Ramblers B Grade continued their unbeaten season with a premiership, but it wasn’t without a fight. Cougars started well and kicked with a typical Tumby Bay 20 knot South westerly that favoured the tennis courts end. A few late scratchings from each side saw the match ups fairly even.
The first goal of the game came through Cougars Vice Captain Ridgway after a free kick and 25 metre penalty put them within reach. Billy Pilgrim was battling hard for Ramblers and was clearing the ball well but it was a sea of Red and Black as the Magpies tried to move forward. Bob Pedler wound back the clock and clunked mark after mark as the Cougars boys peppered the goal line. Ethan Parsons managed a major for Ramblers but the momentum was with Cougars, who were working hard but couldn’t convert in front of goal. Corey Calderwood had a certain goal from 50 out but was dropped on the goal line by a Cougars teammate, and another opportunity was missed. Billy Pilgrim started the 2nd quarter well after a 25m penalty got him within striking distance. Calderwood kicked another for Cougars straight after some great roving and a snapshot 30m out into the wind. Jarrod Howell continued his good season with some great link work through the middle and assisted Jake Mahoney with another goal for Cougars, putting them 9 points in front into the wind. The wise heads of Quigley, Haarsma and Shannon Minard worked well and manufactured a goal against the flow, but Cougars answered straight back through Jaxen Ridgeway. It was Cougars who were hungrier, and an upset looked likely. Tom Crettenden for Ramblers launched a goal from 55 out and added another handy one for Ramblers. But again it was Calderwood for Cougars who was proving dangerous for his side and answered back before half time.
The 3rd Quarter saw Cougars kick with the wind and Bob Peddler and Blue Blacker had their work cut out for them as Cougars peppered the goal line. You couldn’t help but think the inclusion of Luke Maroney in Cougars side may have converted some goals. Ramblers struck first against the wind and against the momentum as the league medallist Darling, fed Minard a goal from 35 out. The skill and class for Ramblers was starting to show as they pegged another back against the wind. Another free and 25m penalty to Cougars could have seen them go into the last quarter ahead, but the theme of the day was clear for Cougars: Missed opportunities. Ramblers had worked hard into the wind in the premiership quarter and walked into the break 2 points up. Using the wind advantage Ramblers goaled within the first 2 mins and it looked like they were going to have a run on. Ben Franklin was moving the ball well across the back flank and Billy Pilgrim was really showing his dominance. Todd Coleman kicked Ramblers 2nd in a row and it looked like tough luck for a cougars side who were still having a real crack. It wasn’t until Coleman goaled again that the Magpie crowd breathed a sigh of relief and put the champagne on ice. Sellen was battling hard in defence for Cougars as was Wright and Jake Mahoney up forward, but the skill, class and fitness for Ramblers proved too difficult to stop. The Cougars side would be impressed with the turnaround from the 2nd Semi but would be disappointed with some missed opportunities. Scribes best players of the day Billy Pilgrim from Ramblers and Corey Calderwood for Cougars.
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