The Scarecrow
15 Aug 2004, 15:23
From The Examiner by Terry Morris
DEVONPORT is on its way to the NTFL finals thanks in large doses to the accurate left foot of 16-year- old rising star Grant Birchall.
Birchall's snap with three minutes to go gave Devonport a come- from-behind victory over Launceston yesterday to secure fifth place on the NTFL ladder.
Birchall wheeled on to his left boot when he gathered the ball from a pack and swung the ball over his shoulder with 25 minutes gone on the clock.
"I was pleased to see the ball in Birchall's hands - he's got wonderful composure for a 16-year- old," Devonport coach Dale Perry said.
It was the first time Devonport had been in front for the game, with Launceston seemingly in control for most of the afternoon.
It ended a big week for Birchall, who a few days ago learned he had received a football scholarship from the Australian Institute of Sport.
This month he represented Tasmania at the national under-16 championships in Melbourne, and yesterday the St Brendan-Shaw College student was only playing his ninth senior game.
The Blues led by 18 points at three-quarter-time but coach Adam Sanders was not sure whether it was going to be a big enough lead.
"I thought it was going to be tight in a low-scoring game, and the way Devonport finished we might have been lucky to win," Sanders said.
Launceston needs to beat Smithton in the last roster game next Saturday to make sure of the double chance for the finals after coming so close yesterday.
Perry said Devonport's poor kicking for goal had cost it the chance of being closer on the scoreboard earlier in the game.
"Matthew Langmaid kicked five points and there were some others we missed. It's something we've got to eliminate from our game," he said.
The momentum of the game started to swing midway through the third quarter when Darren Banham was moved on to the ball and his lively pace started to give the Magpies some extra options.
They crept closer and closer against the breeze before a late goal from captain Anthony Taylor consolidated Launceston's lead.
But the last quarter belonged to the Magpies even though they found it difficult to transfer the advantage on to the scoreboard.
"We went inside the 50m line 20 times to their three and we were starting to use the ball smarter," Perry said.
While Birchall was the hero of the game, Jeremy Soden was Devonport's best in his engrossing battle with Anthony Taylor. He had support from Dallas Gallagher, Sam Lovatt and Brett McCall in defence while Troy Dean and Craig Holloway stood up in the last quarter.
Young ruckman Nathan O'Donoghue continued his rise to prominence with another outstanding display and Sam Lonergan was again effective in the midfield.
For the second time this year Gene Savage kept Matthew Langmaid goalless and Sam Thompson won his share of the ball.
DEVONPORT is on its way to the NTFL finals thanks in large doses to the accurate left foot of 16-year- old rising star Grant Birchall.
Birchall's snap with three minutes to go gave Devonport a come- from-behind victory over Launceston yesterday to secure fifth place on the NTFL ladder.
Birchall wheeled on to his left boot when he gathered the ball from a pack and swung the ball over his shoulder with 25 minutes gone on the clock.
"I was pleased to see the ball in Birchall's hands - he's got wonderful composure for a 16-year- old," Devonport coach Dale Perry said.
It was the first time Devonport had been in front for the game, with Launceston seemingly in control for most of the afternoon.
It ended a big week for Birchall, who a few days ago learned he had received a football scholarship from the Australian Institute of Sport.
This month he represented Tasmania at the national under-16 championships in Melbourne, and yesterday the St Brendan-Shaw College student was only playing his ninth senior game.
The Blues led by 18 points at three-quarter-time but coach Adam Sanders was not sure whether it was going to be a big enough lead.
"I thought it was going to be tight in a low-scoring game, and the way Devonport finished we might have been lucky to win," Sanders said.
Launceston needs to beat Smithton in the last roster game next Saturday to make sure of the double chance for the finals after coming so close yesterday.
Perry said Devonport's poor kicking for goal had cost it the chance of being closer on the scoreboard earlier in the game.
"Matthew Langmaid kicked five points and there were some others we missed. It's something we've got to eliminate from our game," he said.
The momentum of the game started to swing midway through the third quarter when Darren Banham was moved on to the ball and his lively pace started to give the Magpies some extra options.
They crept closer and closer against the breeze before a late goal from captain Anthony Taylor consolidated Launceston's lead.
But the last quarter belonged to the Magpies even though they found it difficult to transfer the advantage on to the scoreboard.
"We went inside the 50m line 20 times to their three and we were starting to use the ball smarter," Perry said.
While Birchall was the hero of the game, Jeremy Soden was Devonport's best in his engrossing battle with Anthony Taylor. He had support from Dallas Gallagher, Sam Lovatt and Brett McCall in defence while Troy Dean and Craig Holloway stood up in the last quarter.
Young ruckman Nathan O'Donoghue continued his rise to prominence with another outstanding display and Sam Lonergan was again effective in the midfield.
For the second time this year Gene Savage kept Matthew Langmaid goalless and Sam Thompson won his share of the ball.