AARON DEGREEF

TANUNDA flexed its muscles with a 55-point win over South Gawler on Saturday in Barossa, Light & Gawler A-grade football.

In wet conditions, and after a brief slip ‘n’ slide in the midfield, a high tackle on South’s Jackson Press allowed him to open the scoring with the first goal of the game.

Tanunda’s Riley McFarlane quickly responded with a running goal from 40m out and this was reinforced by another goal from Ben Biagi.

Unfazed, South’s Chris James retaliated with a phenomenal 30m airborne soccer kick while under pressure, slotting the footy perfectly for another major.

Not wanting to be shown up, Tanunda playing-coach Dean Terlich and Leigh Westhoff collected one goal apiece, but not before Lion Nathan Bartsch bent one through the posts to make it eight  points the difference at quarter-time.

South started the second stanza in style, with former Mallala player Henry Bennison soccering it through for a major while mid-slide.

However, Terlich replied with a set shot after collecting a mark off the lead.

After a brief arm-wrestle in the midfield, he later doubled down on this with another successful set shot, combining this score with Nathen Petersen-Gray’s goal to put the Pies up by 20 points at the main change.

South began the third quarter in similar fashion to the second, with Owen Prout kicking truly.

Tanunda’s Matthew Prior replied with two set shot goals, and was helped out by teammates Lachlan Agars and Terlich who converted from tight angles.

Despite the Pies’ dominance, South’s Dom Costanzo provided a highlight with three bounces, which led to a goal.

The Magpies led by 29 points at three-quarter-time, and then kicked away in the last.

Post-match, Terlich said it was a tough day, despite finishing the afternoon with six goals personally.

“The first half was a bit of a battle, South played some good footy so it was close at half-time, and it was hard to get some ball movement going,” he said.

“The ground held up pretty well, so it wasn’t too muddy once you get outside of the cricket pitch.

“In the second half, it didn’t get too wet after that.”

Terlich was delighted with the impact of Ben Biagi, who finished among the best players.

“He was really good, he keeps improving every week; for a bloke that size to play a good game when it’s so contested was a credit to him,” he said.

“He went in and had a crack.”