As it happened: Harrow-Balmoral v Kalkee
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IT has been a long journey for Harrow-Balmoral.
But it is not over yet.
On Sunday, the Southern Roos recorded a 12.14(86)-10.8(68) win against Kalkee and secured a spot in next week’s preliminary final.
The Southern Roos will face its next big test in Jeparit-Rainbow, at Natimuk on Sunday.
Southern Roos coach Paul Cleaver said he was pleased with his sides efforts in the home stretch.
We know Kalkee are a quality side so we were expecting them to do something and come back,” he said.
“They are good players and they have good wise heads, which certainly challenged us.
“From our point of view it was good to be able to withstand that and still keep in front.
“I was really pleased with the guys efforts down the stretch.”
It was goal to goal action as both sides put on the pressure and focused its midfield play.
Kalkee took an early first quarter lead before the Southern Roos put its foot down and booted goal after goal.
It certainly wasn’t over as the Kees kept battling, keeping the scoreline tight in the second half.
Everything was on the line in the final quarter as the Kees threw themselves in.
It looked as if the Kees would make a comeback until the Southern Roos forwards broke through to cement its 18-point victory.
The loss marks the end of Kalkee’s 2016 season.
Kalkee coach Steve Schultz said his team believed they could manage a comeback in the final quarter.
“It is never good to go down in a final but they tried hard and played their guts out,” he said.
“That was all we could ask for, today we were just rolled by a better side.
“We thought we had a chance in the final quarter and we know we can score pretty heavily if we can get a bit of a run on.
“Our intensity did pick up in the second half but Harrow-Balmoral matched it really well.
“Even though we were having a good crack they were holding us at bay.”
Cleaver said his side really picked it up in the second half.
“I think we knew it was going to be a grind,” he said.
“With our midfield we thought we would just keep at it and at it eventually it would break open for a little bit.
“It broke up a little in the second quarter and then a bit in the third quarter but to Kalkee’s credit we didn’t get on top for too long.
“It was a pretty even sort of match through most of the game.”
Cleaver said his team left the field relatively unscathed.
Eric Guthrie and Callum Hobbs were key standout players for the Southern Roos.
“Eric was fantastic, he was a really good user of the football,” Cleaver said.
“Hobbs showed strength around the contest.”
Cleaver also noted Hamish Ellis and Jandre Slabbert’s efforts.
“Hamish as midfielder did really well,” he said.
“He has a big strong body and was able to win a lot of contests and throw some good tackles.”
Kees’ Benjamin Harrison did a standout job sticking to Harrow-Balmoral’s Hugh Douglas.
Cleaver said his teams mindset would be a focus in next week’s preliminary final.
“We just have to be prepared to be brave and take the game on,” he said.
“We have to try and win rather than try and save it.
“That is how we will move forward.”
Schultz said his team would take a lot out of the loss.
“We have so many young blokes that are only just starting their careers and just played one of their first finals,” he said.
“We were a little bit off in the way we ran out in the first half so it just shows and they will have have learnt, you have to be at your best to win finals against a good opposition.
“They all tried hard and are a good positive group.
“It is a bitter pill to swallow but they will stick together and be fine.”
Horsham District Football Netball League results
Seniors
Harrow Balmoral 2.1, 6.7, 9.9, 12.14 (86)
Kalkee 2.3, 2.6, 6.8, 10.8 (68)
GOALS, Harrow Balmoral :
Michael Phelan 2, Callum Hobbs 2, Peter Staude 2, Scott Heath 1, William Plush 1, Sam Brewer 1,
Eric Guthrie 1, Anthony Close 1, Hugh Douglas 1
Kalkee :
Joshua Mibus 3, Hugo Papst 2, Steve Schultz 1, Oliver Young 1, Adam Carter 1, Karl Campbell 1,
Matthew Nield 1
BEST, Harrow Balmoral :
Eric Guthrie, Callum Hobbs, Jandre Slabbert, Hamish Ellis, Scott Heath, William Plush
Kalkee :
Benjamin Harrison, Brendan McDonald, Jake Pilgrim, Steve Schultz, Oliver Young, Joshua Mibus
Reserves
Taylors Lake 2.2, 5.4, 8.6, 13.11 (89)
Pimpinio 1.2, 3.2, 7.5, 7.5 (47)
GOALS, Taylors Lake :
Jeames Offer 8, Jake Bunworth 2, Andrew Watson 1, Dean Harberger 1, Ian McCulloch 1
Pimpinio :
Ryan Margetts 3, Jackson Welsh 1, Jonty Dumesny 1, Aaron Prior-Stroud 1, Rodney Kirkwood 1
BEST, Taylors Lake :
Brent Marra, Jeames Offer, Jamie Fischer, Lachlan Stevenson, Lachlan Marks, Daniel Fischer
Pimpinio :
Jordan Cramer, Jake Gaulke, Kieran Hinch, Ashley Webb, Dylan Arnott, Jackson Welsh
Under 17s
Southern Mallee Giants 1.1, 3.5, 4.9, 12.13 (85)
Taylors Lake 2.2, 3.2, 5.3, 5.4 (34)
GOALS, Southern Mallee Giants :
Andrew Phelan 3, Jack Landrigan 2, Jack Bellinger 2, Marco Hallam 1, Declan Brown 1, Lou White 1,
Benjamin McGee 1, Dylan Marshman 1
Taylors Lake :
Matthew McCulloch 1, Caelum Borszkey 1, Axel Fischer 1, Jordan Dwyer 1, Connor Healey 1
BEST, Southern Mallee Giants :
Bailey Frankel, Matthew Doherty, Emory Marshman, Jack Bellinger, Dylan Marshman, Andrew Phelan
Taylors Lake :
Matthew McCulloch, Ashley Lawson, Connor Healey, Reuben Macchia, Jack Treloar, Corey Smith
Under 14s
Swifts 0.0, 2.1, 3.1, 5.2 (32)
Harrow Balmoral 0.6, 0.7, 3.8, 3.8 (26)
GOALS, Swifts :
Sam Chatfield 2, Benjamin Davis 1, Max Eldridge 1, Joseph Martin 1
Harrow Balmoral :
Jack Austin 1, Mitchell Grant 1, Lachlan Craig 1
BEST, Swifts :
Sam Chatfield, Archie Olsen, Bourke Nicholls , Joseph Martin, Jake Quarrell, Rylan Major
Harrow Balmoral :
Tyler Hateley, Campbell Craig, Harry Griffiths, Benjamin McCure, Mitchell Grant, Charlie Johnston