ENTERING the game as the undefeated Adelaide Plains Football League A-grade leader, Bute handled its business comfortably against Hamley Bridge as the Bombers’ losing streak approaches 60 home-and-away games.
The Roosters, who have not won more than five games in a season since 2012, moved to a perfect 4-0 in convincing fashion as it took a 6.9 (45) to 0.3 (3) lead into halftime, before piling on another 13 goals in the second half.
To Hamley Bridge’s credit, its players kept looking to score, but ended up on the wrong side of a 19.17 (131) to 4.6 (30) final.
Bute Football Club president Jarrad Cock said it was a great way to spend the club’s Sponsor’s Day, with a healthy crowd braving some wintery conditions as the club hosted its second consecutive game.
“We had a very good crowd given the weather, and our B-graders also had a terrific win by 100 points to set the table,” he said.
“Our A-graders started a bit slow with Hamley Bridge coming out strong and applying plenty of pressure, but our young brigade stood up again and are playing with confidence which is fantastic to see.
“Local Ben Price was clearly our best and, Sam Taylor was next best playing tall and taking some terrific grabs all over the ground.”
In the closest game of the round, United overcame a horror start to reel in Angle Vale at the death to win a 14.9 (93) to 13.9 (87) thriller.
The Owls, who have been competitive without a lot of success this year, came out on fire away from home, kicking the game’s first seven goals on its way to a quarter time lead of 0.1 (1) to 6.3 (39).
Tigers coach Craig Dawe said the club even changed up its preparation for the game after a similarly sore start last week against Virginia.
“I was left scratching my head at the start,” he said.
“Our preparation for last week was poor so we changed our warm up and preparation – we had the best warm up, and then bang – they kick the first seven goals of the game.
“To Angle Vale’s credit their pressure early was intense and resulted in plenty of defensive-50 turnovers, but once we tidied up a few areas in our game we were able to get back into it.”
United were a different side after the first quarter, rattling off an eight-goal second to trim the margin to 8.2 (50) to 9.4 (58) at the half.
Angle Vale wouldn’t lie down, and put together another good quarter in the third to extend to a 20-point lead moving into the last, but went goalless as United ran home with 4.3 to 0.1 for the quarter to steal the home win and move to a respectable 2-3 on the year.
In perhaps the most anticipated matchup of the round, Virginia made a statement on its trip to Mallala, leaving town with a 20.8 (128) to 9.11 (65) triumph.
The Magpies were right in the thick of it early, leading 4.2 (26) to 4.1 (25) at quarter time, but while its scoring dried up – failing to kick four goals in any of the following three quarters – the Rams kept building, kicking at least four goals in every term.
Mallala multi-sport star Brian Montgomery was a one-man show for the hosts, kicking four goals as his side’s only multiple-goal-kicker. On the other side the Rams’ league-leading goal kicker Brendan Niklaus put in what coach Denis Eaton called “a great captain’s game”, kicking nine goals to take a nine-goal lead on second-placed Montgomery in league standings.
“We were happy with the result Saturday – Mallala were good, but they had a few out which made the job a bit easier after half time,” he said.
“Our ball movement is improving all the time, and when you think about it, these lads have been together for three months, so they are starting to get to know each other and the faith is growing.
“Ronny Rankin Jr had double figure clearances from stoppages, and Ben Russell is an absolute jet.”