SPORT
Cannons take the sting out of Rays
INBRIEF
BY TEO PELLIZZERI
MICHAEL COPP
A STRING of tactical victories led Calder Cannons to a comfortable 42-point win against Dandenong Stingrays in the TAC Cup match at Highgate Reserve on Saturday. For the second time this season the Cannons held their opposition goalless to half-time on the way to winning 14.5 (89) to 6.11 (47). Dandenong (5-3) slipped to fourth with the loss, while Calder (4-4) moved into sixth position. Calder shot out of the blocks with five unanswered goals and while the Stingrays did enjoy times of momentum, the Cannons’ intelligence close to goal always kept the scoreboard a one-sided affair. Vic Metro defender Jake Lever posted himself at the top of the 50m arc and constantly trapped the ball in the Cannons’ forward line, either intercept-marking or making a contest on attempted clearing kicks. And with the ball trapped in the forward line, Calder profited. Matthew Merlo and Josh Cauchi kicked goals in perfect set pieces from boundary throw-ins. The final quarter was more open as Dandenong found its run, but this was Calder’s day, with winners around the ground. Cauchi’s two goals showed superb small-forward instinct, while Aaron Christensen led all scorers with three majors as he played much of the game in the forward line. “Our guys responded to the challenge,” Calder coach Andrew Jago
Warm welcome: Romsey’s David Quillerat (54) is congratulated by Jason Cooke (far left), Josh Cauchi (left) and Jack Baker (right) after kicking his first TAC Cup goal in the 42-point win over Dandenong Stingrays
said. “Dandenong had momentum twice and we wrestled it back. “We adopted a wet-weather philosophy . . . as soon as you get hands on the ball, get it going our way. “We hammered it into them prior to the game.” The game’s opening goal set the tone, with Romsey’s David Quillerat
Gunned down! Sophie’s 48 see off Marsh
Oval on Saturday, June 15. In the meantime, Vic Metro will play its second game of the under-18 national championships, against NSW-ACT Rams at Princes Park on Sunday. Gallery online: For more shots from Michael Copp’s action gallery, go to mooneevalleyweekly.com.au
Goaling for fun: Sunbury’s Sophie Gunn dominated against Bacchus Marsh on Saturday. For more action pictures from Shawn Smits’ action gallery, go to sunburyweekly.com.au
EAGLEHAWK short-circuited a potential Gisborne return to the top two of Bendigo Football League on Saturday by leading start to finish in a 14-point win. The Bulldogs’ 8.9 (57) to 10.11 (71) defeat left them with a 4-3 record and fifth on the ladder. A victory could have seen them second behind ladder leader South Bendigo (6-1). Instead, Golden Square (5-3), Eaglehawk (5-2) and Strathfieldsaye (4-1-2) all head Gisborne. Eaglehawk kicked four of the game’s first five goals, which proved invaluable as Gisborne’s control of clearances and inside-50s thereafter failed to reflect on the scoreboard. Matthew Knox booted three goals for the Bulldogs, while Ollie Messaoudi, Casey Summerfield and
Ethan Minns were also among the best players. “It was a wet day and when you get off to a start like we did, you’re always under the pump,” Gisborne coach Kevin Fitzgerald said. “Eaglehawk was able to hold its lead all day, so good luck to them.” In reserves football, Kyneton fell just shy of its second win of the campaign, losing 4.6 (30) to 6.8 (44) against Kangaroo Flat. Gisborne returns to Gardiner Reserve this weekend to host Castlemaine (ninth, 1-6). In netball A-grade, Gisborne’s dominant start to the season rolled on with a 49-35 win against Eaglehawk. The seven-from-seven Bulldogs remain two games clear on top of the table from Golden Square (5-3).
BASKETBALL Home court counted for little on Sunday as visiting La Trobe City downed Sunbury Jets by 12 points at Boardman Stadium. The Jets (4-9) are sixth of eight teams in their Big V men’s division one pool. But Sunbury’s women enjoyed a winning weekend, thrashing Hawthorn Magic 76-50 on Saturday night. Kayla Theodore scored 20 points, Debra Ogston 14 and Emmie O’Nial scored 13 to go with 13 rebounds. The win puts Sunbury (3-8) seventh in women’s division one.
— with Luke West, Bendigo Advertiser
JUNE 4, 2013
RUGBY LEAGUE Visiting Craigieburn Phoenix shocked Sunbury United Tigers with a 10-point win at Langama Park on Saturday. The Phoenix led 22-12 at half-time and kept the advantage in the second half to win 38-28. Craigieburn had started the season with a forfeit and was winless prior to Saturday. Sunbury United suffered its first loss of the campaign and now has two wins and one loss. VWFL North Geelong did enough to hold off Sunbury Lions by a goal in north-west division one on Sunday. The Lions trailed by 13 points at the last change but could not overrun North Geelong in the 4.5 (29) to 5.5 (35) defeat. The loss leaves Sunbury (4-4) fourth on the ladder.
Bulldogs slip back to fifth
SHAWN SMITS
SOPHIE Gunn scored 48 goals as Sunbury Lions blitzed Bacchus Marsh from the start to win by 22 goals in Ballarat Netball League A-grade on Saturday. The 20-5 first-quarter onslaught gave the Lions the springboard for the comfortable 64-42 victory. Around the courts, North Ballarat City beat Darley 35-18, East Point beat Redan 48-43 and Sebastopol beat Ballarat 41-39. North Ballarat City (5-0) leads the ladder with 24 points, while Sunbury (5-1-1) is second on 22 points . Then come Melton (4-1) and East Point (5-1), both on 20.
marking and goaling to much celebration from his teammates. The volleyball convert caught the eye of talent scouts with his Riddell league form and after training with the Cannons for only a few weeks he was added to the list. Calder’s next match is away to Bendigo Pioneers at Queen Elizabeth
SOCCER Sunbury United remains within a game of the promotion places in spite of being held to a 0-0 draw by Melbourne University on Saturday. Sunbury has 14 points and sits in fourth on the table, behind third-placed North Sunshine Eagles on goal difference and a point behind second-placed Cairnlea (15). After eight rounds, just four points separate second and ninth on the table. All league action breaks this weekend with Sunbury’s next outing away at Banyule City on Saturday, June 15. In Metro League 1, Gisborne climbed out of the bottom two with a 4-2 win against Old Melburnians. Jesse Canning scored two goals for Gisborne, while David Dovgan and Evan Bouwmeester also found the net. In women’s state 3 west, Gisborne won 7-3 against Melbourne University with Gill McDermott scoring a hat-trick. Other goal-scorers were Kim Hutt, Helen Smith, Jessica Larsen and Katerina Karatsoris.
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