Ramblers 11.11 (77)

MYPOLONGA caused the upset of the season on Saturday when they beat a complacent Ramblers side by two points at LeMessurier Oval.

The Tigers led for most of the day against a sluggish Rambler unit, who missed the class of Luke Button down back and Clint Girardi up forward.

Three goals to full forward Brad Martin in the first quarter had the Tigers off to a flier, before Ramblers replied with three goals of their own to even up the scores going into quarter time.

Mypolonga again jumped out of the blocks in the second term, kicking the first major, with the Pedler brothers Joe, James and George all starting to have an influence on the match.

For Ramblers, Liam O’Neil was finding plenty of the ball in the centre and Trent Paech was providing some dash off of the wing.

The Tigers goaled again and when some undisciplined play by Ramblers led to another, Mypo had a handy three-goal lead.

The match became very heated, with several brawls erupting, as both sides tried to stamp their authority on the match.

A goal to Patrick O’Neil put Ramblers within two goals of the Tigers at half time.

Ramblers came out firing after the break, with a quick goal to Tyson Matthews, but Mypo replied with a goal to Martin, who was starting to get the better of Matt Mundy.

The Roosters slammed on two more goals, one a brilliant snap on the boundary line by Ben Dougall and the other by Liam O’Neil, to even up the match halfway through the quarter.

However the Tigers went one goal up with a major to Nathan Creaser, who was taking some strong grabs around the ground.

The second half of the quarter was completely dominated by Ramblers, however poor kicking for goal let them down and they could manage one goal from the spurt, instead of three of four.

It was to Liam O’Neil, who was finding plenty of it in the midfield.

A Mypolonga goal on the siren hurt Ramblers, as the Tigers went into three quarter time with their tails up and sensing victory.

The last quarter was very eventful, with the umpires attempting to take control of the match.

50 metre penalties became as common as free kicks, as both sides were penalised on numerous occasions.

Great attack on the ball from Dougall in the forward line resulted in Ramblers first goal for the quarter.

Daniel Zadow was using his body to bustle players off the ball for Ramblers, while James and Joe Pedler, along with midfielders Scott Meneghetti and Joel Eckermann, were in magnificent form for the Tigers.

A critical point in the match came when Dougall was lining up for a shot on goal 20-metres out directly in front, in what should have been a certain major for the Roosters.

However the umpire reversed the free kick and gave it to Mypolonga, along with another 50-metre penalty - all because of something a spectator yelled out from the crowd.

Three goals straight to Brad Martin saw the Tigers go out to a match-winning lead.

Ramblers did everything they could to peg them back but in the end they ran out of time, with Mypo holding on for a well-deserved two-point victory.

Mypolonga played some great pressure football, but Ramblers lost the game for themselves with poor finishing off in front of goal.

Best players for the Tigers were Joel Eckermann who ran hard all day, and Joe and James Pedler, and Scott Meneghetti in the midfield.

Special mention must go to Joe Pedler at centre half back, who did a wonderful job in nullifying the dangerous Adam Jackson.

Liam O’Neil was by far Ramblers’ best player while Zadow, Paech, Tyson Matthews and Dougall all had some good passages.

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Tough Jervois win comfortabley

Jervois 18.16 (124)

Tailem Bend 7.8 (50)

ON A cold and windy afternoon Jervois ran away with a 74-point victory, conceding just three goals after quarter time.

Tailem Bend had their opportunities early, but could not convert.

Ben Woodhouse kicked Jervois’ first goal.

Wayne Luckett kicked truly for the Eagles before two quick goals to the Bluds.

Another to Luckett, followed by Michael Thomas levelled the scores and a clever snap from Dylan Hogarth gave them the lead at the first change.

The quarter time scores were Tailem Bend 4.3 to Jervois 3.3.

Jervois started the second term well with goals to Chris Braun and Trevor Rigney.

Luckett booted his third for the Eagles to keep them in touch.

Brad Bell closed the gap to two points before Jervois stepped up a gear with four goals in the last five minutes of the half to lead 10.8 to 6.5.

As heavy rain began to fall, Jervois continued the blitz with good work from Brad Schmidt, Zac Ewer and Wade Mason.

Rigney was proving to be tough to handle for Phil O’Connell.

Luckett closed the gap with his fourth, but seconds later missed a relatively simple chance to goal.

Rigney kicked another two goals to extend the lead.

