Cobras show class to remain undefeated

test, i n some i nstances even when t he ball was at the other end of the ground.

Gillis’ first shot on goal came following a searching lead but his shot missed.

Anthony Guiliano kicked the first goal for Cora Lynn and at the other end the Cobras were defending well, denying the Stars an opportunity despite conceding a free kick in the defensive 50.

Gillis again offered a long lead and missed but would make good of his third attempt, steering through the first of four majors.

The Cobras made good of a Stars turnover, again finding Gillis on the lead but again another opportunity wasted.

Jackson Dalton moved the Cobras forward early in the second quarter and found Nathan Langley, only for another opportunity to be missed.

The Cobras went long again, with Langley making good of his second chance to stretch the lead.

Sam Whibley and Darcy Payne both handled in what had been the most impressive passage of play from the Stars to that point, but again the attack was cut off by Muratore in defence.

At the other end Ricky Clark took the ball from a boundary throw in but the snap shot missed.

The Cobras went forward again with Gillis reading the ball best despite cries from the crowd calling for a free kick. Those crowd members were appeased when the shot drifted out on the full.

Kyle Hendy kicked a goal for Garfield to ensure the Stars would remain in touch heading into half time.

Gillis took another well-judged mark to goal and had a hand in the next Cobras major soon after.

A third man up at a boundary throw in released Clark to find Langley who booted it forward to Gillis, who spilt the mark only for a teammate to rove front and centre and snap the goal.

Gillis again offered a long lead, but couldn’t quite bring down the mark as Garfield cleared to remain in touch at half time.

Garfield lifted in the second half and were rewarded with two early free kicks, Justin Berry kicking the first goal of the third term after his Cora Lynn opponent did not return the ball as he would to a teammate.

Dalton went inboard as Cora Lynn pressed again, but the Cobras were too cute in attempting to find better options to see Garfeild clear.

Another free kick and 50-metre penalty gave the Stars their next goal and when Will Collis added another major, the Stars sensed they were back in the contest.

Langley earnt a free kick for a hold to convert and establish some breathing space but the Stars responded, with Ashley Brown taking a strong mark in the goal square.

Gillis showed both sides of his game in again re-establishing control for the Cobras, kicking a goal from the lead and then taking a strong mark to add another major.

Guiliano roved the pack to snap another goal and it seemed order had been restored.

Garfield went forward but the Cobras again made it difficult to score, with the defenders creating a two on one to rebound.

Garfield’s Ben Marsh laid a solid tackle to set up a late goal to cut the margin to 32points.

A clever snap from the pocket before a strong mark and goal Brett Reid cut the margin to 20-points but the Cobras were again able to steady.

A snap on goal from a boundary throw in sailed through late in the final quarter to put the icing on another Cobras win.

Jordan Toole provided good run and drive for the Cobras, as did Dalton, while Gillis proved a major headache for the Stars defence.

Muratore was solid in defence, while Jeremy Monckton and Clark were also prominent.

Kyle Hendy led the way for the Stars, while the Marsh brothers and Collis also battled hard.

With many good players down, the Stars will be buoyed by the fact that they managed to push the Cobras.

Many Garfield players could be better on their day, including Ryan Hendy who went from chocolates with his nine goals against Nilma-Darnum to boiled lollies against the Cobras where he was held goalless.

With Harley Lacunes putting in a clearance to go back to the club, the Stars could benefit from some added composure across halfback in the coming weeks.

Cora Lynn held off Garfield in an armwrestle, with neither side able to fully capitalise on opportunities.

It was a tale of two halves, with Cora Lynn making the most of the play in the first half before Garfield made a good fist of it in the second.

In the end Cora Lynn had the class to hold the Stars out and win by 20-points, 119-75 to 8-7-55.

Perceived pressure hurt the Stars at times, mainly during the first three quarters, while the Cobras looked composed, which ultimately proved the difference in what had been billed as an enthralling contest.

A big crowd gathered to watch the contest which promised so much, with Followers sold out half way through the reserves match, but the contest eventuated as largely uninspiring despite the narrow margin.

With their tales up in the second half and playing better football, the Stars wasted an opportunity to draw close to Cora Lynn and challenge the Cobras to take them into unchartered territory.

In a positive sign for the rest of the competition, the Stars showed it is possible to trouble Cora Lynn, but the need to take the most of your opportunities against the quality Cobras outfit shone through.

The Stars missed two very gettable shots on goal, one courtesy of a free kick, during the final quarter which proved telling in the outcome.

While the Cobras were able to steady, had those two shots on goal been converted the margin would have been cut to just four points late in the game, which would have taken the Cobras into a scenario it had not faced for some time.

The Cobras dominated possession and time in first half, but failed to capitalise on opportunities and probably should have enjoyed a greater lead than 28-points at the half.

Garfield made the first forward move, but it was cut off by Nathan Muratore in defence.

Ryan Gillis looked dangerous early, much to the chagrin of some vocal supporters who hounded the Cobras forward with abuse throughout much of the con-