By David Ball
Yarra Glen travelled to Seville to get their first look at the nicely levelled Seville oval. In perfect conditions, Seville jumped the River Pigs, kicking 7 goals to nil in the first quarter.
The Seville ruck combination was too strong giving the Blues a number of easy centre clearances. The River Pigs started the second quarter well kicking the first goal and for half of the quarter matched Seville in general play, adding another goal. The River Pigs suffered injuries to key forwards Nick McKenzie and Josh Hawkins and struggled to stop Seville’s rebound from the back half. The Blues fast-leading forwards were marking strongly and converting to see Seville add 5 goals to Yarra Glen’s 2. At halftime, Yarra Glen was 2.1 to Seville’s 12.10.
The third quarter was a disaster for Yarra Glen, with more injuries leaving a depleted bench as Seville lifted their intensity. Seville added 8 goals to nil, with Nathan O’Keefe kicking 3 after being well held in the first half. To Yarra Glen’s credit, they competed tenaciously in the last quarter. Seville added 5 more goals to the River Pigs 1 in a game where Seville proved to be far too good with Yarra Glen finally going down, 3.2 to 25.18
Best players were Sam Wood, Tom Sullivan, Jim Marks, Max Depina, Chris Beattie and Richard Gurney.
Goalkickers: Richard Gurney, Oscar Grenfell and Marcus Kikidopolous.
Yarra Glen Reserves team faced a more accomplished Seville unit and it showed on the scoreboard in the first quarter with Seville kicking 8 goals to Yarra Glen’s nil. The Seville forwards were getting plenty of supply and converted well. The second quarter was much of the same and whilst the River Pigs’ effort could not be faulted, they continually turned the ball over under the pressure applied by the Blues.
The second half saw a much-improved effort from the River Pigs with Ash Bryans working overtime in the midfield and moving forward to score Yarra Glen’s first and only goal.
They started to team better but were not able to convert. Seville proved far too good and whilst the River Pigs did not give up, they were well beaten, going down 1.3 to 27.13
Best players were Ash Bryans, Ryan Bastian, Braedyn Crombie, Taylor Bryans, Ethan Murdock and Brad McKenzie. The goalkicker was Ash Bryans.
