Thumping win in first Retravision Cup fixture helps Lions reclaim third spot from Sharks

Royals marched to a third straight win, thumping a disappointing Albany by 86 points to claim the inaugural Retravision Cup fixture on Sunday and reclaim third spot on the Great Southern Football League ladder in the process. The Sharks trailed by 11 points at the first change but a seven-goal second quarter helped the Lions leapfrog the Sharks on the GSFL ladder after 12 rounds. The heavy 5.11 (41) to 19.13 (127) loss was compounded by injuries to Jaxon Liddelow (neck) and Isaac Baum (hamstring) before Jesse Barrett suffered a broken leg in the third term and had to be taken from the field on a stretcher. Lions coach Andrew Ruck believes a few adjustments helped his side gain the ascendancy after half-time. “The first quarter we started really well but probably didn’t make the most of our entries, so I was disappointed with the way we entered inside 50,” Ruck said. “But we just had a really solid midfield with two quality ruckmen and a core group of mids. “In the second quarter we changed the way we went inside 50 because (Kane) Pinney was everywhere. “After half-time we put Brayden Parker down on him which changed the game. “He was able to nullify his influence a little bit, which was great. “We just changed a few little things in our forward line too which we didn’t get right in the first half.” The Lions fired early as Tyreice Brown booted two majors and Seb Stanton added another to help open up an 11-point margin at the first change. Key forward Nic Ashford struck early in the second term with a goal before a roving David Parker emerged twice in quick succession, chipping in with two clever snaps to put his side up by 29 points. Sharks’ Brett Peake stemmed the flow to trim the margin back to 23, but they were left to rue several turnovers at half-forward and then Marlin Bennett was yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle on the wing. The Lions finished the opening half full of running as they stretched the margin to 45 points with majors to Cameron Allison, Ryan Lazar, Ashford and David Parker. Goals to Cameron Jones and Sam Christo breathed life into the Sharks early in the third but Brayden Parker was pushed forward and kicked a steadying goal. Matt Martin was awarded a free kick 45m out, scoring his first major of the game to drag the Sharks back within 37 points, but Ryan Lazar returned fire with his second of the afternoon as the Lions led by 44 points at the last change. The Lions dominated the last term and held the Sharks scoreless, registering their seventh win of the season. Midfield star David Parker was brilliant for the victors, winning a stack of possessions and kicking three goals, judged best-afield by the umpires, and receiving the match ball in the fixture. Brown (two goals) was versatile playing across the ground, Lazar finished with four majors and was well supported by Brayden Parker and Ashford, who each chipped in with three. Ben Altus was outstanding in defence, holding Sharks’ goal kicker Peake to one major all day, while midfielder Zak Mola and ruckman Stephen Beal were also influential. Sharks defender Kane Pinney battled bravely for the losing side and was well supported by Cameron Jones, Robbie Lee and Kieran Zilm. A disappointed Sharks coach Jamie Ramm said his side were simply outplayed. “They were a more consistent overall side, they had a lot better spread of players than us today, and we were too reliant on our better players,” he said. “They kicked straight and we probably missed some opportunities but we were pretty well outplayed at the end of the day. “I thought we made mistakes at the start. “We haven’t been like that for a long time but that’s how footy goes. “You can’t always be your best but they were, and they were a lot better than us today.”