The Blackwood Football Club recorded its first loss of 2020 going down to Hahndorf by 36 points in Round 2 of the Hills Football League. Despite going down by six majors the match was a tight and dour affair with the feeling of a final across the match.

The Woods made two changes with Bailey Badcoe and Josh Tainton coming into the selected squad whilst Hahndorf welcomed back Sam Hayden and Alex Keast. Kicking towards the Southern end in the first term the Woods made the early attacking play. Bursting clear from stoppage vice-captain Matt Tuck had the first shot on goal for the match sliding it through the near side for a behind. The visitors then moved the ball to their forward end of the ground as both sides applied tremendous pressure to the opposition ball carrier.

The first goal of the match through crafty Hahndorf player Tom Babidge. Winning the ball from a stoppage at the Woods half forward line, the Magpies pushed it forward in a scrappy manner to find Babidge who snapped it through 15 metres out. Magpies midfield Sam Williams got a second for the visitors after a turnover form a Woods kick in.  Blackwood could’ve pulled the margin closer at the first break but two kicks in goal from gun forward Joel Aish resulted in only minor scores.

Hahndorf started to win more of the football in the second term as the likes of Troy Parker-Boers and Dylan Matsen came into the match. Athletic forward Ben Salt hit the scoreboard in the second term after Jacob Leake was awarded a high tackle free kick much to the dismay of the Woods after he piled his head into the Woods ruck Jan Warbout.

Blackwood finally registered a major mid-way through the term as some great forward half pressure from small forwards saw Rhys Sporn convert truly on the run. A nice mark from Babidge three-on-one on the boundary line saw the Magpies score their fourth goal and take a 23-point lead into the main break.

The Woods made all the play in the so called ‘premiership’ quarter as they fought hard to get back into the match. Locking the ball in the forward half the Woods had to work hard for their second major. Youngster Mathew Tee then created a chance in the middle part of the term breaking the game open. Taking the ball in traffic, it weaved his way through to run captain Ryan Dijksman on the run who was able to kick the ball straight over the goal umpires’ hat. With the large crowd now in full voice, the Woods were right in the game taking it up to the reigning premiers. Deep into time on, the Mapgies were able win the ball from a stoppage and move it forward to find 2019 Mail Medallist Dylan Matsen about 40 metres out. Kicking after the siren, Matsen was able to convert to goal and extend the lead back out to 25 points at the final break.

Blackwood has the first scoring shot of the final term through hard-nosed midfielder Daniel Benson courtesy of a free kick. Unfortunately for the Woods the ball drifted to the narrow side for only a behind. Aish was able to bring up his first goal the match in the final quarter but three more majors to Babidge, Nick Ingram and Leake was able to seal the victory for the Magpies, their 37th in a row.

Whilst the Woods ended up losing by six goals, the match was much closer than the final scoreboard ended up with both sides applying tremendous pressure to the person in possession of the ball. Whilst the Woods were able to restrict the Magpies to their lowest score in the last 37 games, it was just the ability to impact the scoreboard when the chance arose being the major factor in the match.

Rhys Sporn was awarded best player for the Woods for his efforts across the middle of the ground whilst defender Nathan Dunn, ruckman Jan Warbout, Matt Waldron and Phil Hopton also caught the eye of the coaching staff for their efforts.

Final Scoreboard

Blackwood 3.5 9.6 14.6 17.11 (113)

Mt Lofty 1.2 2.5 3.6 7.6 (48)

Goals – Joel Aish 1, Ryan Dijksman, Rhys Sporn 1

Best Players: Rhys Sporn, Nathan Dunn, Jan Warbout, Matt Waldron, Phil Hopton

Other results

Mens and Boys

B Grade – Blackwood 3.4 (22) defeated by Hahndorf 8.6 (54)

Senior Colts – Blackwood 9.12 (66) defeated Hahndorf 6.0 (36)

Junior Colts – Blackwood 15.6 (96) defeated Hahndorf 0.8 (8)

Under 15s – Blackwood 2.12 (24) defeated by Flagstaff Hill 8.8 (56)

Mini Colts – Blackwood 7.7 (49) defeated Hahndorf 0.0 (0)

Under 13s – Blackwood 10.9 (69) defeated Woodville South 0.3 (3)

Under 12s – Blackwood 10.8 (68) defeated Glenunga 1.1 (7)

Under 11s – Not published

Women and Girls

Open Womens – Blackwood 4.8 (32) defeated Nairne Bremer 2.1 (13)

Under 16s HFL – Blackwood 7.8 (50) defeated Mt Lofty 2.4 (16)

Under 16s SANFL – Blackwood 4.3 (27) defeated Golden Grove 3.1 (19)

Under 14s Div 1 – Blackwood 17.11 (113) defeated Goodwood 0.0 (0)

Under 14s Div 3 – Blackwood 4.1 (25) defeated by Salisbury North 4.2 (26)

Under 12s – Blackwood 9.14 (68) defeated Walkerville 5.3 (33)

Under 12s – Blackwood 1.2 (8) defeated by Plympton 15.9 (99)

Under 10s – Not published

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