Sport
14 July, 2022
Pumas miss out on win over Lions
The Maryborough Pumas wasted any chance of a strong result at home with a patchy performance in its AFL Masters Victoria Country clash against Sunbury on Sunday. Inaccurate kicking put paid to any chance of a victory against the well-drilled Lions...
The Maryborough Pumas wasted any chance of a strong result at home with a patchy performance in its AFL Masters Victoria Country clash against Sunbury on Sunday.
Inaccurate kicking put paid to any chance of a victory against the well-drilled Lions going down 5.8 (38) to 13.5 (83) at Princes Park.
With the visitors punishing the home team’s mistakes in front of goal and around the ground in perfect conditions for football, Pumas coach Terry Hillier said it was a frustrating afternoon.
“We had enough of the ball for a better result than that but our execution was ordinary,” he said.
“You don’t mind getting beaten by a better side, and Sunbury is a strong side, but you don’t even give yourself a chance if you miss easy shots or turn the ball over.
“It was one of our more frustrating games of the year. We have wanted to make Princes Park our fortress, and the effort was there, but we can be a lot better than that.”
Maryborough had more scoring shots than Sunbury in the opening term but kicked just one goal and four behinds, to trail by four points at the first change.
When the momentum switched in the second term, however, Sunbury proved far more efficient, with four goals to the home team’s one.
Both teams improved their output in the third term, with the Pumas kicking three straight to the Lions’ 5.1, before Sunbury finished with the only two goals of the final quarter.
Glenn Blackman-Cole was outstanding for the home team with three goals, with Chris Cudia and Trev Chapman each kicking one.
Brad Fraser was named Maryborough’s best by Sunbury, with Jamie Forti, Nick Weaver, Chris Gunn and Brett Forti also among the Pumas’ better players