WCE U/23 WA Amateur Team defeats Tasmania
04 Jun, 2008
Two late goals has handed the West Coast Eagles U/23 West Australian Amateur Team League an 11-point win over Tasmania in the match at Devonport yesterday.
After trailing most of the day Tasmania hit the front and led with less than five minutes to play but silly play and a 50 metre penalty in the dying minutes saw the visitors kick two late goals to win 11.10 (76) to 9.11 (65).
The West Coast Eagles U/23 WA Amateurs started the stronger of the two sides having played a couple of games before yesterday along with six weeks training and used the size and power of ruck combination Tom Willday and Jamie Birrell and on balers Steve Wood and Bradley Wedgewood to kick clear in a dour first half.
WA full forward Blake Innersole showed early signs of destructive force using his 194 cm, 94 kg frame to out muscle undersized opponent Ben Fisher.
Trailing by two gals at the main change, Tasmanian coach Kent Jackson urged his players to display pride and his side responded with the first two goals on the second half to level the scores.
Tasmania started to show plenty of run with captain and umpires’ best on ground Allan O’Sign, Grant Birchall Medalist Jesse Wells and the unlucky Daniel Ellis having a big bearing on the game.
O’Sign winning the medal fro BOG from the umpires despite giving away a crucial 50m penalty with resulted in a goal to Daniel O’Sullivan that surrendered the lead to the visitors with less than two minutes to play.
Burnie’s Nick McKenna was pushed back onto Innersole and nullified him, forcing the WA to change direction heading inside their attacking 50m arch.
Simon Jones stepped up as Ingersole’s replacement attacking option and kicked four goals to be the major goal kicker on the ground.
WA vice captain Wood was best for the victors with Jones, captain Wegdewood, back pocket Jarred Heller and hard running Scott Horsburgh giving more than ample support.
WCE U/23 WA Amateur Team v Tasmania Coaches Report
The West Coast Eagles U/23 WA Amateurs 3.4 5.6 9.9 11.10 (76)
Tasmania 1.2 3.6 8.7 9.11 (65)
Goals – WAAFL: S Jones 4, B Ingersole, R Atkinson 2, J Towne, D O’Sullivan, J Birrell; Tasmania C McDonald 3, N Buller 2, J Gale, H Walters, M Hills, S Whiting.
Best – WAAFL: S Wood, B Wedgewood, S Jones, J Heller, S Horburgh, R Atkinson; Tasmania: D Ellis, J Wells, N McKenna, J Gale, S Whish Wilson, N Buller.
Grant Birchall Medal: Jesse Wells (Tasmania)
Umpires Best on Ground: Allan O’Sign (Tasmania)
Injuries – Nil
Reports – Nil
Umpires – B Hayes (NWFU), T Donohue (NTFA), C Grey (WAAFL)
Crowd – 1,138 (at Devonport Oval)
