Here’s how the Division 3 sides finished up in Round 1.
Plenty of teams asserted themselves in the first round of SEQAFL Division 3 this weekend.
Featured match: Logan City Cobras vs. Carrara Saints
Carrara 6.0 6.3 12.4 17.8 (110)
Logan City Cobras 3.0 3.2 5.3 8.7 (55)
Carrara handed out a major wake-up call to Logan in the opening round of Division three competition with a 17.8.110 – 8.7.55 win on Saturday.
The Saints quickly showed why they were elevated to Division three, with a six-goal-to-three first quarter.
Saints captain, Jason Winkler, led the way from the forward pocket, bagging seven goals in the strong win.
It was a hard-fought second quarter between the sides, with neither able to break through for a goal, leaving the Saints with a 6.3.39-3.2.20 lead at the major break.
In the third quarter, the Saints really broke the game open, with another six-goal quarter, set up by strong efforts from Brad Fish, Matt Comben and Tim Benson, to the Cobras’ two.
After that, it was a long way back for the Cobras, who managed five second-half goals, to the Saints’ 11.
Cobras coach, Matt Skidmore, was confident in the lead-up to the match but said the Saints were a bit of an unknown in the competition.
New Saints coach, Teddy Fenton, said his charges combined really strongly and converted their opportunities at crucial times.
“Our boys went our on the field as a disciplined side, stuck to what we wanted to do and showed that they can play football,” Fenton said.
“I was just happy with how my boys were going. They were listening to what I wanted them to do and they kept on doing it.”
The Cobras should bounce back quickly, with a round 2 clash against Pine Rivers on Saturday.
Coomera Magpies vs. Pine Rivers Swans
Coomera Magpies 19.10 (124)
Pine Rivers Swans 4.6 (30)
Fellow Division three first-timers, Pine Rivers, did not have such a positive start to their 2013 campaign, on the end of a 19.10.124-4.6.30 defeat to the Coomera Magpies.
The Magpies will take plenty of confidence into their next match against Calamvale, after such a dominant start to the season.
What the coaches said:
Stewart Vimpany (Coomera)
“It’s exactly what we wanted.”
“The main thing was the pressure around the footy was as good as you can ask from 22 blokes.”
Ben Long (Pine Rivers)
“We got a rude awakening from Coomera.”
“We thought we’d be a lot more competitive .It was really difficult, because we had nothing to gauge what the level of footy was going to be like. There was a lot of guesswork involved.”
“The positive thing is we have a benchmark and a standard to reach to be competitive now. We’ll get better every week.”
Calamvale vs. Griffith Moorooka
Griffith Moorooka 4.1 7.4 15.10 17.16 (148)
Calamvale 2.2 4.6 5.6 5.7 (37)
The Calamvale Leopards are licking their wounds after losing to Griffith Moorooka, 17.16.148-5.7.37 on Saturday.
An eight- goal-to-one third quarter broke the game open for the Roosters who led by only 16 points at half time.
After kicking four goals in the first half, the Leopards only managed 1.1 for the rest of the game, leaving the margin to blow out in the Roosters’ favour.
It was a big day for Griffith Moorooka, with their reserves also running out winners, making it a victory double for the first time in four years.
What the coaches said:
Brad Steven (Calamvale):
“It was a pretty tough day to get through.”
“We were very competitive until half-time but we just couldn’t maintain the intensity to keep up with Griffith Moorooka.”
“The guys will respond. They’re keen to get back on the track and improve.”
Tim Pearson (Griffith Moorooka):
“We started our pre-season on October 16, so it’s been a long time waiting.
“I think our boys are really buying into our game plan. They’ve never had a structure, so we came in and built a plan to suit the stock that we have.”
“Moorooka’s been struggling for a few years, so it was good to get a win first up.”
“We take it (the result) for what it is. We’ve got bigger fish to fry.”
UQ Red Lions 2 vs. Ipswich Eagles
Ipswich 3.7 9.10 14.12 20.14 (134)
UQ Red Lions 2.0 3.2 4.5 4.7 (31)
Ipswich will have plenty of confidence going into round two, after defeating UQ Red Lions 20.14.134 – 4.7.31.
Eighteen year-old centre half forward, Matthew Uebergang, starred for the Eagles, kicking seven goals in the win.
The Red Lions are still finalising their definite squad, and their inexperienced combinations were exposed in the 16-goal loss.
What the coaches said:
Jarad Evans (UQ):
“Individually, we have some very skilful players. We’ve got a game plan but we haven’t had enough time to drill it in.”
“The skills are good, the endeavour’s good, we just had some basic errors in positioning.”
“Our Div 1 side is still getting their squad settled and that’s the club’s priority, so we’re just waiting to see what happens.”
Michael Rush (Ipswich):
“We were expecting a really tough game and it was for half the game. It’s wasn’t just a run and around and take the points game.”
“Matty Uebergang gave us an excellent avenue to goal and an excellent focal point up forward.”
