Clean sweeps for Hay Lions AFL and netball teams

By Hay Lions Football Club.

Lions netball and football teams clinched amazing clean sweeps across all teams and grades. It was a local contingent plus one who took on big improvers Moulamein on Saturday in round 12 of Golden Rivers.

As usual, the stakes were high in the local derby clash between the two NSW sides.

Moulamein, who pushed the second placed Roos last week until the last quarter, were expected to bring the same level of intensity against the Lions In the first quarter, the Lions rallied to switch on after a slow start to match the workload of the Swans who were red hot from the opening centre clearance, gaining first possession, moving quickly towards their attacking zone.

The backline, boosted by the return of Brad Pocock did not skip a beat, repelling every attempted entry before the Swans could gain any scoreboard impact.

From the Lions’ transition, the electric Jack Headon, playing a full forward role, drew first blood with an impressive conversion from inside the 50 to get Hay on the scoreboard. With all Moulamein defensive players high up the ground, the ball was put to boot deep inside the Lions’ 50.

Bailey Caughey, in a perfect run and chase, kicked his first senior goal, making it two straight for the Lions.

A goal to Paddy Jubb from a contested mark and one to Jock Crighton from a forward tackle pressure act saw the Lions head into the break with a handy lead of 25 points. At the end of the first quarter, Lions had already made an impressive lead, 4:2 26 to Moulamein 0:1 1.

Plenty of ball to the Swans in the second from clearances, but again they failed to capitalise, unable to slice through the Lions’ tight defensive structure to get purchase inside their fifty zone.

In contrast, the Lions worked the ball in what was a grind against strong wind until the right opportunity presented with the first goal of the second to the ‘everywhere man’, Jack Cattanach.

In the best scoring quarter of the match, five more goals were added to the Lions’ total. Paddy Jubb, looking ominous, kicked two more and Jock Crighton was rewarded again for forward 50 tackling pressure to notch his second.

A lucky bounce from a clearance and a blind snap saw the Swans kick their only goal. But it took until the 23rd minute mark with lean times before and after reflected in a halftime scoreline heavily weighted in the Lions favour; Hay 10:6 66 to Moulamein 1:1 7.

The third quarter was all Lions, with their work rate first class and rising the longer the game went on, dominating field position with another ruthless patch of offensive and defensive football.

The Swans simply had no answers, remaining stuck on their half-time score while Hay added another five majors to put the game well and truly out of Moulamein’s reach.

In the last, Paddy Jubb continued to own the 50 zone like no other. In a top shelf performance, the sticky mitts were on show in a contested marking fest, notching up a new personal best tally of seven goals, easily the most dangerous forward.

By the end of the last, the Lions had delivered a statement 114-point win over Moulamein, keeping their undefeated record intact while restricting the Swans to their lowest score of the season with nine points a telling tale. In a best on-ground performance, Hugh Crighton was a tackling beast while breaking apart the Moulamein defence with his run and carry and attack on the ball.

Disciplined and controlled, his crunching chase-down tackles had the crowd on their feet, leaving opposition players in no doubt they had been hit by a human freight train.

As miserly as it gets, the backline was most impressive with only one goal scored against them.

Brad Pocock was back to his best in the defensive line up, repelling any inside 50 entries with controlled counterattack straight up the corridor. His organisation and leadership were one of the keys to the backline being so hard to score against. Jayden Kinses, covering a lot of ground, gathered plenty of possessions to take multiple intercepts from applied pressure, and swinging the ball back in the direction of the Lions’ offensive half.

Daniel Stewart had multiple score involvements in rebound attack with his precision kicking in challenging conditions hitting targets consistently.

Nathan Wilson stuck tight to his opponents, proving impossible to get past while calmly chalking up intercept marks and applying lockdown pressure that stamped out any Moulamein attacking plans.

Special mention to Jim Houston who fearlessly fought it out in the ruck against the master Heath Maloney, in an impressive display against the League’s best. Hay 18:15 123 Moulamein 1:3 9.

Coaches’ top six: Hugh Crighton, Paddy Jubb, Brad Pocock, Jayden Kinses, Daniel Stewart, Nathan Wilson.

Goals: Paddy Jubb 7, Jack Headon 3, Jack Cattanach 2, Jock Crighton 2, Angus Gardiner 1, Daniel Zambon 1 and Bailey Caughey 1.

The whole Lions team have been all but unstoppable this season. Pictured are Jack Cattanach, Paddy Jubb and Angus Gardiner. Image: The Riverine Grazier/Margie McClelland.