Liam Phillips

IN the Adelaide Plains Football League’s first clash of the Roosters, Bute supporters have said its win against Two Wells was “the best they’ve played in nearly 10 years” as it produced a 13.8 (86) to 7.1 (53) win on home soil.
Bute Football Club president Jarrad Cock said coach Chad Bourke has his side completely bought in and playing with supreme confidence, and the hard work is paying off.
“The A-grade game was a spectacle for our loyal supporters who saw a game of footy that they hadn’t seen in many years at Bute,” he said.
“Our local younger lads are another year older and are hungry, and the work Chad Bourke is putting into the group is really starting to show.
“He has their undivided attention and it has given them so much confidence and self-belief.”
After a slow start that saw Bute goalless at quarter-time, the hosts responded well in the second with a four-goal-to-three term to hit halftime with a lead. After a close third quarter, Bute entered the final stanza up two, and produced the quarter of the season, completely running Two Wells off the park as it put in five last quarter goals and conceded just two points.
Henry Trenorden was “clearly” best on according to Cock, who also credited the side’s younger brigade as the difference.
Mallala moved into second-place with a safe win at Hamley Bridge, registering an eye-watering 43 scoring shots compared to 11 from the Bombers.
The home side fought hard to stick around early, heading into quarter-time down just 13-24, but an 8.10 second quarter from the Magpies was overwhelming, and the margin never made its way back under 10 goals, finishing as a 18.25 (133) to 6.5 (41) drubbing.
Forward Troy Algar put through five for the winners, while star cricketer Brian Montgomery snagged four for himself and best-on-ground honours.
Virginia was never troubled by the in-form United, cruising home from a 50-point halftime lead to win 14.10 (94) to 10.9 (69) on the back of another seven-goal haul from hulking forward Brendon Niklaus. Both Rankine brothers, Ronnie and Matthew, got in in the action and contributed three goals apiece, while Travis Beard was again the Tigers’ most dangerous forward, kicking three.
In the Senior Colts, Two Wells managed to hand Bute its first loss of the season with a 52-31 win, while Mallala, easily handled Hamley Bridge to a tune of 85-13.
Virginia, led by Kaden Baxter, moved into second-place with a solid 67-25 home win against United, who remain winless through four rounds.
In Junior Colts, Two Wells again handled Bute’s juniors with a 51-32 win, as the home crowd had to wait all day for the A’s to finally see their club get a win.
Hamley Bridge failed to score a goal as Mallala got its first win for the season with a 54-4 score.