A career high five goals from Daniel Benson has helped the Blackwood Football Club recorded its third win of Season 2019 defeating the Lobethal Tigers in Round 6 of the Mortgage Choice Hills Football League at U-Install-It Kitchens Oval. Speaking after the match, coach Ryan Anderson said he was proud of how the team played. “We worked hard at training over the last two weeks and it showed in the game today. I’m really proud of how every single player responded. It was a great win.”

Entering the match, Blackwood had won nine of the past twelve matches by an average of 54 points between the sides at the venue. Blackwood were looking to rebound from two successive losses whilst the Tigers were looking for their second win of the season. The Woods welcomed their 29 player of the season with Jesse Moffa making his A Grade debut coming to the club via the South Adelaide and the Southport Sharks.

The Woods entered the ground very late running straight into position before the first bounce. Making the better start Ryan Dijksman got the first centre clearance of the match moving the ball up the slope towards the clubroom end of the ground. Daniel Benson hit the scoreboard inside the first minute picking up the loose ball after a drop mark from Mitch Jenkin after being clipped high from a contest. Controlling the early territory, the Woods got a second major in the fourth minute through a long range set shot from Rhys Sporn and when they kicked a third major in the 12th minute courtesy of a Ryan Dijksman front and centre in the clubroom pocket they were in control of the play. Fighting back in the later part of the term, the Tigers got two majors from Sam Chapman and Bradyn Fisher to draw the margin back to under a goal. Nick Homburg gave the Woods a two goal lead at the first break converting truly from 50 metres.

Speaking at the first break, Anderson urged the Woods to continue to attack the game into the breeze in the second term. The Tigers came out the better side in the first five minutes of the second term kicking the first two goals of the term to hit the lead by 1 point. The goals game through Caleb Wood and Bradyn Fisher. The highlight of the term for the Tigers came through Fishers second major after Luke Hampton took a great intercepting mark from a Kurt Thompson kick. Blackwood worked their way into the term in the middle part of the term having multiple inside 50 entries to put the pressure back on the Tigers defence. Daniel Benson continued his good game kicking two majors in the eighth and thirteenth minutes. When Matt Tuck, Rhys Sporn and Nick Homburg all kicked majors the Woods had extended their lead to 31 points at the main break.

Much like the first quarter the Woods kicked a goal from Daniel Benson in the first minute of the term. Breaking away from the contest in the centre, Ryan Anderson found Benson free at the top of the 50. Taking the ball forward, Benson kicked his fourth of the match straight through the middle. Controlling the play for much of the term having 12-to-5 inside 50 entries, the Woods could’ve been further in front kicking six behinds for the term. Matt Tuck kicked his second goal in the seventh minute of the term through a set shot from about 40 metres out to extend the lead to.

The Woods kicked two more majors in the final term controlling the play for much of the term. Nick Homburg kicked his third major of the game in the fourth minute whilst Benson roved the pack in the 19th minute to kick his career high fifth goal. A goal in the middle part of the term from Jack Bampton gave the travelling Tiger fans something to cheer about as the Woods ran out the game to win by 57 points when the final siren sounded.

Overall, the Woods were back to playing hard to score against. The defending six were able to set up behind the play and take multiple intercepting marks when the Tigers attempted to move the ball forward. This allowed the play to be controlled in the front half with the inside 50 tally reading 44 to 25 at the end of the match.

Daniel Benson was named best player for the Woods for his career high five goals, whilst Haydn Kenny had his best game of the season racking up 33 disposals and 14 marks from the half back line to be named second best. Kurt Thompson, Jesse Moffa and Rhys Sporn also featured in the better players.

Final scoreboard

Blackwood 4.1 9.4 11.10 13.15 (93)

Lobethal 2.3 4.3 4.5 5.6 (36)

Goal Kickers: D. Benson 5, N. Homburg 3, M. Tuck 2, R. Sporn 2, R. Dijksman

Best Players: D. Benson, H. Kenny, K. Thompson, J. Moffa, R. Sporn

Other HFL Results

B Grade – Blackwood 16.10 (106) defeated Lobethal 5.3 (33)

Senior Colts – Blackwood 23.19 (157) defeated Lobethal 1.2 (8)

Junior Colts – Blackwood 10.9 (69) defeated Lobethal 0.3 (3)

Mini Colts – Blackwood 8.10 (58) defeated Lobethal 3.0 (18)

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