The match of the round between United Yeelanna and Tumby Bay didn’t disappoint football followers with the Eagles winning a tight contest by 7 points, Ramblers continued their promising start to the year to beat arch rivals Cougars by 25 points and Lock remained undefeated with a strong win over Elliston at home.
Lock and Elliston Districts battled it out in a physical affair at Lock on Saturday. The gritty win came at a significant cost for the Roos with all 3 of their starting midfield suffering serious injuries.
Lock burst out of the blocks largely thanks to Cain Reynolds who nearly put the game to bed at quarter-time, with an excellent 4 goal first quarter from the half-forward. The Roosters midfield, led by Rosalia and Williams were winning plenty of the ball yet couldn’t penetrate the Roos backline led by Luke Durdin and Kory Beard.
The start of the second quarter was when the carnage began to happen for Lock with Blaze Kay (driver) and Ty George (knee) both injured and set to miss several weeks with injury. The Roosters dominated the first half of the quarter as Rhys Kelsh began to assert his dominance around the ground, the Roos backline once again stood up, repelling attack after attack.
The third quarter started horribly again for the Roos as Lachlan ‘Chuck’ Heath suffered a bad knee injury that required a stretcher. With Lock having no bench, the last half was a complete arm-wrestle. Ross Bascomb was having an excellent game for the Roosters, intercepting plenty of ball across half-back and distributing effectively.
The 4th quarter started like the 3 rd with the Roosters having plenty of the ball yet were cut off time and time again by the Roos mighty backline. With no bench and only 17 players on the field for majority of the last quarter, Lock controlled the ball from their backline with Kory Beard racking up over 10 marks for the quarter alone.
Best players for Elliston were Ross Bascomb, Matthew Williams, Rhys Kelsh, Charlie Gibson and Shannon Horgan
Best players for Lock were Cain Reynolds, Kory Beard, Luke Durdin, Guy Morton, Ziek Kay and Damian Kelly
Ramblers and Cougars faced off in the local derby at Cummins Oval and it was the Magpies who produced a trademark gritty performance to run out comfortable 25 point victors in the end.
George Pedler started proceedings with an early goal and when Langley capitalised on another Cougars turnover, Ramblers were off to a quick start with 2 early majors. Tom Cretty bobbed up to kick another for his side, but Cougars were eventually able to hit the scoreboard through Puckridge after some good work through their midfield. Crettenden kicked an early one in the second to push the Magpies lead out to 21 points, but Cougars were able to respond with back to back goals from Turnbull and Puckridge, but Ramblers were absorbing the pressure well and maintained a 23 point lead at the long break. The third quarter was a tight arm wrestle with both sides managing just the one goal, but the Magpies looked on top with Richardson proving a handful across half forward.
Cougars started the last on a positive note with Puckridge bagging his third major to give them a sniff, but the pressure from Ramblers especially in defence and through their midfield was making life tough for Cougars who were finding it tough to score. Buchannan kicked a great goal on the run to put the game to bed and Pedler iced the game late with the sealer to give his side a well earned victory and entrench themselves in the top 4. Will Haarsma was outstanding for the winners, James Richardson strong all day while the evergreen George Pedler showed his class along with Buchanan, Franklin and Parsons. Cougars were best served by playing coach Tom Phelps who gave his all, Jack and Adam Green tough in the contest and youngsters Hill and Turnbull were both solid contributors.
United Yeelanna had to call upon all of their experience to hold off a fast finishing Tumby Bay on the Blues home deck to win a low scoring but entertaining game of football between the 2 top sides.
There was plenty of pressure from both sides early on but it was United Yeelanna who settled first to kick 2 early majors but the Blues were able to respond through Foster and Lawrie. Both defences were working overtime with Norton for the Eagles and Walker for Tumby Bay repelling many attacks. The Blues started the second term strongly as gun recruit McLeod exerted his influence on the game and Hartwig and Foster were proving a handful for the Eagles defenders. Brayden Martin was showing his class and Xavier Watson had the ball on a string but the hard work of Kelly, Walker and Miller defensively was making life tough for the Eagles forwards. The third quarter belonged to United Yeelanna as Stephen Crettenden came in to the game strongly, Francis was having an impact and Watson, Habner and Maxfield stepped up a notch to swing the game in the Eagles favour. They led by a game high 16 points at 3 quarter time and looked as though they were taking control of the
contest. The home crowd would have been wrapped to see the intensity lift from the Blues early in the last with the run of Whitelaw and McLeod outstanding through the midfield and youngster Ezra Foster threatened to take the game away from the Eagles with his strong aerial work up forward.
Watson and Maxfield were able to keep the onslaught at bay, and Habner and Martin continued to run strongly for the visitors and when Martin kicked truly late the Eagles had done enough to hold on and win by 7 points. It was a tough game of football and although United Yeelanna were missing some key personnel there was a lot to like about the Blues ball movement and pressure. Xavier Watson was outstanding for the winners, Habner continued his excellent form, and Dyer, Norton and Maxfield were all solid contributors. For the Blues Grant McLeod was again their best, Walker and Kelly strong defensively while Hartwig and the McDonald twins caused concern for the Eagles all day.
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