‘We are probably on par’: Picola United balances the ledger with win over Rennie

Given their respective ladder positions, it was expected that Picola would emerge the better side, which it did from the first whistle with a blistering opening term to lead 6.4 (40) to 0.1 (1) at quarter-time.

It was a more subdued second term, with the home side managing just 2.1 for the quarter, although it was still enough to extend the lead, having kept Rennie to 1.2.

Another scrappy third term saw the Blues increase the margin by another 15 points to hold an advantage of 57 points with a quarter to play, however the flood gates really opened up in the last as Picola put the hammer down.

Keeping the visitors scoreless, the Blues added 10.5 in the final term to blow the game wide open and send the lead into triple figures, blitzing Rennie to record a magnificent 122-point triumph.

“It was a good performance by the crew. Everyone played their role,” Blues coach Rhys Woodland said.

“The scoreboard obviously doesn't paint a very good picture (for Rennie), but it probably didn't reflect what the game really was like.

“Rennie did put up a fair bit of a fight, especially in that second and third quarter, it was quite a competitive game.”

Kian Wise booted a team-high six majors for Picola United in the win, followed closely by Cody Haub with five, while Lachlan Caldwell (three goals), Taylor Beard (three goals) and Blake Jorgensen (two goals) all finished with multiple goals.

“Kian Wise has come back to the club and he's played the last two or three games and he managed to hit the scoreboard and liven up the crowd a fair bit,” said Woodland of his side’s top scorer.

“He’s a pretty electric sort of player, so it was good for him to feel a bit settled in the side now and play some good footy.”

Blake Azzopardi (one goal) was judged best on for the Blues in the win, with Wise, Haub, Benjamin Turpin and Xavier Clarke also influential.

Picola United has a bye next week, before hosting top-four side Berrigan (5-2) in its next outing on June 8.

“I think we are probably on par, four and four, so an even ledger,” Woodland said of his team’s position at this point in the season.

“In a perfect world we would have liked to be probably one more win ahead just to be in front of the pack a little bit.

“We thought that Katunga game (in round seven) probably we let slip, but that’s footy, so we’re happy enough where we’re at, but we’re probably not in front of the ball.”

PDNL

Picola United’s A-grade netball slide slumped to a fourth loss in a row when it fell 24-40 to Rennie in round nine.

The Blues hung in the contest throughout the first half, trailing 5-8 at quarter-time and 13-17 at the half.

Rennie broke away in the third quarter, almost doubling its score to 30 while Picola added just three scores to reach 16.

Things were closer in the fourth quarter but in the end the Grasshoppers took the term by two goals.

The Blues (2-6) have the bye next week before they look to arrest their losing slide against Berrigan (3-4) on June 8.