LIAM PHILLIPS
AFTER breaking a
60-match losing streak in
round one of the Adelaide
Plains Football League
season, Hamley Bridge
notched its second win
since 2016 in Saturday’s
13.9 (87) to 12.14 (86)
thriller at Angle Vale.
Accuracy in front of goals
proved the difference between
the sides all day as
they went into quarter-time
tied at 4.0 (24) to 3.6 (24),
before the Bombers took a
6.4 (40) to 4.10 (34) lead into
the long break.
The Owls threatened to run
over the top late, piling on
six goals in the third term to
begin the final stanza leading
by seven points, but Hamley
Bridge refused to roll over,
fighting back to snatch it late.
Angle Vale full forward
Robert Kovacic kicked a
game-high four goals, bringing
his league-leading tally to
42 – 13 more than any other
player.
For Hamley Bridge, John
Butcher was quiet, kicking
two goals, while eight other
Bombers got on the scoresheet,
led by Angus Judd’s
three majors.
Balaklava showed it is
building into a side with
real finals ambitions despite
falling short against 7-1 second-
placed Two Wells, with
the Roosters leaving town
12.12 (84) 11.13 (79) victors.
Gawler Central premiership
player and Balaklava
coach Shane Moss starred
for the home side, kicking
six goals in a best-on-ground
showing, but a brutal start
in front of goal cost his side
dearly.
Balaklava kicked 0.7 in the
first quarter, allowing Two
Wells to grab a handy early
lead, which it extended to 29
points at halftime.
The hosts kept fighting and
found its kicking boots in the
third quarter, kicking 5.1 for
the term, but eventually just
ran out of time.
In a true team performance,
10 Roosters kicked at least
one goal, with Ben Spiteri
named the visitors’ best.
Mallala barely broke a
sweat in its 25.19 (169) to 4.1
(25) win at United, leading
8.4 (52) to 0.0 at quarter-time
and never looking back.
Jackson Gray kicked a
pair of goals for the Tigers,
and Heath Pym again battled
bravely, but they were
no match for a Magpie side
in which Jaiya Warrior, Brian
Montgomery and Bryson
Keeley kick five goals each.
After a rough start to the
season, Hummocks Watchman
will be hoping it turned a
corner with Saturday’s 18.10
(118) to 10.12 (72) home
win against Virginia. Nathan
Studham kicked a bag of five
goals for the Eagles, while
Nathan Byrnes and Tait Nottle
were named as the home
side’s best.
For the Rams, Anthony
Bascombe had to carry a
massive workload up forward
with star full forward
Brendon Niklaus out, kicking
five goals as the main man.