RICK DREWER
THE Kapunda Bombers
soared into Tanunda to get the
BL&G season under way in
tricky, windy conditions, and
won the toss to kick with a
four-goal breeze first up leading
to a bright start.
Bomber big-man Aaron
Whistler won the first hit-out of
the day well, leading to a Tyrell
Hocking goal on debut within
the first minute.
Unfortunately for Kapunda,
things went downhill from there,
as Tanunda's Luke Snowden
marked strongly and converted
to immediately respond for the
Pies.
Despite the wind advantage
and the impressive play from
Bomber trio Hocking, Cam
Matters and Sean Bell, it was
Snowden, again, on the end of
a handball from Josh Trembath
who kicked the next major –
and from then on the Magpies
were never headed.
At the first change, despite
going against the wind, Tanunda
was 10 points up and licking
its lips at the prospect of putting
the game to bed by halftime.
The reality is that the Bombers
are light-on at the pointy
end of their ground, and are
desperately short of a couple of
gun forwards, kicking just five
goals in the last three quarters
combined.
On the other hand, Tanunda is
well served with Josh Trembath
and Luke Snowden as their focal
points going forward and multiple
alternatives with Ben Biagi,
Riley McFarlane, Isaac Feltus
and new coach “Sammy” Colquhoun,
providing the variety.
A six-goals-to-zip second
term resulted in a 51-point halftime
lead for the Maggies, who
were making their case as early-
season premiership favourites.
Despite the efforts from Josh
Dodd, Fraser Evans and Matters,
Kapunda squandered opportunities
in the third term,
converting only three goals
from nine scoring attempts as
the Pies won the quarter against
the wind yet again thanks to
great showings from Leigh
Westhoff and Todd Falkenberg.
With nothing much left in the
game at the last change-over, it
really was a matter of Tanunda
putting out the training markers
and using the last quarter as
match practice in refining their
skills and team movements.
Colquhoun's experience, silky
skills and subtle influence are
immediately and undoubtedly
obvious to this reborn Magpie
machine and will continue to enhance
the overall performance of
his side.
This performance put the
league on notice – if you have
ambitions on winning a premiership
in 2021, the road travels
through Tanunda.
For Kapunda, it could be
a very similar season to their
last year's effort. Scores on the
board win matches, and it's not
obvious where they are going to
come from as they await the return
of last year’s leading goal
kicker Justin Zanandrea, who
played B-grade on Saturday.