| First Grade & Reserve Grade Elimination Semi Finals vs Griffith Black & Whites |
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| Group 20 |
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| There will be plenty of argument around town that the enforced lay-off in the last round and subsequent 3 weeks without a game, cost us the season on Saturday when both First & Reserve Grades found themselves against Griffith Black & Whites at Ron Crowe Oval on Saturday for the first elimination semi-finals for 2004. Unfortunately season 2004 came to a halt for both grades, Firsts going down 36/38 and Reserves also beaten 16/20. Were we starved of football and under prepared, or could it be that we were freshened up and ready for Black & Whites who had hard matches the previous week against Yanco Wamoon ? We will never know the answer to that one. Both games were thrillers with little between the sides except on the scoreboard. The First Grade game had the scoreboard attendants working furiously as the lead changed on a number of occasions throughout the 80 minutes. By mid way through the second half West Wyalong had no fit players left on the bench and with prop Mick Hopper and Captain-Coach Ryan Prevett forced to look on, Black & Whites held on to their slender lead following a spirited last minute fightback by the Mallee Men to run out winners and progress to the minor semi final next week. The Reserve Grade put up a fighting finish also before going down by just 4, to bring the season to a close for the senior teams. Oh well, Silly Sunday, Mad Monday, Terrible Tuesday, whatever you call it, has come a couple of weeks early this year for the senior Mallee Men, but with the emerging young talent in the sides this year together with the addition of class from the Under 18�s, we can now look toward building on this foundation and make a better start to 2005. Results & Scorers First Grade West Wyalong 36 - Griffith 38 Tries Chris Jamieson 2, Chad Grintell, Mick Loudon, Ryan Prevett, Chris Fealy & Jared Carruthers. Jared Carruthers 3 goals, Rohan Loudon 1. Reserve Grade West Wyalong 16 - Griffith 20 Tries to Grant Pettit, Ronnie Pettit & Tony Kilmartin. Grant Pettit 2 goals. |
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| Under 16's Qualifying Semi Final vs Yanco Wamoon |
| MALLEE BOYS KEEP THE FLAG FLYING Watch out Waratahs - here we come! Following the untimely end to the season for both First & Reserve Grades on Saturday, the Under 16�s traveled to Yanco on Sunday to meet second placed Yanco Wamoon, determined to keep the Mallee Men colors alive in the Qualifying Semi-Final. Against an opposition that has beaten the boys twice during the home and away season, the Mallee Boys kept their best form for this important clash, running out impressive winners 14-10, and will now meet Waratah Tigers in the Major Semi-Final at Yenda on Sunday with the chance to go straight to the Grand Final. The scoreline flattered Yanco Wamoon who were completely outplayed all over the park. The Mallee Boys showed in the early minutes of the game that they were �ready to play� by immediately putting the Yanco Wamoon defence under pressure and when in possession Yanco were �looking� at their opponents and making many errors. In the first minutes Andrew Widdison and Matt Linsdell were tearing themselves into the Yanco defence and creating havoc. The boys took advantage of a Yanco dropped ball to force a scrum and first points were only seconds away after the ball went to the backline for fullback Joel Arnold to finish off and score out wide. The wet and slippery conditions were not the best for goalkickers, so after only 5 minutes West Wyalong lead 4/0. West Wyalong continued to dominate possession and territory until the 20th minute when Yanco pushed deep into WW half on the back of penalties and winger Kevin Constable scored wide out � 4/4 The Mallee Boys continued to take control of the game and were further rewarded by a Grant Lange try at the 27th minute, following a great chip and chase by Jared Kelly that was fumbled by the Yanco defence, kicked through again for Grant Lange to re-gather and score. Jared Kelly�s conversion took the half time score to 10/4 . The second half was only 9 minutes old when West Wyalong were again on the attack after a number of errors by Yanco. A penalty to West Wyalong only metres out saw Jason Scealy scamper over from dummy half to score their third try and take what became a match winning lead at 14/4. |