Saturday's match of the round didn’t quite reach it’s predicted highlights due to poor weather and injuries and illness to key players from both sides, with United Yeelanna proving too strong in the end. Cougars picked up their second win of the year with a comfortable win over Eyre United, while in tough conditions Tumby Bay earnt a hard-fought win over Ramblers winning by 16 points in a low scoring affair.
Ramblers started well in this game to have 2 early goals on the board while holding Tumby Bay to just 2 points for the quarter with veteran Tysan Mickan leading a determined defensive unit that was giving the Blues forwards nothing. Tumby Bay were given a stark reminder about accountability at quarter time, and they responded strongly to produce a game high 4 goals for the quarter as Walker and Kelly were impassable across half back and Lawrie and Fair were giving them plenty from the stoppages. Rain and wind greeted players back on the field after half time, and the game turned in to a genuine arm wrestle as both sides found scoring difficult. Langley and Haarsma were working overtime for their side as the Magpies pegged one back, but they still trailed by 9 points at the final change. Tumby Bay were able to kick a crucial goal through a great snap from Cross and with their back half still on top were able to do enough to win a tough contest and entrench themselves in the top four. Youngster Oz Richardson got better and better as the game went on, Walker and Kelly strong in defence, and Miller, Lawrie and McDonald all had good games. Ramblers were best served by the tireless work from Langley and Haarsma, Dennis and Mickan were solid in defence, and Treloar Starke and Blacker were valuable players.
Cougars had an important win over Eyre United at Ungarra in a game that never reached any real great heights, but the win has kept them in the hunt for a finals spot with every win critical given the evenness of the comp in the middle part of the ladder. The first quarter was a fairly even contest, but Cougars were able to slip out to a 3-goal lead with Wagner looking dangerous up forward booting 2 early goals. The second quarter was real old fashioned wet weather footy as the heavens opened, but again it was Cougars going the better to hold a handy 5 goal lead at half time after Eyre United wasted some opportunities in front of goal. Both sides continued to work hard early in the third with the Saints doing plenty of attacking as Forrest and Liddell worked overtime, but as was the pattern of the day Cougars were able to extend their lead and had the game well in their control. They added a further4 goals in the last to run out comfortable 72-point winners with Wagner back in touch booting 7 from full forward. Brodie Laube played another strong game to continue his good form, Tom Phelps played his best game of the year, and Dobbins, Wandner and youngster Calderwood were all excellent contributors. Marcus Liddell was best for the home side, Luke Forrest a welcome return to the side and Betts, Webb and Telfer all played serviceable games.
In the match of the round, it was Elliston Districts who looked the goods in the first quarter as they dominated United Yeelanna to kick 3 early goals and kept the Eagles to just 1 point for the quarter. Both sides struggled to gain any real ascendancy in the tough conditions but Paul and Bascombe were dangerous up forward as the Rooster were up and about. Conlan and Patterson were having a strong battle in the ruck early in the second quarter, and Norton began to assert his authority across half back. The second quarter belonged to United Yeelanna’s Brayden Martin as he took the game by the scruff of the neck kicking 4 goals from his own boot to ignite his side and give the Eagles a 10-point lead at half time. The third quarter was simply tough going, as conditions made clean footy all but impossible, but it was the class of Watson and Murnane that kept their side on top and that man Martin bobbed up again to kick his fifth and the only goal by either side for the quarter. United Yeelanna were able to continue their tight defensive lock on the Roosters in the last keeping them to 2 points while Maxfield kicked the sealer to give United Yeelanna a hard fought 25-point win. Their defensive pressure was outstanding after half time restricting Elliston Districts to just 3 points for the final 3 quarters in an impressive display. Brayden Martin was the difference in the game kicking 5 of his sides 6 goals, Conlan was again impressive in the ruck and Xavier Watson racked them up in the midfield. For the home side none were better than Zain Montgomerie who is in outstanding form, Bascombe and McInnis were solid all day and veteran Darren Gregory led from the front in the back half. Difficult to take too much out of this game, with both sides missing key players, but both sides look like genuine contenders with the Eagles remaining undefeated but Elliston Districts hot on their heels.
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