NPFL league round-up

Rhodes’ 100th game won in style

There was a big crowd at Windy Ridge Oval in Dampier on Saturday night as a mob of spectators came down to watch the first NPFL league match of the season between Dampier Sharks and South Hedland Swans.

Both teams were looking for redemption as the only two teams to miss out on finals footy last year.

Sharks were on a mission to get a win for long-time clubman James Rhodes, who was playing in his 100th game for the club.

Swans lost the coin toss but not the opening exchange, which saw a flurry of action with yellow cards and some quick goals.

Meanwhile, the personal record-making Rhodes had some good possessions early before back problems put him on the sidelines.

It seemed as though all the Swans had to do was get the ball up to key forward Steele Viti, who could seemingly strike a goal from any distance, making him a tough assignment for Sharks back Frank Blampied.

Swans managed to take the first quarter 4.1 (25) to 2.4 (14).

A rev-up from Sharks coach Kristian Dicton saw his side come back out with a lifted intensity as they went on a six goals to zip run, which included Rhodes coming back off the bench to crack a goal of his own as Sharks took the score out to 8.9 (57) to 4.4 (28).

Coming into the second half, Swans scored a quick goal in the opening seconds as momentum swung and the gap was quickly erased to only 17 points, 11.11 (77) to 9.6 (60).

But just like the reserves game played earlier, the floodgates opened again as Dampier sprinted to the finish with a seven-goal to one quarter as Sharks players Eddie Huddleston (four goals) and Lewis Upton (three goals) had a field day, before Ryan Hawke put some emphasis on the win by revving up the crowd after a goal of his own at the death.

In the end, Sharks were comfortable winners over Swans 18.15 (123) to 10.6 (66).

Viti finished with five goals for Swans, while Jack Coppin also had a brilliant game, kicking two.

Sharks boot way to win over Swans

It was last year’s minor premiers up against the cellar dwellers in the first round of the Northern Pilbara Football League reserves competition on Saturday.

South Hedland Swans travelled to Windy Ridge Oval to take on home side the Dampier Sharks.

The Swans beat the Sharks at the previous week’s pre-season lightning carnival by just three points, and the opening quarter was just as close in a low-scoring affair as both teams continued to brush off the rust of the off-season.

Sharks had a majority of the field position early, but couldn’t capitalise with their first three scores behinds.

But a screamer from Sharks full-forward Nick Bond resulted in a tricky conversion from the sideline for the first major.

The Swans came back with a goal and a behind to keep the score honest at the first break.

Both teams began to get weary in the first period, but it was Swans who faltered in the second quarter, mustering a single behind during the whole quarter as Sharks achieved a huge eight-goal haul.

Forward Taj Marshall booted two massive goals in the second to get Sharks on a roll with some assistance from Brad Elverd (two goals in the match) as they finished the period 9.7 (52) to 1.2 (8).

Both sides scored two goals apiece in the third period as Swans Josh Taranto, Murray Ryder and Wayne Stokes all got their names on the board to this point.

However, Swans’ legs gave out in the fourth, as in the second, while the Sharks went on a five goals to nil run to lock the match away, 16.17 (113) to 3.3 (21).

Bond was the highest goal scorer with four followed by Cal Tucker and Marshall with three apiece, all for Sharks.

Kick after the siren brings Rovers home

A close game was won by the Port Hedland Rovers at the weekend against the visiting Karratha Kats.

After trailing the Kats most of the game, the Rovers were able to step up the attack, bringing the game to a close with a goal on the siren.

Adam Waight, who played in full-forward for part of the night, was able to put the final kick away to bring the Rovers home 11.11 (77) to 10.12 (72).

Coach Greg Mastrangelo said the boys were lucky to get away with the win.

“The winning goal was literally on the siren,” he said.

“It could’ve gone either way, but the umpires called it, so we’ll take it.”

Mastrangelo said the team had a slow start before switching on in the final quarter.

“Ben Stevenson had a stand-out second half and really got the guys back into the game,” he said.

“We just pegged them back and pegged them back, and finally got away with it in the end.

“We’ll take the four points, but we were pretty lucky. I think the Kats are going be the team to beat this year, so we were very happy to get one away on them early and now we don’t have to meet them for a couple rounds.”

The Rovers reserve team had an easier time, with the Kats, chalking up a convincing win, 11.4 (70) to 4.6 (30).

Mastrangelo said the players struggled with the humid conditions at Cooke Point Oval.

“It was a close win, but now it’s up to the team to carry forward their momentum into the next game,” he said.