Rostrevor Old Collegians defeats SPOC in clash between division one Adelaide Footy League rivals
Rostrevor Old Collegians’ experience came to the fore on Saturday as it beat an early-season pacesetter plus the Bombers blow through a flag favourite and more in reports from the Adelaide Footy League.
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A tantalising clash between two old collegians sides went down to the wire, a new leader emerged to lead the top flight ladder and a massive thrashing was handed out in division six in an action-packed round three of the Adelaide Footy League.
Check out The Messenger’s reports from every division.
DIVISION ONE
Rostrevor Old Collegians playing coach Will O’Malley has praised his sides’ resolve after a rousing come-from-behind win over St Peter’s Old Collegians on Saturday.
The previously undefeated SPOC kicked the first two goals of the final term and looked to be in control with a 14-point lead before the hosts charged home at Campbelltown Memorial Oval.
ROC showed its experience and plenty of fight to storm back with the last four majors for a 12.14 (86) to 10.14 (74) victory.
O’Malley said the triumph was one of the better wins he had been involved in at the club.
“When they kicked a couple of goals early in that last quarter the boys needed to show a fair bit of guts and they did,” O’Malley said.
“I thought it was a pretty gutsy win.
“They could’ve easily thrown in the towel but we just kept playing the way we wanted to.”
Last season’s division one medallist Tim Baccanello kicked a goal for the hosts after the three-quarter time siren to make it a one-point game and set up a big final term.
Two early majors to SPOC were followed by a great finish from young ROC forward Tom McCormack, who booted five goals in just his second A-grade game.
The hosts hit the front when Tullio Dematteis snapped truly from the pocket before a classy major from Baccanello and a bouncing banana by McCormack sealed the win.
A hamstring injury to veteran forward Michael Coad was one of few sour notes from the game for ROC, which is equal with SPOC on three wins and one loss.
Saints coach Geoff Riddle said his side needed to get back on track before it faces ladder leader Brighton this Saturday.
“Credit to ROCs, they were hard at it all day, had a few injuries early but they just kept hammering it all day and it came off.
“The boys know what they need to do to get back on track, we highlighted a few things after the game to work on.”
The division’s surprise leader is now Brighton after extending its record to 4-0 by upsetting one of the flag favourites in Prince Alfred Old Collegians.
After a back-and-forth affair in the first three quarters, the Bombers powered away in the final term to take a 12.10 (82) to 8.14 (62) win at Brighton Oval.
Unley Mercedes exacted some retribution for last year’s division two grand final loss to Athelstone by overcoming poor kicking to down the Raggies 11.16 (82) to 8.3 (51) at Max Amber Sportsfield.
Goodwood Saints finally broke its duck by beating Adelaide University convincingly, 16.6 (102) to 10.6 (66), while Port District edged Payneham Norwood Union 8.15 (63) to 7.8 (50) at Largs Reserve.
DIVISION TWO
Henley has kept its undefeated record intact after holding on in a fierce two-point win over Salisbury North.
The Sharks remained undefeated in the second tier but were put to the test by the Hawks before securing a 13.3 (81) to 12.7 (79) victory at Henley Grange Memorial Oval.
Tempers flared in a heated confrontation between the two sides at the three-quarter time siren and the visitors as Henley led by 11 points
Salisbury North cut the deficit to less than a kick on two occasions, only for the Sharks to respond with majors of their own, before a late goal brought the Hawks just two points down.
A string of crucial marks on the outer wing meant the hosts held on to the final siren.
Corey Gray and Harris Jessen led the way for Henley while Steven Wellington booted three majors and Sonny Greagen were influential for the Hawks.
Sacred Heart Old Collegians sent a message to the rest of the division by comfortably overcoming Tea Tree Gully at Pertaringa Oval.
The 11.10 (76) to 5.9 (39) victory was set up by Taylor Angel, Matthew Delmenico and Oscar Lovelock as the visitors handed the Wolves a second-straight defeat.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Old Ignatians 14.13 (97) d Seaton Ramblers 10.11 (71) at Karen Rolton Oval
■ Broadview 10.15 (75) d Scotch OC 7.12 (54) at Scotch College
■ PHOS Camden 18.10 (118) d Glenunga 10.8 (68) at Webb Oval
DIVISION THREE
Flinders Park finally got on the board for season 2020 but it did not come easy for last year’s preliminary finalists at home to Modbury.
The Reds led by two-points with one quarter to play and were pushed until the final seconds by the Hawks, before prevailing 11.8 (74) to 11.6 (72).
The win will come as serious relief to Flinders Park – finalists in division three the past four seasons – after beginning the campaign with three straight losses.
Jay Hansen starred for the Reds while Jamie West kicked three goals.
CBC Old Collegians also snared its first victory for the season when it downed Plympton 18.14 (122) to 14.13 (97) at home on Saturday.
