IN very windy conditions Ramblers outclassed Eyre United at home in windy conditions on Saturday.
The Saints lost the crucial toss, considering the conditions and the calibre of the highly ranked Ramblers team; they had won the earlier encounter this season but have had no luck with injuries while Ramblers have gone from strength to strength.
Initial play was very static and scrambly with the boundary being the only winner in the dead pockets, as players struggled with judgement and disposal.
Matt Forster, at the five-minute mark, opened the scoring for Ramblers, but their opportunities were being limited as the Saints’ backline was standing up well to the pressure, with Neville Stratford, Justin Modra, Brad Foster and Damien Evans all working well together.
Shawn Fitzgerald kicked a grubber goal for Ramblers second, and while the Saints had held them out well for 20 minutes, they were unable to muster a reply, kicking errors allowing only three points.
Ramblers, through Scott Blacker and with the finishing skills of Shawn Fitzgerald, showed scoring at the northern end wasn’t out of the question, while Simon Pedler and James Minhard across half back were having no trouble judging the swirling ball, taking several strong marks.
The Saints’ Darren Noble’s run and kick from 70 metres, which bounced favourably for the last 20 metres, put a goal on the board for the home side, and Seb Drewer goaled on the run after team work from Storym Baldissera and Foster.
Cody Pilgrim was skirting packs and finding space, getting plenty of possessions, but he struggled with effective disposals; his high shot on goal held up, allowing Jim Holman to mark and then goal from a very tight angle for the Magpies.
Shawn Fitzgerald was faultless and added his third for Ramblers, but Luke Rowe’s skill was keeping the Saints in attack and Noble’s reply goal was still in the air as the siren sounded.
Ramblers slightly extended their lead in the second quarter despite nature’s disadvantage.
The second half looked like a repeat with Matt Forster bagging his second and the Saints defending soundly.
Fitzgerald added his next goal from 45 metres out, Minhard was winning the ruck, Jim Holman was providing a relentless work rate, and Blacker couldn’t be stopped without a bag hook.
Andrew Crettenden bounced a goal through, highlighting the idiosyncrasies of our oval ball.
Rowe, Drewer and Foster were again among the Saints’ best along with Justin Modra’s inspiring and desperate attack on the ball on the last line of defence.
Opening the final term, Mark Fraser was disadvantaged in a marking contest and goaled from 40 metres, but the Saints wasted the next two set shots, only then to see Ramblers add one for themselves.
Matt Forster’s squaring kick let crowd favourite Brad Claughton, backman extraordinaire, drift into space and goal from straight in front and Rowan McDonald rewarded himself by goaling after a great tumbling mark.
Fitzgerald added another, giving him a handful of goals and a best on ground.
Goals came quickly with the wind at its lowest for the day. Brad Forster, who hadn’t given up all day, goaled for the Saints from tight in the unfavourable pocket, but Ramblers’ Shannon Minhard replied.
Luke Rowe showed his class, his contested possession and a reflex chip and run at goal getting him on the goal kicking list, and Shaun Evans added the last after showing his marking strength.
The luckless Saints had acquitted themselves admirably but had been outclassed by a team with a far greater depth in their player list.
Brenton Rehn Memorial Trophy votes: Shawn Fitzgerald (3 votes), Brad Foster 2 (votes), Scott Blacker (1 vote). Great Flinders
A grade
United Yeelanna 3-3 5-8 10-10 13-12 (90)
Cougars 1-0 1-4 1-6 2-8 (20)
Goals: United Yeelanna Bryce Breed 3, Sam Hancock 2, Micheal Meaney, Kade Dufek, Aaron Watson 1, Lynal Fitzgerald, Matt Crettenden, Jaxen Norton. Cougars Brad Hazelgrove, Craig Meaney.
Best: United Yeelanna Rick Skinner, Brock Jolly, Matt Crettenden, Sam Hancock, Ben Simpson, Kade Dufek. Cougars Corey Turnbull, Kent Pringle, Douglass Green, Daniel Wedd, Luke Turnbull, Damien Puckridge.
Tumby Bay 2-3 7-5 15-9 15-10 (100)
Lock 1-1 4-6 4-6 7-8 (50)
Goals: Tumby Bay Chris Prime 7, Damien Clark 2, Sydney Lawrie, Tom Neindorf 1, David Butler, Josh Cave, Sam Read. Lock Kerran Glover 3, Kory Beard 2, Matt Mellor 1, Gary Hetzel.
Best: Tumby Bay Brock Birkin, Michael Curtis, Paul Jefferson, Chris Prime, Josh Cave, Daniel Lockwood. Lock Alister Pearce, Chris Pearce, Isaac Halman, Brad Wake, Gavin Griffiths.
Ramblers 2-5 5-8 8-15 13-17 (95)
Eyre United 0-3 3-5 3-6 7-11 (53)
Goals: Ramblers Shaun Fitzgerald 5, Matt Forster 2, Scott Blacker 1, Jim Holman, Shannon Minhard, Andrew Crettenden, Brad Claughton, Rowan McDonald. Eyre United Darren Noble 2, Seb Drewer 1, Mark Fraser, Brad Foster, Luke Rowe, Shaun Evans.
