THE visiting Koo Wee Rup side demonstrated its superior fitness to run away with the win, by 45 points at Korumburra on Saturday.
But, once again, it had been a creditable effort by the Giants for most of the day.
As it should have been if they hope to eventually be competitive in the strong West Gippsland competition, with both the Koo Wee Rup Demons and the Korumburra-Bena Giants going into the match with just one win each from eight rounds; Koo-Wee over Dalyston and the Giants over Bunyip.
But it was clear from the outset that Koo Wee Rup had the upper-hand, as they pressed up hard into the wind to pepper the goals at the Bena end of the ground for the early part of the first quarter.
It was only through the relentless good work of Matt Kennewell, intercept marking, punching clear and standing in the way of everything coming towards the Koo Wee goals, combining with the likes of Boyd Robertson, Rhys Dixon, Nick Besley, and Jay Walker to clear, that they didn’t get off to a flyer.
It was a great defensive effort, holding the visitors to just four points by quarter time, but they should have been scoring themselves with the wind advantage.
The Giants did eventually open their account, on the back of a Demons’ error, when Jed Harris took an intercept mark before passing to Paul Fermanis who played on to pop through a classy goal.
The score had been built on the stout Giants’ defence and emboldened by that, the Giants put together some nice passages of play, without scoring, including one in which Jack Spencer, Byron Walker, Tarkyn Walker and Joel Cuman combined, and another just before the siren involving Jay Walker, Nick Besley and Jasper Macri.
But it looked to be a good sign.
Again, at the start of the second quarter, it was the visiting Demons who were leading the way, with the wind this time, but with the Giants’ defenders continuing to hold firm initially.
Luke McMaster snapped a point, Musa Amin and Fletcher McMillan combined to go on the attack again for the Demons, Nathan Voss got another point, and Nick Besley saved one on the line but finally Voss opened Koo-Wee’s account, with Jason Wells following up after a downfield free.
A lot of hard work by the Giants to drive the ball forward was finally rewarded when Zach Walker got their next, but the Demons had the immediate answer.
The Giants then had several good chances near goal, and put their noses back in front after Joel Cuman dribbled one through, but Koo Wee Rup were exerting more control the further the game went and they got to the sheds at half time with an 11-point lead.
The third quarter was another arm-wrestle in blustery conditions, with just one goal scored but it was Koo Wee Rup which careered away to win in the last quarter, kicking 5.5 to the Giants’ one goal to make it a comprehensive victory for them.
The Giants have a couple of tough games ahead, against Phillip Island and Nar Nar Goon before winnable matches against Garfield and Bunyip in the next four weeks.