By Des Rolfe

The Port Douglas Crocs staged a real Jekyll and Hyde performance against Centrals Trinity Beach at Crathern Park on Saturday.  

The Crocs boys looked terrific early with the midfield on top, the forwards leading confidently and marking and kicking for goal well.  

Adam Boone who was having a  very good day slotted through a couple of early goals; Thomas Clough passed to Tim Oke for another and Ash Davidson shot an excellent handball to that man Boone again.

To their credit the Centrals team gritted their teeth and came back hard.  

The Crocs momentum stalled , turnovers became more prevalent, and the scoring was all being done by the home team.  

At the half time interval the score was even.  

In the second half Port Douglas performed like a Ferrari on ethanol - they were yards faster, confidence zoomed, turnovers and clangers vanished and the coach's positional changes worked.  

Joel Lawlor picked up the dangerous Centrals' full forward Leroy Enosa and shut him down completely.  

Dylan Wearmouth, Sam Scally and Chris Adams all gathered possession after possession.  

Damien Williams up forward was aggressive finishing with six goals as did Adam Boone and Darren Garth.  

A great effort up forward.  Declan Kelly, James Mueller and Kane Goodwin have blended into the Crocs team perfectly and are enjoying a great season.

Kaine, Freyling along with Brett and Michael McKeown swamped their opponents.  

The runaway final score line suggests that the Crocs will take it right up to the Saints in the blockbuster game at the Croc Pit next Saturday.  

In the reserves game the two teams copped the worst of the weather.  

Squally windy rain made the ball greasy and play hard to read.  

But in the immortal words of the late great Alan Jeans 'the boys did well'.  

The match was all tied up at  quarter time with 3 goals apiece.

For the Crocs Braden Laurin and Andrew McLeod were prominent and Tony Gooding was hurling himself into packs.  

Harlen Paulet kicked a nice goal. Tim Thomson and Ethan McCullough both goaled as Port Douglas sneaked away.

The persistent effort of Shannon Gleeson, Daniel Fenech and Ethan McCullough who finished with three goals were instrumental in getting the Crocs across the line.  

The Crocs booted eight goals straight. Unfortunately Centrals  marred their own efforts with inaccurate kicking.

As the rain increased Centrals picked up their game and by three quarter time the Crocs lead had been reduced to a solitary goal.

The intensity continued in the last quarter and Centrals hit the front.  

Tim Thomson for the Crocs rolled through a goal and the visitors  were up by two points.

The Crocs were lucky to steal the match but good teams win the close ones. The Crocs reserves remain undefeated. Well done.

Final Scores

Seniors

Centrals 10.6-66 were def. by Crocs 24.13-157. 

Reserves

Centrals 8.11-59 were def. by Crocs 10.1-61.

Next game is a home game against Saints at the Croc Pit with Reserves at 1pm and Seniors starting at 3pm.  Come along! 

GO CROCS!