LIAM PHILLIPS
THE best story in the Adelaide Plains
Football League continues to be the
Angle Vale Owls, extending their best
A-grade start in club history to 4-0 with
a 13.7 (85) to 10.6 (66) win at Balaklava.
It was a tight game throughout, with
Balaklava leading by one point at quarter
time, and by nine points at half-time
on the back of accurate kicking with the
scores at 4.5 (29) to 6.2 (38).
The home side kicked another three
goals without a behind in the third quarter,
displaying pinpoint accuracy. But the
Owls started to find some scoring power
in the second half, grabbing a four-point
lead heading into the last change of ends.
As Balaklava slowed down, Angle Vale
pushed through the finish line courtesy
of another massive day from full forward
Rob Kovacic, who booted eight goals after
kicking 10 in round two, and nine in
round three, sitting 13 goals clear in the
goalkicking race with 30 after four weeks.
In the match of the round, Mallala held
onto its undefeated start and top spot with
a hard-fought 14.11 (95) to 11.14 (80) win
at Two Wells.
Brian Montgomery and Angus Bruggemann
carried the Magpie forward line,
kicking bags of five goals and four respectively,
while Jake Birchmore and Trey
Mason were named best for the visitors.
Caleb Edmead was strong for Two
Wells, kicking three majors, while
Shannon Slattery and Ned Seccafien
relished the slippery conditions despite
being on the losing team.
Virginia got back on the right foot with
a 20.18 (138) to 8.7 (55) win over United,
with full forward Brayden Coombs racking
up 12 goals.
United actually led at quarter time, 3.1
(19) to 3.3 (21), but got run over for a
13-goal-to-three second half.
It was an encouraging week for Hamley
Bridge despite going down 12.13 (85)
to 10.15 (75) at Hummocks Watchman,
as the Bombers remained ultra-competitive
despite not having star forward John
Butcher in the side.
The margin was within 10 points at the
end of all four quarters, with the Bombers
spreading the goals across eight players to
try to make up for the gaping hole left by
former AFL player Butcher.
Ethan Kwaterski was named best-on-ground
for the Eagles, while Cody Redpath
led the forward line with three goals.