Young Lions take it to Wandella

A young Hay Lions team travelled to Wandella, in a tough first up assignment for the season.

With 13 of the players 20 or under, the Lions were the youngest team to take the field for Hay in recent memory, with Jack Headon and Jensen Hargreaves on debut.

Lions took it up to Wandella right from the start with the battle for the ball fierce early.

Liam Whitbourne in his debut was getting his hands on the footy and moving it forward out of the midfield, Tim Zambon in his first game as skipper was in tight getting the ball and Simon Bunyan was dangerous up forward, hitting the scoreboard along with Dean Aylett who snagged a goal and was dangerous.

At quarter time Wandella knew they had a battle on their hands, with the Lions up four goals to one. Brait Headon, who had a big job against Wandella’s key centre half forward, was outstanding in competing in the air and on the ground, while Daniel Zambon and James Eddy were solid deep back and all the backline working to nullify their opponents, were setting up the Lions attack with good composure. With the backline on top, the mids and forwards were able to kick a further two goals, one a sharp Tom Davies effort, that saw the Lions go into half time up by 3 points.

The third quarter was an arm wrestle, with Hay getting the best of it early through Dillon Penhall’s tireless ruck work, and the relentless attack on the footy from both Jock and Hugh Crighton.

Hay kicked the first two goals of the quarter, one to Pat Jubb who also in his first game as skipper, and playing at centre half forward, led all day to the ball crashing packs and showing inspirational leadership. Wandella wrestled the momentum back, and ended up kicking three goals for the quarter to edge in front, with only a goal the difference at three quarter time. The experienced Wandella mids and half backs started to get the football on the outside and after nothing splitting the teams all day, they were able to kick a couple of goals in the last five minutes, to break away from the gallant young Lions to secure a victory.

The loss was bittersweet for the Lions who had showed they can more than compete, but didn’t get what would have been a great win to start the season.

Final Score Wandella 12.11.83 defeated Hay Lions 9.3.57. Goal kickers Simon Bunyan 4, Dean Aylett 2, Ken Jubb, Angus Gardiner, Tom Davies. Better players were Brait Headon, Tim Zambon, Dillon Penhall, Daniel Zambon, Liam Whitbourne, James Eddy.

Photos by Jan Zambon