Sport
22 August, 2022
Brook slip and slide their way to the double chance
NAVARRE 3.6 (24) def by CARISBROOK 6.5 (41) It was a near full-strength Navarre team that hosted a below-strength Carisbrook side on Saturday, but it was the visitors that came away with a 17-point victory in extremely muddy conditions. With so much...
NAVARRE 3.6 (24) def by CARISBROOK 6.5 (41)
It was a near full-strength Navarre team that hosted a below-strength Carisbrook side on Saturday, but it was the visitors that came away with a 17-point victory in extremely muddy conditions.
With so much on the line for both teams, it was a low scoring, physically tough match as they attacked the ball with vigour from the opening bounce on a day where scoring was tough thanks to the large amounts of mud on the ground.
Navarre had the upper hand early in the opening term with three behinds scored in succession before Sam Kaye snapped a goal from tight in the pocket at the eight-minute mark.
Navarre continued their attack and shortly after Cody Driscoll marked and his set shot found the goals for the Hoppers, who were 15 points in front just 13 minutes into the game.
Carisbrook assumed control from this point to fight back when Tony Zelencich slotted a magnificent check side goal from an exceedingly difficult angle, with the Redbacks behind by seven points at quarter time.
It was the second quarter in which Carisbrook won the game, thanks to two long goals with a very heavy ball courtesy of assistant coach Dean Chester.
Chester was relishing the battle and was inspirational when he goaled on the run from tight on the boundary just two minutes in to set the Redbacks alight.
Tim Rinaldi slotted another five minutes later to take the lead for the Redbacks. But Driscoll took a one-handed mark low to the ground and his goal put the Grasshoppers back in front. But this wouldn’t last long as Chester kicked a long bomb to regain the lead for the Redbacks, going in at half time leading by four points.
They were never headed for the remainder of the game. Only two goals were scored in the second half as both teams battled to get the ball forward, but the conditions proved very difficult for both teams. The Redbacks’ Tony Zelencich scored the two remaining goals with one in each of the third and final terms.
Adam Hurse was stoic in defence for Carisbrook, while Dean Chester and Harley Hunter continued to drive the ball forward, and Jackson Bowen was the dominant ruckman in the hard-fought victory.
For Navarre, Harry Bigmore managed the ball like it was a dry day and was named the Grass-hoppers’ best player, along with Jesse and Louis Hannett, Kaye, Leeton McKenzie, and Driscoll, who kicked two of their three goals.
Despite the victory, Carisbrook dropped down to third position on the ladder after Natte Bealiba’s massive victory over Campbells Creek saw the Swans take hold of second spot. Regardless, the win meant Carisbrook maintained a hold on the double chance.
Navarre remain in fifth position and will now play Dunolly in the elimination final next week.