RICK DREWER
TANUNDA restricted South Gawler to just one behind as it secured a comprehensive 25-point victory in the Barossa, Light & Gawler under 15 preliminary final.
Sadly, this match was played in atrocious conditions with the oval wet, muddy and slippery, with periods of light, misty rain.
Hardly a surprise, given the conditions, the opening term was a complete arm-wrestle, with numerous ball-ups, scrimmages and the ball rarely escaping from the congested packs.
Clean use of the ball was non-existent, as was running and carrying.
For the Pies, Louie McLennan was prominent, as was James Rothe, while Tyson Linke was exceptional.
The Lions’ Daniel Allan had moments, while Mitchell Willsmore and Brad Zeuner worked hard to keep them in touch.
The Magpies led by eight points at the first change.
The second term was simply a replay of the first, with no free or easy balls to be had, resulting in a combined total of only three points, all to the Magpies, being added to the scoreboard.
Tanunda’s intensity, work rate and composure were definitely a level above that of the Lions and, in better conditions, would have seen them further ahead than the 11-point lead at the long break.
Pies coach Matthew Whitelum, cool and calm as ever, praised his side on “getting numbers to the ball, being competitive and working harder for longer.”
By contrast, a very vocal and frustrated South’s coach, Anthony Bloffwitch, reminded his team that “there’s no tomorrow, take control.”
Despite the continual congestion, Tanunda did attempt to work the ball to each other by foot or hand, while South simply long-bombed the ball in any attempt to go forward, making life much easier for the Pies defenders who consistently played in front of their opponents.
The third term was again similar to the first two, with the Pies adding their third goal, a result from a clever tap from James Roehr to Sydney Pick, who converted.
Tyson and Coan Linke, Brock Wilksche, Hamish Martin and Fynn Manning were all solid for Tanunda, while skipper Finn Reed always looked dangerous in attack.
Lachlan Hodge and Ben Swan had moments for the Lions, but it was simply a case of too many passengers on board.
South had still not troubled the scorers at the last change-over.
At three-quarter-time, Whitelum was rapt, saying “the half-backs were awesome, work rate great and intensity good.”
They were cleaner with their use of the ball and had better skills.
Four minutes into the last term, a marvellous goal from the Pies’ James Rothe, on the boundary line, made it ‘game over’ and a spot in the grand final.
Tanunda was significantly the better side in a tough, hard-fought match.