A REVITALISED Beverley won an entertaining match against Cunderdin at the Magpies’ home ground on Sunday by 36 points, 15.16 to 10.10.
The Redbacks were a changed side as they outplayed the Magpies for three quarters after Cunderdin stole a march in the first quarter.
Cunderdin easily won the first quarter by 19 points, 4.5 to 1.4, kicking to the western end of the ground.
However a seven-goal second term by the Redbacks gave them a 19-point lead 8.7 to 5.6 which realistically was never challenged.
Magpies Chris Green and Craig Unsworth scored two early third-term majors for the Magpies but this was a last gasp.
Beverley matched them with three goals for the term to leave the Redbacks with a 3-goal final term buffer with the fading winds at their backs.
The Redbacks were on a roll in the final term and could have won by more if they had no begun to show off.
Beverley have a genuine star in Joel O’Halloran and, although he scored three goals, two more were missed because he became casual in the final term.
It has to be said that Beverley made Cunderdin look slow.
They cleared from the rucks and had more speed on the ground.
Beverley have some new players who are exerting influence.
O’Halloran is one and his one-handed pick-up followed by a left-foot snap for goal was the highlight of the day.
With a player like Robbie Wansborough to come back, the Redbacks will feature later in the year.
Another feature of the match was the potency of the Redbacks forward line.
Their goals were shared among 10 players.
They had good players all over the ground with none better than James Turner.
Number 11 must be blessed as Cunderdin’s Rhys Harrison was a tower in the backline.
After the end of the first term, Beverley were never really challenged.
They will almost certainly feature in September.
At Jubilee Oval Federals easily accounted for Quairading by 90 points, 22.19 to 8.13.
At Tammin the margin was even greater with Keller/Tammin flogging Railways by 170 points 30.22 to 4.6.
Chris Maguire booted 12 goals.
Next Sunday Railways will be at home to Cunderdin, Quairading will host Keller/Tammin and and Federals will travel to York.
