Match Report v Richmond | Ashfords Round 13

30/06/2019
SANDRINGHAM:   0.0   3.5   5.7   7.11   (53)
RICHMOND:          6.3   7.4   9.6   10.8   (68)

Goals: Fox 3, Haidon, Langlands, Mayo & Owens.
Disposals: Seccull 23, Newnes 21, Brown 18, Tahana 17 & Fox 16.

Despite a strong second half, Richmond defeat an inaccurate Sandringham by 15 points, in a wet and windy afternoon.

Richmond would kick with the wind to start the game and they took full advantage of this, dominating the first quarter.

Higgins opened the scoring for the day inside the first minute, marking the ball at the top of the square and slotting the set shot. Butler and Townsend looked dangerous, combining for four goals within a 10 minute period.

Sandringham looked to respond, but struggled to get the ball inside forward 50. After a sustained period of Richmond forward pressure, Higgins was able to kick a late goal to extend Richmond's lead.

We were kept scoreless for the quarter, as we struggled to combat the wind and Richmond's pressure. Sandringham would need a strong response to claw back the margin.

We amped up the pressure at the start of the second quarter, which allowed us to lock the ball in our forward 50. At the sixth minute mark our hard work was rewarded when Fox got us on the board, marking nicely and slotting his set shot from 25m out directly in front.

Despite our increased pressure and possession, we were wasteful up forward, missing shots and indiscriminately bombing the ball into the fifty. However, our pressure around the ball couldn't be questioned and the pressure started to show as Richmond gave away silly free kicks. Fox made them pay, kicking truly from the top of the goal square.

It was an improved quarter, keeping Richmond to one goal, but we did squander a few chances at goal. The standouts from the first half included skipper Brede Seccull and speedster Sam Fox. Brown was also dominant in defence, leading Sandy for disposals with eleven.

It was a fast and furious start to the third quarter, with three goals inside the first four minutes, Weller and Baker for Richmond and Owens for Sandy.

Both teams tightened up after the early flurry, with players hitting the contest hard. Mayo was looking dangerous, attracting a lot of interest from Richmond's defence. Before long, Mayo hit the scoreboard, taking a strong contested mark deep in the forward pocket and slotting the goal from a tight angle. 

That would prove to be the final goal of the quarter as we broke even with Richmond against the wind, kicking two goals apiece. We would need to make the most of the wind in the final term to chase down Richmond's 23-point lead.

The rain picked up late at the end of the third and continued into the last quarter. The lights came on as the gloomy storm clouds darkened the afternoon sky. 

Torps came into vogue as it became a game of territory. We looked the better team early in the quarter, but we shot ourselves in the foot, missing three set shots. By the midpoint of the quarter neither team had slotted a goal.
 

Langlands broke the deadlock at the 20 minute mark, soccering a goal from the goal square after a clever flick-on from Batchelor. It was then game on when Fox received a free kick and cut the margin to just eight points.

But a late comeback wasn't to be, as the Tigers went coast-to-coast in the 26th minute to extend their lead to 15-points and to ice the game.

Notable performers from the match included skipper Brede Seccull, who lead the way with 23 disposals, and Sainter Doulton Langlands (19 disposals, 1 goal). Brown marshalled the defence strongly with 18 disposals and seven marks, whilst Fox looked dangerous up forward kicking three goals. 

We look to break our winless run when we head to Arden Street, next Sunday, to take on North Melbourne in Round 14.