Sport

PDFL | Mathoura misses out in Blighty defeat

By Josh Huntly

Jun 5, 2022

Chopped down: Mathoura handed Blighty its first win of the season, falling by 36 points to the Redeyes. Photo: Steve Huntley Photo by Steve Huntley

Mathoura’s shot at a second win of the season has fallen short to Blighty, conceding a 36-point defeat to hand the Redeyes their first win of the season.

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Injury once again hampered the Timbercutters’ efforts on Saturday, and despite a tight first-half contest, a late-game fade-out proved costly in the 7.10 (52) to 12.16 (88) defeat.

An accurate Timbercutters held an 11-point lead at quarter time courtesy of four straight goals, before Blighty responded with five goals to one in the second.

A pair of injuries sustained midway through the second quarter then saw Mathoura reduced to two men on the bench for a second straight week.

Blighty’s superior size advantage down forward paid dividends from there, with Kyel Bain and Andrew Simpson each booting four goals.

Despite holding the run of play early in the game, Mathoura coach Stan Gilday pointed to the second quarter and yet another rotten run of injuries as contributing to its eighth defeat.

“We copped a couple of injuries again which put us down to two on the bench midway through the second quarter,” Gilday said.

“We lack height and marking options, and (Blighty) have tall options that can do that.

“I thought we had the majority of play, we just couldn’t capitalise. Our second quarter let us down because we couldn’t close that gap.”

Nick Ferrari again led the goal-scoring for the Timbercutters, while Tom Creighton, Seth Wright, and Ben Keogh battled through the midfield.

Gilday also praised the efforts of 17-year-old ruck Kyle Magro, and the Timbercutters’ coach said consistency would develop over time for the young Mathoura outfit.

“(The squad) are growing and maturing, and that’s all we can do,” Gilday said.

“We played well in patches, but we just need to be consistent.”

With the Picola and District Football League season now past the halfway mark, Mathoura sits in 13th on the ladder.

The Timbercutters return to Mathoura Reserve in round 11 to face off against Jerilderie, who was gallant in defeat to ladder-leaders Tungamah on Saturday, 8.13 (61) to 11.7 (73).