Best: Ramblers Jim Holman, Scott Blacker, Shaun Fitzgerald, Shannon Minhard, James Cuddeford, Michael Minhard. Eyre United Seb Drewer, Brad Foster, Ben Smith, Luke Rowe, Justin Modra, Darren Noble.
B grade
Cougars 1-3 2-5 4-10 4-12 (36)
United Yeelanna 0-0 2-0 2-1 2-5 (17)
Goals: Cougars Julian Doudle 2, V. Phelps 1, Clint Letton. United Yeelanna D. Treasure, S. Little.
Best: Cougars Corey Letton, Julian Doudle, Adam Trezise, G. Colbert, A. Pedler. United Yeelanna A. Mickan, S. Graham, D. Stephens, J. Phillips, C. Murnane.
Tumby Bay 4-4 (28)
Lock 3-2 (20)
Goals: Tumby Bay Andrew Allen 2, Shaun Letton 2. Lock: Kerrin Siebert, Andrew Heath, Tom Bedding.
Best: Tumby Bay Andrew Allen, Scott Edmonds, Steve Lawrie, Jordon Allen, Shaun Letton. Lock Craig Taylor, Wesley Wiseman, Andrew Heath, Kerrin Siebert, Kane Tiller.
Ramblers 2-8 5-14 8-20 14-22 (106)
Eyre United 0-0 2-1 3-1 3-4 (22)
Goals: Ramblers T. Rayner 3, T. Donahue 2, K. Leech, C. Povey, T. Starke 1, H. Ward, P. Siviour, T. Haarsma, R. Baker. Eyre United B. Maitland 2, D. Liddicoat 1.
Best: Ramblers T. Rayner, K. Leech, B. Starke, B. Blacker, C. Povey. B. Darling. Eyre United J. Coote, S. Turner, B. Maitland, J. Swan, R. Baillie, K. Speed.
Senior colts
Cougars 3-2 5-6 6-8 10-11 (71)
United Yeelanna2-5 4-8 5-13 7-13 (55)
Goals: Cougars L. Paech 3, Sam Meyers 2, B. Ridgway 1, J. Hansen, M. Hansen, B. Falciani, K. Millard. United Yeelanna T. Secker 3, M. Coombs 2, J. Davies 1, R. Brook.
Best: Cougars Sam Meyers, L. Paech, K. Millard, L. Falciani, J. Hansen, T. Phelps. United Yeelanna S. Crettenden, T. Secker, T. Phillips, T. Reynolds-Rowe, C. Agnew, J. Davies.
Lock 2-0 5-7 5-7 11-9 (75)
Tumby Bay 2-9 2-9 3-12 3-12 (30)
Goals: Lock Zeik Kay 3, Tom Bedding, Blaze Kay 2, Brett Northcott 1, Matthew Siviour, Thomas Heath. Tumby Bay Tom Kelly, Jack Gerrie, Domonic Octoman.
Best: Lock Zeik Kay, Lachlan Heath, Justin Beard, Brody Burrows, Tom Bedding, Ryan Durdin. Tumby Bay Tom Kelly, Jack Gerrie, Luke Wilkins, Drew Kirchner, William Nankivell, Otto Russ.
Eyre United 1-0 4-1 4-1 7-2 (44)
Ramblers 0-4 1-5 2-14 2-15 (27)
Goals: Eyre United Jackson Liddicoat 3, Max Baldissera 2, Nicholas Gale 1, Brodie Maitland. Ramblers Toby Maughan, Jack Haarsma.
Best: Eyre United Max Baldissera, Drew Liddicoat, Jack Jacobs, Jackson Liddicoat, Daniel Evans, Jack Kelly. Ramblers Jordan Darling, Jack Haarsma, Daniel Moos.
Junior colts
Cougars 2-1 6-6 (42)
United Yeelanna 1-0 1-0 (6)
Goals: Cougars C. Paech 3, D. Trezise 1, J. Ridgway, B. Tosold. United Yeelanna B. Martin.
Best: Cougars C. Paech, A. Mahoney, Jay Gree, F. Paech, C. Barry-Secker. United Yeelanna B. Miller, J. Agars, B. Green, T. Brook, A. Murnane.
Tumby Bay 1-4 1-5 (11)
Lock 0-0 0-1 (1)
Goals: Tumby Bay Wade Gerrie.
Best: Tumby Bay Luke Partington, Wade Gerrie, Zeb Griffiths, Harry Ford, Reece Gerrie. Lock Billy Brown, Damon Siviour, Tom Heath, Tim Reynolds, Mark Arbon.
Ramblers 1-2 4-3 (27)
Eyre United 0-0 2-1 (13)
Goals: Ramblers Toby Maughan 2, Will Haarsma 1, Jesse Rule. Eyre United Kodie Ralph, Chad Heath.
Best: Ramblers Sam Charlton, Toby Maughan, Jake Skinner, Isaac Hall, Will Haarsma. Eyre United Kodie Ralph, Reece Lindsay, Jake Gardner, Patrick Elyward, Ryan White.
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