Schmidt was rewarded for his hard work, and Woodhouse put through his second just before three-quarter time.

The scores were Jervois 16.11 to Tailem Bend 7.6.

With no interest left in the game it was always going to be a lack lustre last quarter and Jervois didn’t even seem to be interested in late goals to earn a percentage boost.

They would be pleased to come away with a comfortable win 18.16 to 7.

Best for the winners were Schmidt, Mason, Ewer and Rigney up forward with six goals.

James Little, Dylan Hogarth and Matthew Krueger were best for Tailem Bend.

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Strong-finishing Roos bounce over Bears

Mannum 18.10 (118)

Meningie 12.14 (86)

IN cold yet sunny conditions down at the Lakeside Oval, Mannum defeated Meningie in what was a predominantly close contest throughout the day.

With Meningie kicking with a relatively strong breeze to the scoreboard end, the game started in an attacking fashion, with the Bears going forward early and getting the ball to Mark Turner, who opened the scoring with a major.

Following this, the Bears went forward again, only to pepper the goal line with points before Andrew Cunneen slotted one through the big sticks at the 10-minute mark.

Meningie’s midfielders were working well together out of the centre, with ruckman Chris O’Hara combining well with the on-ballers.

This was evident as the Bears went forward again, only to score two behinds, but Meningie were able to lock the ball in their forward 50 from the kick outs and Turner eventually scored his second goal.

In response to this, the Roos went forward only to manage a behind and Meningie were able to capitalise from the kick out, getting the ball down their end to Turner, who was proving to be a very handy target up forward.

He kicked truly for his third goal.

In reply, Mannum were able to clear the ball from the centre to Matt Connolly, who sent through Mannum’s first major score for the game.

Meningie responded immediately, clearing the ball and getting it to Josh Rigney, only to hit the post.

As a result, the Roos made Meningie pay by using the kick out to their advantage, eventually getting it to their attacking 50 and to Ben Quinn who kicked his first major.

A late behind to Mannum saw a 14-point lead to the Bears at the first change.

In opening the second quarter, Mannum capitalised on the wind by attacking early and strongly with a couple of behinds and eventually a goal to Todd Boughen.

Mannum were able to keep the pressure on, keeping the ball down their end, but only managing more behinds.

A goal to Josh Rosenzweig at around the halfway point of the quarter saw Mannum hit the front for the first time in the game.

However, Meningie weren’t letting go easily, and responded with another goal to Turner, and then another to Cunneen, which saw the Bears with a handy lead.

Mannum captain Ben Quinn’s reply to this was another goal, and after a couple of minor scores to Meningie, Jarrod Woodward kicked a late goal.

This saw Mannum keep in very close touch at the long break, with a one-point lead to the Bears.

Meningie used the wind to their advantage early in the third quarter, with Ryan Mallard scoring an early goal.

However, Mannum weren’t going away, with goals to Quinn and Woodward, which saw them hit the lead again.

Turner kicked truly for his fifth goal but it was Quinn again who made it known that the Roos were a force to be reckoned with, by kicking a running goal as a result of some good passages of play on Mannum’s part.

Meningie’s defence was under pressure but still holding strong, with Peter Reichelt and Chris Lawson both working hard to repel Mannum’s attacks.

Greg Saddlier slotted his first major for the Bears, only for Mannum to reply with goals to Steven Thiele and Shane Harte.

A very late goal to Stuart Williss saw Mannum lead by three points at three-quarter time and the stage was set for what looked to be a close last quarter.

Mannum started strong with Woodward kicking his third, eventually followed by Quinn, who notched up his fifth goal for the game.

Justin Moloney followed suit shortly after, but Meningie replied with Turner slotting through his sixth goal for the game.

Mannum used the wind well and worked hard out of the middle, resulting in another goal to Rosenzweig.

After some good, hard end to end footy from both sides and a flurry of behinds, the Roos eventually got the upper hand and put the sealers on the match with three goals in three minutes to Daniel Smith, Woodward and Dwayne Krollig, respectively.

A late goal for Meningie from Josh Robertson moments before the final siren was a small consolation, but Mannum ran out overall winners by a total of 32 points.

Best players for Mannum were Todd Boughen, Ben Quinn, Reece Bullard, Paul Sarno and Brad Wakefield, while Mark Turner, Josh Robinson, Peter Reichelt, Evan Smith and Ryan Mallard all battled hard for Meningie.