The Island proves too hot to handle for the Demons - Reserves

On a spectacular sunny May Saturday, the Bulldogs ventured up the road to Koo Wee Rup to take on the Koo Wee Rup Demons for Round five.

Arriving at the ground without a breath of wind (a rare occurrence indeed), with the oval in superb condition, an exciting day of county football beckoned.

The second away game introduced a larger ground, so the new game style of the Bulldogs likely to be tested in the wide-open spaces again!

Reserves

After copping the best that the WGFNC has to offer in reserves football for the previous few weeks, and with one of the stronger sides to be fielded for the year thanks to some key inclusions, the Bulldogs reserves looked forward to a tough game against the Demons.

With a bunch of new players including a couple of kids from the Under 18s in Jye Sutherland and Sonny McMillan, the Bulldogs’ line-up could be clearly described as youthful – 15 of the boys having played Under 18s in recent seasons.

A welcome addition for his first game of the season was Nathan Love adding some experience to the mix!

A clash of seventh vs eight on the ladder beckoned – a good test for such a youthful side.

A tight opening in the perfect conditions in the first, with the Demons striking early and the Bulldogs replying relatively quickly.

Jordy Patullo back from injury, and Tully Dickie back from the seniors led the way.

A lead to the locals of 13-8 at the break representative of a tight encounter.

The second saw the locals flex some muscle, taking over across the ground and holding firm against all the Bulldogs’ thrusts.

Noah Bee-Hickman was busy on the ball, with Leon Matthews and Sam McRae were strong and tested in defence.

The Bulldogs did well to hold the Demons to just two goals for the quarter, holding a 25-10 lead at the big break.

The third turned out to be a mirror image of the second.

With Saxon Mau continuing his vast improvement in the ruck, Coby Olarenshaw, Tully Dickie, and Noah Bee-Hickman took charge of the ball.

Jordy Patullo began to influence the game, and suddenly, the Bulldogs took charge.

With a four goal to one quarter, the Bulldogs surged to the lead at the last change with a 36-32 score line.

A desperate final quarter was on the cards, and that’s the way it turned out.

Tyce Kleverkamp continued his ascendency, and after a couple of goals, a tight run to the siren was in place.

The Demons never gave up, but the Bulldogs’ defence was able to hold sway, and a three-point 44-41 win was warmly welcomed.

Scores:
Phillip Island: 1.3.9, 1.4.10, 5.6.36, 6.8.44.
Koo Wee Rup: 2.1.13, 4.1.25, 5.2.32, 6.5.41.

Goals:
Phillip Island: Jordy Patullo –2, Tom Aylett, Noah Bee-Hickman, Tully Dickie, Coby Olarenshaw – 1.
Koo Wee Rup: Ryan Wilby – 2, Shoaib Akbar, Samuel Cox, Dante Di Pietro, Benjamin Miller – 1.

Best Players:
Phillip Island: Tully Dickie, Coby Olarenshaw, Tom Aylett, Samuel McRae, Noah Bee-Hickman, Tyce Kleverkamp.
Koo Wee Rup: Jesse Cammarano, Cody Miller, Jacob Crossley, Moomen Amin, Ryan Wilby, Benjamin Miller.