Poowong makes it two wins on the trot

POOWONG’S Senior side beat Lang Lang in a thriller, the four-point victory making it two wins in a row for the Magpies, the latest success achieved in the lair of the fifth-placed Tigers.

The weather was great for July, with the ground in excellent condition and a light breeze to the highway end.

Poowong was forced to make three changes to its Senior lineup, with Conor Cunningham unavailable, and Under 18 players Bryce Broadmore and Aaron Damon rested, the trio replaced by Anthony Orsini, Rhys Schulz and Josh Hall.

Poowong started off kicking to the highway end with the breeze, the Magpies quickly showing supporters that they were having a real dip, with Poowong first on the board through a goal to Alex Henshall. 

Matthew Roberts was giving the visiting team a target up forward, and after a few points, Henshall added his second goal. 

This all happened during the best 15 minutes of football for Poowong all season, before Lang Lang finally went forward kicking two goals from free kicks, the Tigers adding another late in the quarter.

It’s amazing the difference in a player’s form and how much they can improve if there is a lift in confidence among the players.

The match was of a good standard, and the umpires were confident with their decisions, making the game flow. 

The interest in the second quarter was to see if Poowong could hold Lang Lang with the breeze.

That assignment started positively when Roberts booted a goal for the Magpies, before Lang Lang hit back, converting a couple of marks in the square into majors.

Roberts then set up a Poowong goal with his pass to Zac Gray, but Lang Lang again responded and headed to the halftime break with a slender advantage, the score at that time Lang Lang 6.4 (40) to Poowong 4.8 (32), leaving the Magpies with a chance to cause an upset.

Joseph Bisognin was performing strongly in the ruck, while Roberts continued to impress as a forward target, with an air of confidence among the Magpies.

Poowong’s positivity continued in the third quarter and it was rewarded on the scoreboard with two goals to Roberts and one to Carl Langford.

Lang Lang added two goals in the third stanza, the Tigers clinging to a lead of just a solitary point at the last change, with Poowong 7.10 (52) to Lang Lang 8.5 (53).

The breeze had eased for the last quarter, with Lang Lang first on the board with a goal, before Matt Cozzio replied for Poowong, only to see Lang Lang kick its tenth.  

With both sides striving to win, Roberts goaled from a free kick to cut the Magpies’ deficit to just three points, Poowong trimming the margin by a behind before Roberts marked and kicked the winning goal.

Poowong’s defence held tight until the siren sounded, the Magpies’ second win of the season a great effort, the scores finishing with Poowong 10.12 (72) to Lang Lang 10.8 (68).

Roberts was the winning team’s best player, finishing with five goals, Connor Ives and Zac Gray other Magpies who had great games.

Bisognin was outstanding in the ruck, with Micah Williames excelling and Alex Henshall working hard all day and kicking two goals.

Kalin Parker did best for the narrowly beaten Tigers, while Darcy Walls, Jesse Hand, Curtis Barker and Rhys Simmons were Lang Lang’s multiple goal scorers with a couple of majors each.

Poowong has the bye this week, then welcomes Nilma Darnum at home.

See you at Poowong in a fortnight.