Sport
31 July, 2023
Square far too good for Magpies
Maryborough were unable to contain the pure scoring power of Golden Square on the weekend, with the Bulldogs kicking 11 last-quarter goals to win by 193 points. It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the Magpies, despite the result, in what was...
Maryborough were unable to contain the pure scoring power of Golden Square on the weekend, with the Bulldogs kicking 11 last-quarter goals to win by 193 points.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the Magpies, despite the result, in what was a much-improved showing from their round five meeting against the Bulldogs, generating 16 scoring shots compared to four in their last meeting.
The Bulldogs started the better of the two teams, kicking the opening seven goals of the game, while Maryborough were unable to make use of their opportunities, kicking three behinds before hitting the scoreboard, with playing-coach Coby Perry kicking a sumptuous goal from the half-forward flank.
Tom Harrison added another goal shortly after, with the work of Perry once again supreme, to ensure the Magpies would have two goals on the board and trail by 35 points at the first break.
But that was as good as it got for the Magpies, with Golden Square dominating the next two quarters.
The Bulldogs put the foot down, scoring eight goals to nil in the second term to extend their lead out to 85 points at the main break, and then added another nine goals to three behinds in the third term to open up a 145-point lead at the final change.
The Bulldogs opened the last quarter with the first two goals, but an excellent intercept from Mitch McClure deep inside 50 gave the Magpies their first goal since the opening term.
Although the Bulldogs con-tinued to pile on the goals, Maryborough enjoyed perhaps their best passage of the day midway through the final quarter, with Patrick Chard taking a strong mark from a Kaian Constable inside 50 entry and converting, before Joel Swatton intercepted a Bulldogs switch to run into an open goal and give the Magpies their fifth goal of the day.
But the Bulldogs finished off the game with the final four goals to make it a big day for them as they continued their charge towards overhauling Sandhurst for the Bendigo Football Netball League minor premiership.
Swatton was the Magpies’ best player, ably assisted by Kya Lanfranchi, Constable, Luke Dunne, Jake Postle and McClure.
Elsewhere, Maryborough were also unable to secure a win in the other grades, but were able to improve on their last meeting with Square.
The reserves lost to the Bulldogs by 146 points, while the under 18s lost by 46 points, despite a three-goal to zero third quarter.