Gulls and ‘Swanny’ fly high
• Club stalwart Daniel ‘Swanny’ Lethborg ready to take the field for his 100th game for Bridport reserves.
By Ross Jacobson,
July 14, 2021
In the clash at Bridport against University, the headline could have been “Barker is Back” after he kicked six goals in the seconds and two in the seniors, but his feat was overshadowed by the performance of Daniel “Swanny” Lethborg, who was celebrating his 100th game for Bridport in the reserves.
Swanny turned it on up forward taking a couple of high flying marks and completely bamboozling the opposition to kick two goals three for the day.
In the seniors, Bridport recorded a strong 167-point victory over a struggling University team who had several players double up in the reserves due to some of their list being stuck in quarantine in N.S.W.
University was first on the board and was matching Bridport around the ground early until the Seagulls started to find their feet and kicked away to a healthy lead at quarter time.
Although the opposition wasn’t strong skills still have to executed properly and after having worked on them at training and reinforcing the game style the coach has put forward it was pleasing to see a real improvement in delivery, especially up forward where Matty Taylor and Cody Kerrison had a field day.
At the half-time break, Bridport had pushed out to a 78-point lead.
The Bridport boys continued on in the third term and anything that reached half-back was being repelled by Jack Deacon, who is having a very consistent season.
Liam Arnold in the ruck and around the ground was using his mobility to set up many forays forward and he gets better every week. At three-quarter-time, the lead had blown out to 109 points.
The focus in the last quarter was not to relax and coast and the boys kept up the pressure on a tiring Uni side and piled on 10 for the quarter.
Jonty Saville was again in the best players, he has real class and seems to have all the time he needs to get the ball onto his teammates.
Taylor Stone, coming back from a lengthy layoff showed he was certainly needed, he plays the half-forward role to perfection, either coming up the ground to make the play and also getting the hardball out to create goals for other forwards.
In the end, it was an easy 167-point win.
The 100th game for Swanny was the prime focus for the reserves and he didn’t let his fans down.
A rejuvenated Cory Fennell lined up for his first game for the Seagulls and had a blinder carving it up in the centre winning a lot of the clearances, he was in everything even earning himself 15 minutes in the sin-bin.
Likewise, Hamish Williams also made a great debut showing plenty of skill and football ability on the wing.
Josh Bennett was again dominant, Beau Jones played well up forward and Luke Barnett repelled any forward moves by University.
In the end, Bridport ran out easy 122-point winners.
If Bridport has any chance of making the finals it will need to probably win all its remaining games, starting this week with an away game against Old Scotch.
If Bridport can keep the pressure up to the Old Scotch team for a full four quarters it will have a chance, but any lapses will be punished as they play a fast outside running game and rely on the opposition not putting pressure on the ball carrier.
Results:
Seniors: Bridport 30.14 (194) University 4.4 (27)
Goals: Matt Taylor 13, Cody Kerrison 8, Leigh Barker 2, James Cox 1, Scott Fenton 1, Mo Makitae 1, Zac McDougall 1, Josh Nunn 1, Taylor Stone 1, Jed Saville 1.
Best: Matt Taylor, Cody Kerrison, Jack Deacon, Jonty Saville, Liam Arnold, Taylor Stone.
Reserves: Bridport 22.11 (143) University 3.3 (21)
Goals: Leigh Barker 6, Jamie Fenton 3, Adam Street 3, Nathan Williams 3, Beau Jones 2, Daniel Lethborg 2, Josh Bennett 1, James Taylor-McKain 1, Kaleb Lipplegoes 1.
Best: Daniel Lethborg, Hamish Williams, Cory Fennell, Josh Bennett, Beau Jones, Luke Barnett.