IN the penultimate round of the Adelaide Plains Football League home-and-away season, Bute wrapped up the minor premiership with a convincing 15.18 (108) to 8.4 (52) win at United’s Long Plains Oval.
United has made a habit of sticking with the top sides through the first half, and this was no different as the home side made the visitors work for everything, and went into the first break trailing 2.2 (14) to 3.4 (22) in a competitive affair.
The Roosters slipped away a bit in the second term as their forward-fifty assault resulted in nine scoring shots for the term for 3.6, while United kicked two straight goals to keep the margin at 20 points at halftime.
Bute showed why it has been this season’s standard-setters in the second half, with a 7.6 third term completely blowing the game open and extending the lead to over 10 goals entering the final change of ends.
To the Tigers’ credit, the home crowd was treated to a fourth quarter in which United outscored Bute 20-14 as the foot came off the accelerator for the visitors.
Likely best-and-fairest Henry Trenorden led the way with three goals for the Roosters, while teammate Rory O’Driscoll kicked two goals on his way to a best-on-ground performance.
The loss by United officially ended its chances of sneaking into the last finals spot, which will now go to Two Wells after it lost to Mallala 9.10 (64) to 13.5 (83).
With the Magpies needing to win to keep their chances of a home final alive, they went into quarter time trailing 3.2 (20) to 4.2 (26) against a Rooster side eager to prove it is still a major threat to win it all.
Unfortunately for Two Wells, it would lose all three remaining quarters as Mallala pulled away very gradually behind a tough five-goal bag from Troy Algar.
Fellow Magpies Brian Montgomery and Angus Bruggemann kicked three apiece, while for the Roosters Ned Seccafien (two goals) and Shannon Slattery were the best in a losing effort.
Two Wells will play Virginia next week in a game which will shape the finals matchups.
If Two Wells win, it will jump into third-place and avoid an elimination final at Bute, while if Virginia win it will finish in second place and claim a home final.