STEPHEN O’LOUGHLIN
KAPUNDA has kept its A-grade
finals prospects alive in the
Barossa, Light & Gawler Football
Association with a hard-fought
10.9 (69) to 7.12 (54) victory over
Gawler Central at Gawler Oval.
Success has ensured that the
Bombers remain tacked onto the
now four teams – from second to
fifth on the ladder – tied on seven
wins for the season, while Angaston,
just one win behind that group,
will need everything to go its way to
be playing finals football this year.
Unfortunately for the Tigers,
it seems highly unlikely that last
year’s premier will get a chance
to defend its crown in September,
sitting two wins back from the top
four following Saturday’s loss.
Kapunda coach Fraser Evans said
both sides could feel the weight of
the contest.
“It was a crunch game for both
sides,” he said.
“We talked about it before the
game (that) we’ve got to be realistic
about things – our ladder position
and our percentage is not great, (so
if we) lose today it becomes very,
very hard to make the finals.
“I was massively impressed with
the performance, especially to get
it away from Dutton Park, because
we’ve been struggling to put away
wins on the board.”
The Tigers worked hard for three
quarters, having the majority of possession
in that period, and leading at
every break, but could not turn its
dominance into scoreboard pressure
and left the door open.
Kapunda, not getting the ball
in its hands as often, fumbled at
ground level, spilled marks and also
kicked in haste when entering its
forward line which was easily cut
off by loose opposition defenders.
A Bomber goal late in the third
quarter cut the gap to 10 points at
the final break, with a chance to
come home with the breeze and
capitalise on Gawler Central’s inability
to put the game to bed.
With all on the line for both sides,
the game switched instantly with the
visitors slotting a major within minutes
of the last quarter getting underway
through Justin Zanandrea.
From a fast clearance out of the
middle, Gawler Central captain
Charlie Molyneaux kicked his shot
on goal out on the full, only to
see his opposition run the ball the
length of the field for Hayden Robinson
to put his side in front for the
first time since midway through the
first quarter.
From that point onwards, Kapunda
simply ran away with the
much-needed the result as Josh
Dodd kicked two goals, one on either
side of teammate Jay Meaney’s
six-pointer.
The Bombers were now using the
ball cleaner around the ground and
dropping their eyes to hit targets going
forward, stretching its lead to 22
points in the latter part of the quarter.
Considering what was at stake,
Gawler Central, disappointedly,
failed to counter its opponents increased
ferocity at the contest, and
despite getting back within nine
points late, the contest seemed out
of its grasp well before then.
Another end-to-end play by Kapunda
gave Dodd his third goal for the
quarter and fourth for the match in a
blistering, match-winning final term,
which caught the eye of coach Evans.
“I thought our midfield at the end
of the day won the game for us,” he
said.
“I thought Josh Dodd stepped up
massively in the last half. Tyrell
Hocking, Brodie Borg, Jay Meaney
– they’re guys who played super
footy.
“It was scrappy, but I don’t think
conditions allowed for much of an
open brand of footy, so it was really
important that we were able to put
pressure on their ball carriers.
“I should have mentioned Aaron
Whistler as well – he’d go close to
being best on ground. I thought he
had a ripping game.”
Momentum stagnates again now
for Kapunda with another week off
before returning to face ladder leader
South Gawler at Dutton Park, with
its finals fate firmly in its own hands.