Match in Augusta will test Bulldogs
Port v West
Saturday, May 23 Port Augusta
Port, SGL premiers for the past two
seasons, hit the road to Port Augusta to take on the in-form West Augusta.
Port goes into match after consecutive losses to Central and Lions while West had a narrow win over Lions and a good 32 point win over South last weekend.
The past two seasons the Bulldogs have got out of the blocks well but this year they are back in the pack
currently in fourth position on the ladder and a loss this week could see them drop out of the four.
Both sides have key forwards – the Bulldogs’ Matt Gale and West’s Hayden Warren in great form, Gale kicking seven against the Lions and Warren who kicked four goals against Lions and another four against South.
Port, as it proved last week, is missing captain Ben Luteria in defence as he is currently overseas on holidays for three weeks.
Also this week the Bulldogs will miss dour defender Jamie McNamara who was injured during last weeks match. On a positive for Port returning from injury this week for the green and whites should be Greg Phillips, Kieran Johanson and Jordan Coombe who was unavailable last week West have had a good number of players playing well. Matthew Woodforde who kicked five goals against Lions, Brett McKerlie who was best on ground against West last week. Also Kirk Higgins who has featured high in the Hawk’s best in the last two games.
The Bulldogs need this week to have a tougher approach on the ball in the middle of the ground. Ruckman Michael Burford in recent weeks has been winning the taps in ruck only to see the ball be taken away by the opposition on-ball players. Norm Wombat, Josh Sykes, Terry Hall and Jess Penny who has returned from injury will need to be right on their game in the middle to give Port any chance of a win.
Chris Stephens, who was quiet by his standard last week, may be given the job of trying to contain Hayden Warren. If he can do this, it will go a long way to Port having a winning chance.
It has been a long time since the Bulldogs have lost three games in a row, but this may happen if most of their players do not lift 100% on the effort that they put in against Lions last week.
If they can then the Bulldogs may hit the winners list.
BY Neville Thomson
Sollies will find the going tough against Lions
Lions v Sollies
Saturday, May 23 Port Pirie
Solomontown languishing at the foot of the premiership ladder have been able to hold their heads high in recent weeks as their team game is improving on a weekly basis and will have the opportunity of being titled ‘The Giant Killers’ before the season comes to a end.
However with the Lions dominating display against Port Bulldogs, Sollies may not get their opportunity this week.
Although the Port Augusta teams hold the top three positions, this week’s round could see a leap frog of changes and Lions potential with a victory could see them sitting anywhere between 2nd and 5th.
Lions have been able to generate a true team game, having had 14 players awarded various levels of best-on-ground performances they will be difficult to stop as match ups offer Sollies coach Bob Boston some difficulties in his field placement, with Lions forward line players swinging to the back and vice versa and their on-ball players offering unwavering versatility.
Superstar recruit for the Lions, Elijah ‘Noodles’ Ware has had an influence, although subtle, in his first two games.
Solomontown will need to work out a way to nullify his dominance if they deem themselves a chance.
Solomontown will not hand the victory to the Lions on a platter, they will make them work for it and with Craig Tee playing well in the ruck, Brad Ley for Lions will need to be playing a blinder to curb his influence.
Matt Turner and Lindsay Bearman will also have a big say in the outcome of the game as they have both hit fine form for Solomontown with the latter receiving best-on-ground honours against Centrals.
The game should offer an early close encounter, but Lions fitness, team game and confidence will have them run away with the victory… but Sollies are not far away.
BY Thomas Maywald
PHOTO: LOCAL DERBY...Port’s Chris Stephens and Lions’ Tate Bradley pictured in action last weekend in round five of SGL in Port Pirie.
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