Cougars win soured by injury …

Round 15 Bullcreek Leeming V’s Kalamunda 03:05 PM, Sat, 22 Jul 23, Beasley Reserve

This round was a must win for the Cougars after finding themselves on the second bottom rung of the PFL ladder. Hopes were high that Collegians would beat Bassendean to allow the Cougars to rise from this relegation stage which is still looming.

However, this was not to be and the Cougars now face three tough games to avoid relegation, these are against Whitford, North Fremantle and Baldivis who are all sitting above them on the ladder.

This game started with the complete domination of the centre by Bullcreek’s  ruck led by Daniel Henderson a giant of a player who provided the ‘Bombers’ with the bulk of forward entries into their forward line.

Fortunately, our backline held firm during this quarter and repelled these entries, keeping the Bombers to 2.1 for the term while the Cougars kicked 2.3 through Josh Harris and Tyler Moritz.

The second quarter saw the Cougars play some very smart team football to kick 5.1 to the Bombers 3.2, despite the advantage the Bombers had in the ruck. Unfortunately Cougars ruckman Chris Hegarty had to leave the field in this term with injury.

Coach Trenberth would have been well pleased with the team’s effort to half time as our new inclusions Lachlan Ebsary, Jacob Whan and Bevan Van der Leest were acquitting themselves well and having an impact on the game.

In the third term the Cougars relapsed and began to play their version of ‘Paddock Football’ on the Bullcreek clubrooms flank running into the same old problem they have faced all season where the opposing tall men cut-off their attacking moves.

It was during this quarter star player Josh Harris was concussed and taken from the ground on a stretcher!

Despite this the Cougars managed to kick 2.4 to the Bombers 2.2 to lead at three quarter time by 14 points.

The last quarter turned into a ‘battle royal’ with Lachlan Ebsary also carried off on a stretcher with a knee injury!

His departure seemed to lift the Cougars as they played like men possessed kicking 2.4 for the quarter to the Bombers 3.0!

This was a great win for the Cougars and gives them hope they won’t be relegated or plagued by another crop of injuries this season.

Final scores: Kalamunda 11.12 – 78, Bullcreek/Leeming 9.7 – 61

Best players: Kyle Murray, Trent Pottinger, Mitch Massam, Josh Harris

Goals: Kyle Murray 2, Josh Harris 3, 1 each to Lachlan Ebsary, Lochie Huntley and Jackson Bowen

Special mentions: Our veterans, Bret van Groningen and Curtis Jack, composed play when needed.

Bruce Glover reporting:

Play of the Half: Quarter 1.Chris Hegarty’s tidy pass to Lochie Huntley who put the ball right on the chest of Tyler Mouritz who kicked a goal — a great passage of football. Dash of the Half: Q1. Brett van Groningen. Collected the ball on the wing with one of his lovely “ball scoops” and with a two-bounce dash, scored. Mark of the Half: Q2. Kyle Murray strong mark and goal.

Congratulations to Kaine Dangerfield who played his 200th game in this round for the Cougar ‘All Stars’ at Ray Owen reserve.

 Other results from round 15

B Reserves – Kalamunda 8.9 – 57, Bullcreek/Leeming 6.7 – 43

E1 All Stars – Kalamunda 2.3 – 15, Kenwick 15.10 – 100

Cougar C2 Ladies – Kalamunda 2.4 – 16, Trinity Aquinas 2.3 -15

BJC Colts – Kalamunda Forfeit

DBC Colts – Kalamunda 9.5 – 59, Bullcreek/Leeming 1.9 – 15

Next game: Round 16 Kalamunda V’s Whitford 03:05 PM, Sat, 29 July 23, Ray Owen Reserve

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