EFNL Division 4: Scoresby inflicts Surrey Park its first loss of season

The Magpies have sent shockwaves through the Eastern league’s Division 4, handing pacesetter Surrey Park its first loss of the season.

SCORESBY has claimed its biggest scalp of the Eastern league Division 4 season yet, toppling the ladder-leader to send an ominous message to its rivals.

The Magpies handed Surrey Park its first defeat of the campaign on Saturday – 11.8 (74) to 9.13 (67) – turning the tables on the Panthers after the pair had met in the previous round.

Despite Surrey Park overturning a 24-point deficit to win last weekend’s clash by 15, Scoresby senior coach Craig McKenzie credited his side’s turnaround to a lift at the stoppages, lamenting his side “went into our shells” the previous week.

Ben Bronsgeest kicked three goals for Scoresby. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“Yesterday was a bit of the reverse – we were in our shells a little bit (early) based on the fact that Surrey did such a good job the week before, and it took us quite a while to get going,” McKenzie said.

“Surrey defends really well across the ground and they clearly know how to attack from their defence as well, so we had to try and counteract that.

“They absolutely smashed us (last week) at the stoppages, so we had to rectify that pretty quick.”

Claiming one of the division’s most sought-after scalps certainly isn’t lost on the coach, whose side sits third on the ladder with a 6-3 record.

Surrey Park remains first with six wins, one loss and a draw.

“We’re clearly too very closely-matched sides,” McKenzie said.

“Now that we’ve actually got that scalp and made it fall in our favour, we’re pretty happy that the hard work is starting to pay off and there’s a bit of belief there now that what we’re working towards is effective and will have positive outcomes.”

Ben Bronsgeest led the Magpies’ charge alongside Ryan Fairchild with three goals apiece, while Ryan Hicks finished best afield after McKenzie had moved the usual half-back to a “freedom to run” role on the wing.

“His GPS numbers basically top our list every week,” McKenzie said of Hicks.

“I know he wants to run, so I said to him that any opportunity I get, I’ll get you up onto the wing … he just ran, and he topped our numbers again yesterday for distance covered.

“With that freedom came a lot of getting on the end of the footy and setting us up.”

Scoresby suffered relegation from Division 3 at the end of last season following just four wins, but McKenzie believes the improvement this season is owed largely to autonomy across the seniors and reserves.

“The numbers at training are what we can be reflecting on … we’ve had nights over 50 but typically we’re getting between 35 to 45 as a regular, and with only two teams, that’s pretty much everyone,” he said.

“The way we train together was replicated in the twos game as much as it was in the ones game (on Saturday).

“I’d like to think that engagement and a bit of autonomy in the way things are driven by the leadership group has made a big impact.”

Scoresby 0.3, 2.3, 7.5, 11.8 (74)

Surrey Park 1.5, 4.8, 8.12, 9.13 (67)

Scoresby

Goals:

B. Bronsgeest 3, R. Fairchild 3, D. McBean 2, C. Frith 2, D. Hehir

Best:

R. Hicks, T. Wolnarek, T. Richards, D. Hehir, D. Coulthard, R. Frith

Surrey Park

Goals:

J. Pollock 3, S. Naidu 2, R. Falahey 2, T. Smith, H. Lacchiana

Best:

R. Higgins, T. Smith, K. Falahey, S. Porter, J. Glare, R. Falahey