BRENDAN LINES

WILLASTON claimed the Stephen Connelly Cup on Saturday after knocking off Gawler Central by 17 points in Barossa, Light & Gawler A-grade football.

Before the action began, the occasion was marked with a moving ‘Welcome to Country’ ceremony by Willaston and Kaurna man Rodney O’Brien.

The Tigers put the Donnys on the ropes early with goals to Nick Hooker and Corey Solly.

But a late major from Jamie Williams kept the Donnys in touch, closing the margin to 13 points at quarter-time.

The momentum swung Willaston’s way in the second term as Josh Waldhuter, Ash Fry and Michael Clinch upped the pressure with a combined 37 contested possessions.

The increase in forward pressure yielded a raft of goals to Williams, Chad Norsworthy and Michael Howson, who all scored, to go into the main change 24 points clear.

Yet, Central were not about to be kicked-off the park and dug deep to make the most of its opportunities up forward, despite Brad Mercer being shut down by the Donnys’ tight back six.

It came down to the Tigers’ half-forwards to do the business, as Solly and Jonty Schultz kicked them back into contention.

Willaston continued to look dangerous, but wasted a few chances at goal by kicking 3.5 in the third term to stay ahead by only 21 points at three-quarter-time.

The last quarter was a shootout as both teams went forward at all costs.

Central’s gun defender, Jaime Wegener, drifted deep into the forward 50, booting three goals in the final term.

The Tigers were in with a sniff, trailing by just nine points early in the last, but even their better accuracy, kicking 5.1 in the second half, was not enough to give them the upper-hand.

Waldhuter and Fry’s ability to create forward pressure countered the Tigers’, as Brodie Cormack and Jackson Phillips’ goals kept Willaston ahead to take the victory.

After the match, players from both sides linked arms in the middle of the ground as a sign of harmony – recognising and supporting indigenous culture and its contribution to the local game.

It’s just the Donny’s fourth win for the season, but senior coach Shaun Baker is confident his side is building.

“It’s starting to pay-off, we always knew this year was going to be a tough year,” he said.

“Now they (the players) are getting some confidence back, they are just doing the little things right and that makes things happen.

“It’s tapping into the first quarter where they (Central) were tougher at the footy, so I stressed to them if we were tougher at the footy, we’ll get better use of the footy, so we were just tougher in those moments.

“Wally (Josh Waldhuter) has actually been a bit sore so I changed it up how he went into the game and came out of the game, he was probably best on ground by far.”