Catani captain Owen Fitzpatrick kicked two goals in the win over Longwarry on Saturday. 21583 After a poor effort last week against Bunyip, Catani bounced back with a resounding 22-point away from home win over Longwarry.
The Crows’ disappointment was further aggravated after star Berwick recruit George Gorozidis left the field in the opening five minutes with a leg injury.
He was diagnosed with a ruptured Achilles tendon after the game and his season and perhaps his career is now over, and with it perhaps the Crows’ premiership chances.
The Blues held sway all game and took a 16-point advantage into the quarter-time huddle and a 12-point lead at half-time and built upon it with a six to two goal third quarter to take a match winning 37-point lead into the last change.
Gun Catani recruit Luke James played a big role, scoring five first half goals.
Followers Phil Smith and Paul Youle alternated between ruck and centre-half forward and both played a crucial role in the Blues’ third term ascendancy.
With smalls Jason Mead, Phil Strahan and Justin Evans all feeding at their feet when the ball hit the ground Catani took a firm grasp on the contest after half-time. Chris Teniseli, Andy Stockx and Luke McFarlane offered plenty of rebound out of defence and played a big part in constructing a 52-point lead early in the last quarter before the Crows dug deep to add a bit of scoreboard respectability with a strong last quarter.
Assistant Catani Coach Josh Tymensen, sidelined with injury, was pleased with his charges after the game: “It was a big game and we got our hunger back after last week’s loss to Bunyip. We worked hard for each other and it was our best four quarter team contribution this season.”
For Longwarry, Garfield recruit Beau Runnalls showed his class with seven goals, Scott Hamilton did well to keep key Blue forward Owen Fitzpatrick to only two goals and Alfie Ablett won plenty of the ball across half-back and through the centre.
Mark Light did well to curb the dangerous Luke James in the second half, Andy McKenna was lively in the first half and youngster Joshua Bourke did well in the last quarter when he was introduced into the action.
Longwarry Coach Graeme Jose was far from pleased with his team after the game. “Our third quarter was really disappointing, it destroyed us and cost us an important game,” he said.
