By Callum Ludwig
The inaugural George Ingram Cup became an instant classic as Seville and Belgrave battled it out on Anzac Day.
Hosted by Seville in honour of Victoria Cross and Military Medal recipient George Ingram, both sides engaged in an enthralling game that embodied the Anzac spirit.
It was the Magpies who got off to a flying start, kicking three goals before Seville could register a scoring shot, with Seville’s first opportunity coming courtesy of Dylan Broadway, but his shot missed.
Marks inside the arc were the key to Belgrave’s success in the first with the good set shot kicking that followed justifying the Magpies’ attacking approach of looking inside for the leading forwards.
Belgrave put one more on the board in the first quarter before inaccuracy started to plague both sides, as they each registered three behinds for the quarter and the Blues trailed by four goals at quarter time.
Seville looked to have a good opportunity to open their goalscoring account at the start of the second quarter but failed to convert it into a major, with Belgrave rebounding down the wing.
The ball fell to the back of a pack where the Magpies’ Kyle Nunn collected and jetted off before kicking long towards the goals. The ball appeared to be set to just off-line but a lucky bounce just short and took it through for a counter-attacking goal to take the wind further out of Seville’s sails.
The Blues did bounce back though, kicking their first for the day after a strong mark from Nathan O’Keefe deep in the forward line that he duly converted.
Jack Nolan was key to the Blues’ resurgence, taking a plethora of intercept marks deep in the Blues’ backline and distributing well by foot to push his team forward as Seville kicked another three goals quickly before the end of the quarter, though Belgrave managed another two to keep a lead intact at the long break, up by 14 points.
In the third quarter, Seville set to work and kicked two goals in quick succession including a long-range effort from Jye Sciortino that got them up and about.
Seville would hit the front with their third goal of the quarter but Belgrave bit back to restore their lead not long after, and then another.
The Magpies would cost themselves a goal later in the quarter, a Belgrave player would give a free kick away in retaliation to a big but fair hit in a marking contest on the wing that left a player down, with Seville moving the ball quickly and scoring.
Belgrave’s Anthony Johnston would take a strong one-handed mark and convert a tough set shot to inspire his side, before a set shot after the siren from Seville’s Ryan Farrow that faded left saw the Magpies in front by only eight points at the final change.
The fourth quarter started nervy with both sides missing chances early before Farrow would again step up to the plate and this time nail a tough set shot from the boundary to reduce the margin to a single point.
Belgrave’s Lachlan King would give away a 50m penalty late in the quarter that saw Seville hit the front for only the second time in the match but a kick off the side of the boot fell kindly for the Magpie’s onrushing Chris Campbell.
Campbell went back on the tight angle, kicked his fourth goal of the day to draw the game level and the siren blew right after as a thrilling match ended all square.
Goal umpires convened where the final score was confirmed, with the scorecard reading Seville 10.11, 71 to Belgrave 11.5, 71.
Seville’s Nathan O’Keefe was awarded the George Ingram medallion for best on ground, joining Wandin women’s footballer Hailee Stokes in receiving their first edition of the medal and Seville A-Grade netballer Genesis Foster-Jonassen, who received the Robertson Sister’s medal for best on court.
Seville’s other best players were Jett Benninga, Jye Sciortino, Ryan Farrow, Jack Nolan, Bayley Sciortino and Mark Cecere.
Belgrave’s top performers on the day were Chris Campbell, Aaron Green, Lachlan King, Christopher Westcott, Daniel Ryan and Joshua Brown.
Other results:
Women’s Football: Seville 1.3, 9 defeated by Wandin 5.6, 36
Reserves: Seville 8.3, 51 defeated by Belgrave 9.6, 60
U18 Boys: Seville 2.2, 14 defeated by Mt Evelyn 18.15, 123
A Grade netball: Seville 45 defeated Belgrave 31
B Grade: Seville 69 defeated Belgrave 29
C Grade: Seville 39 defeated Belgrave 19
D Grade: Seville 45 defeated Belgrave 17
