Nyora claims Demon Cup against Poowong

NYORA celebrated Dylan Heylen's 200th senior game with a convincing win against arch rivel's Poowong to take back the demon up.

Poowong and Nyora competed on Saturday for the Demon Cup in honour of the late Des Rogers, a stalwart of both clubs, with the Saints hosting the game and coming out on top by 45 points.

Poowong was forced to make three changes, all due to injuries, with Joel Norton, Blake Rout and Connor Ives replaced by Josh Chiavaroli, Mitch Cochrane and Josh Hall, the latter performing strongly in his Senior debut and promising a bright future.

The opening quarter proved decisive, with Poowong managing just three behinds to the Lang Lang end against a slight breeze, while Nyora kicked five goals and led by 29 points at the first break, the Magpies never overcoming that deficit.

Poowong was in the game during the second quarter but some poor decision making going forward put players under pressure.

Both sides added five goals for the term, Nyora again leading by 29 points at halftime, the game to that point lacking flow with both sides hard at it and numerous ball ups being required.

The third quarter was competitive, with Poowong’s Jarvis Brown kicking two good goals, while  Nyora added three majors through Dylan Heylen, Callum McNiff and Paul Delaroche. 

Poowong had nobody left on the bench from halfway through the term and it was going to be tough in the last quarter with Nyora leading by six goals, scores at that stage being Nyora 13.7-85 to Poowong 7.7-49.

The fourth quarter was even until late in the piece when Poowong players ran out of legs, Nyora ultimately adding 3.1 to Poowong’s 1.4 for the term, Heylen and Delaroche again booting majors for Nyora, along with one from Samuel Dixon, while Cochrane kicked the Magpies’ only goal for the final stanza.

Nyora prevailed 16.8-104 to Poowong 8.11-59, the Saints worthy winners of the Demon Cup.

Zac Gray, Chiavaroli, Mitch Molloy, Brown, Alex Henshall and Aaron Damon did best for Poowong.

Nyora’s best players were Jesse Heylen, McNiff, Jordan Anderson, Delaroche, Dylan Heylen and Dante Di Pietro.

Delaroche starred around the big sticks, booting six goals for the winning team, Dylan Heylen and O’Pili Paora managing three majors each.

Brown was the Magpies’ only multiple-goal scorer, with a couple of majors to his name.

In the Reserves, there were some good patches of football, with Nyora winning 8.11-59 to Poowong 2.3-15.

This week Poowong welcomes Lang Lang, with hopes the weekend’s injuries aren’t too serious and a few others can return for the Magpies, while Nyora travels to Yarragon.