GSFL 2024: Denmark-Walpole register giant first win of the season in annual Benno Napier tribute match

Denmark-Walpole finally broke the drought and notched their first win of the Great Southern Football League season in the annual Benno Napier tribute match, celebrating their biggest day of the season with wins across all grades. In their retro Giants guernsey for the 20th anniversary of their 2004 colts premiership, the Magpies defeated North Albany 10.9 (69) to 8.11 (59) at McLean Park on Saturday. After trailing by nine points at half-time, the hosts piled on five goals to the Kangas’ one to clinch an 18-point lead heading into the final stanza and did not look back. Despite conceding four goals in the last quarter to the visitors, the Magpies dug deep in pursuit of a long-awaited win and converted their only three last-quarter chances into much-needed goals. Reagan Hutchinson was prolific for the Magpies and was awarded the Benno Napier memorial match medal, while Tyler Stone was pivotal in their triumph with three majors. Magpies coach Brad Nisbett said once his side fixed their forward half connection, they started to get reward for effort with damage on the scoreboard. “I thought our first half was pretty poor but then we sort of just clicked into gear a bit more in the second half,” Nisbett said. “We played pretty well in the second half and just lifted a bit with our effort. “We improved our connection as well and that was probably the main difference between the first and second half and we played more as a team, and kicked a heap of goals in the third quarter, which set us up.” Lincoln East booted a game-high four goals for the home side and Brad Keast was vital to their victory. Earlier, the Kangas were wasteful in front of goals in the first quarter booting 1.6 to the Magpies’ two straight. Kangas skipper Nick Barrow was again a reliable contributor, supported soundly by midfielder Kobi Keen, while Graham Ross kicked a team-high three goals. Kangas coach Brad Bootsma said squandered early chances proved costly late in the game but was proud of his side’s effort. “Pretty disappointing we didn’t capitalise on our early dominance in the game,” he said. “I think the first eight scoring shots for us was 2.6 so inaccurate kicking kept them in it early. “I was proud our boys fought the game out and came back late which showed good character. “We struggled to hit targets in the forward-50 and I thought we defended quite well.”