Cobras stone the Crows

By Ken Moore
AT the half-way mark of the season Longwarry is poised to miss finals football for the first time since 2003, after suffering a disappointing 72-point defeat against Cora Lynn on Saturday.
Longwarry is now two games outside the top six and with a percentage far inferior to all the teams inside, is effectively three games behind a top-six berth.
To add to their woes, the Crows have a tough run home in the second half of the season with games against finals contenders, Warragul Industrials, Nilma-Darnum, Nar Nar Goon and Catani.
Despite conceding the first goal of the game, the Crows started with real intent and after a goal by skipper Tye Holland and successive majors by small forward Luke Serong, set up a two-goal lead early in the first quarter.
Thereafter, Cora Lynn rallied, both teams traded goals and the home side went into the half-time break with a narrow four-point advantage.
Midway through the third quarter, Cora Lynn stamped its authority on the game and broke clear with unanswered goals by Matt Davey, from a slight angle, Darren Sheen, Shane Dwyer and Sheen again to establish a match-winning 28-point lead at the three-quarter-time break.
Revved up by an emotional Crow coach Graeme Jose at the last break, the visitors tried valiantly in the first five minutes, but could not bridge the gap.
The Crows early fourth-term efforts then proved to be all in vain after lively Cora Lynn forwards, Davey, Anthony Guilano and Sheen all found space and the ball, steering through goals to put the home side 53 points in front midway through the quarter.
In the latter part of the game, the Crows offered little resistance, Sheen added another two goals to make it nine for the game and the Cobras steadily built up their percentage.
Cora Lynn used the ball far more constructively and its victory was inspired by Brendan Kimber, Jack and Joe Allen, who all won the ball regularly and used it more clinically in the third quarter when the reigning premiers changed the course of the game.
Better players for the Cobras included centre half-back Jason Hall and youngsters Tim Payne and Pat Venville, who all repelled many attacks.
Half-back Craig Taylor rebounded the ball well and ever-consistent ruckman Brad Horazcko read the play well and took more than his share of marks.
Cora Lynn coach Chris Toner was happy with his sides’ performance.
“I thought our run-and-carry game started to come together today,” he said.
“I’m pleased with the victory because we have a lot of respect for Longwarry. I think in my time we have lost four out of the last five times we have met, so it was an important game for us.”
Longwarry’s first half was full of merit, but its second half was sub-standard. The Crows had plenty of the ball in the third quarter when things went awry, but due to a combination of poor decision making and sloppy disposal it coughed it up far too often.
Undersized centre half-back Ken Towt was terrific all game and, along with hard-working ruck-rover captain Tye Holland, was the pick of the Crow players.
Centreman Beau Ridgeway had a dip all game, wingman Brodie Rundell posed problems with his pace and in defence Mark Light, Tim Milner, Aaron Serong and Blair Weller all had a productive first half.
Longwarry coach Graeme Jose was scathing after the match with his team’s second-half fade.
However, he was still optimistic and said they would not give up and offered: “Who knows what will happen if we all stick together.’’
Jose was adamant the contest was more even than the scoreboard suggested.
“We had plenty of the ball, but our foot skills let us down badly,” he said despondently.
“We drove it in the third quarter at least six times into our forward zone only to turn it over.”