Angaston’s Angus Adams lunges at Tanunda’s Lachlan Earl on Saturday. PHOTOS: Bianca Muller
ANGASTON has claimed the most prized scalp in the Barossa, Light & Gawler A-grade football competition, knocking off previously undefeated Tanunda by 29 points on Saturday.
The sides went into round one in first and second spot, with the Panthers now occupying the top of the table on percentage.
It was the Magpies who started well, kicking away to a two point lead at quarter-time.
Dean Terlich was finding plenty of the ball, while Aron Fechner and Luke Snowden were also busy.
The Panthers then got off the leash, kicking three goals to none in the second quarter to open up a three-goal buffer at the main change.
The Pies were unable to get back into the contest from there, as they kicked just 2.4 to the Panthers’ 4.3 after halftime.
Dylan Tuckwell, Andrew Pech and Ryder Eberhard each kicked two goals for Angaston, while the team’s holy trinity of Steve Summerton, Marc Borholm and Jay Shannon were inspiring.
For the Pies, Terlich and Stuart Gregory booted two majors each, while Matt Westhoff and Ben Schiller were serviceable.
Post-game, Angaston playing-coach Shannon was pleased with the win, but admitted the weather may have contributed to the result.
“It was a game to see where we’re at, we were close with them earlier in the year,” he said.
“Things have changed a bit in both sides, it gives us some confidence to prove we are a decent side at the moment.
“I know the weather probably wasn’t great and you can’t take too much out of it as come finals time we’ll be playing in dry and good weather…but I’m happy the way we went about it.”
The Panthers’ defence has been the strongest in the competition, having conceded just 547 points – a statistic Shannon is proud of.
“To be honest, our back six have been fantastic all season and bringing Ben Antonie in this week, he was fantastic across there,” he said.
“Tanunda would’ve been a bit disappointed with their forward entries, they probably didn’t give their forwards a chance.”
The Panthers should welcome back Ryan Carnelly and James Paprotny, who was a late out, for the clash against Nuriootpa this week, but will be without Alex Reincke with a knee injury and potentially Craig Harvey, who copped an elbow to the ribs in Saturday’s clash.
