BLUSTERY CONDITIONS BLOW RESERVES FINALS BID AWAY The Western Magpies Reserves bowed out of the finals series yesterday when defeated by a Palm Beach-Currumbin team which handled the blustery conditions at Labrador better than the Pies. The Magpies just could not get a handle on the blustery southerly wind which gave the team kicking to the northern end of the ground a 4-5 goal advantage. The Magpies eventually went down by 30 points, 11-7-73 to 6-7-43. PBC kicked with the wind in the first quarter and were 5 goals up at quarter time and with the conditions this was about an even result with the Pies to have the wind at their backs in the second quarter. PBC elected to use a loose man in the backline and this forced the Pies into some poor decision making with short kicking to contests and many missed targets resulted in the Magpies kicking only 1 late goal for the quarter –a long bomb from Todd Billing-- to trail by 20 points at half time. The Pies came out firing in the third quarter and in their best football for the match kicked 4 goals against the wind with much slicker use of the football, with Matt Hockley, Luke Boulton and Brady Allen both booting long goals into the wind and Bryce Crossley snaring a good goal from the pocket. The Pies were back in the match but the Lions lifted their work-rate and were able to kick several late goals to hold a 21 point buffer at the final change. This was not insurmountable and the Pies had several early shots which missed so again were unable to get the early goals to put scoreboard pressure on PBC. The Pies only managed 1 goal for the quarter from a long range shot from Chris Judson, but PBC were able to score 2 breakaway goals mid-way through the quarter which effectively sealed the contest. Skipper Sean McEvoy was superb at CHB taking mark after mark in difficult conditions and was easily the Pies best. Drew Mitchell worked hard at half-back and in midfield with Tom Ielasi also continuing his good form of the previous week to give plenty of drive from the middle of the ground. Joel Workman also tried hard to lift his teammates around ground, Mitchell Pollock had his best game for the club in ruck, Travis Parsons battled hard in the last line of defence and Gabe McKinnon provided good rebound out of defence. Coach Craig Allen was disappointed after his side played so well the previous week but was pleased with his team’s effort and endeavour in the difficult conditions. The Magpies Reserves is a young group and will improve next year with this year’s finals experience under their belt.
Posted on: Mon, 08 Sep 2014 08:13:27 +0000
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