentini.
Research continued its winning form in the Under-16 Red competition, claiming its eighth victory of the season, this time over Bundoora Park at Bundoora Park Oval. Led by a six-goal haul from Jack Fitzpatrick and a solid performance by Liam Riley, the Search gained control in the first half and extended their lead at every break. Greensborough and Eltham also recorded Round 9 wins, defeating Mill Park and Montmorency respectively.
Whittlesea recorded a tight win in the Under-15 Blue competition, defeating Wallan by 11-points at Whittlesea Showgrounds. Close for the entire day, it was the Eagles who were able to keep their noses in front to get the four points. The win sees them sit in fourth place on the ladder, eight points clear of their closest rival Eltham, who went down to joint ladder-leader Montmorency at Montmorency Park. The other joint ladder-leader Laurimar Black, ahead by percentage, maintained its lead over the Magpies after it accounted for South Morang by 24 points. Greensborough also recorded a win in Round 9 beating Mill Park at Beale Oval.
West Preston Lakeside produced a big victory the Under-15 Red competition, winning well over Hurstbridge at J.E Moore Park on the back of five-goal and four-goal hauls to duo Mitchell Crapper and Ali Al Maliki. In other Round 9 results Research, Epping and South Morang all recorded wins as each kept their place inside the top four on the ladder.
In the Under-15 Girls competition, Montmorency broke away late to beat third-placed West Preston-Lakeside by 20 points at J.E. Moore Park. With scores level at half-time, the Magpies kicked the last three goals of the match to claim their fifth win of the season. Diamond Creek Womens Blue won its ninth-straight game in a 48-point victory over Wallan, while Epping remained second following a strong win over South Morang. The other Round 9 winners were Greensborough, Diamond Creek Womens Red and Eltham.
Good luck to all teams in this weekend’s Round 10 matches.