The Dolphins were challenged by the Bulldogs for most of the day but booted 8.10 to 5.5 in the second half to take the win.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Golden Grove 19.17 (131) d Wesminster OS 11.7 (73) at Glandore Oval
■ North Haven 14.21 (105) d Edwardstown 8.7 (55) at Edwardstown Oval
■ Gaza – bye
DIVISION FOUR
A starring seven-goal performance from Matthew Min helped Hope Valley returned to the winners list with a 54-point thumping of struggling Kilburn.
The Demons booted 6.3 to 1.3 in the opening term and were unable to be caught by the Chics in the 19.17 (131) to 11.11 (77) result at Hope Valley Oval.
Min made the most of strong supply to give the Kilburn defence headaches all day while Lucas Harney and Daniel Williamson (three goals) also impressed for the hosts.
Marcus Linsen, playing his first A-grade game for the season, and Dustin Knaggs battled hard for the bottom-placed Chics.
Gepps Cross duo Jeff Ladd and Graham Hampton combined for 16 goals to put Woodville South to the sword in their clash at Duncan Fraser Reserve.
Ladd booted nine majors and Hampton added seven in the 19.11 (125) to 8.10 (58) belting.
Just one win separates the third-placed Rams and the ninth-ranked Cats on a tight fourth tier ladder.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Pembroke OS 15.14 (104) d Pulteney 6.9 (45) at Haslam Oval
■ Mitcham 13.13 (91) d Morphettville Park 8.11 (59) at Kellett Reserve
■ Walkerville 8.9 (57) d SMOSH West Lakes 6.12 (48) at West Lakes Shore Oval
DIVISION FIVE
Pooraka overcame a tumultuous week where it was stripped of a win for a player points breach by bouncing back with a triumph over Fitzroy.
The Bulls had their round three victory against Colonel Light Gardens reversed and their round two score wiped following a “mistake”, which took them over the Approved Player Points System cap.
It was the perfect response from Pooraka as it downed Fitzroy 11.14 (80) to 9.7 (61) at Lindblom Park.
The Bulls are seventh on the ladder with a 2-2 win-loss record while the Lions sit bottom and winless after four rounds.
Top side Lockleys continued on its merry way with a 99-point thumping of Smithfield at home.
The Panthers kicked accurately but could not count much else as wins with the undefeated Demons running riot in the 23.18 (156) to 9.3 (57) smashing.
Former Richmond and North Adelaide midfielder Matthew McDonough starred once again with six goals in a best on ground performance.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Eastern Park 16.22 (118) d Rosewater 7.12 (54) at Dwight Reserve
■ Salisbury 19.10 (124) d West Croydon 6.13 (49) at Fawk Reserve
■ Kenilworth 15.13 (103) d Colonel Light Gardens 7.4 (46) at St Mary’s
DIVISION SIX
Para Hills came agonisingly close to pulling off a stunning come-from-behind win but fell by four points in a ripping contest against Houghton Districts.
The Raiders led by 23 points at three-quarter time before the Big Reds bound home strongly at Houghton Memorial Oval.
Para Hills’ Aaron Mendrin had a chance to win the match in the dying minutes but his snap from out of a pack sailed out of bounds and the hosts won 17.14 (116) to 17.10 (112).
The victory was Houghton’s first for the season while the Big Reds remain winless.
Marion handed Ingle Farm a serious thrashing in a 222-point win at Sturt Oval.
The Bulldogs were unable to stop the flood of goals from the Rams in the 39.17 (251) to 4.5 (29) result.
Patrick O’Dea recorded 12 goals for Marion while Rhbair Woods and Ryan Wade bagged five each.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ St Paul’s OS 19.11 (125) d Mawson Lakes 8.8 (56) at Mawson Lakes Oval
■ Blackfriars OS 16.6 (102) d Elizabeth 13.14 (92) at St Dominic’s Oval
■ Hectorville 14.9 (93) d Trinity OS 6.11 (47) at Trinity College
DIVISION SEVEN
Undefeated Brahma Lodge is looming as a hot premiership favourite in the seventh tier after claiming a fourth straight victory on Saturday.
Flinders University was the Tigers’ latest victim in a dominant 25.20 (170) to 9.3 (57) demolition at Flinders Uni Sporting Ground.
Brahma piled on eight goals in both the second and third terms as Jack Scott, Andrew Curyer and Joseph Timpano led the way.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Adelaide Lutheran 23.19 (157) d Central United 6.4 (40) at Mofflin Reserve
■ Mitchell Park 10.19 (79) d O’Sullivan Beach Lonsdale 7.9 (51) at Mitchell Park Oval
WOMEN’S DIVISION ONE
Angle Vale came out on top in a battle of the two winless sides in the women’s division one competition, downing Golden Grove by 58 points on Saturday night.
The Owls held the Kookaburras without a major and consistently found avenues to goal themselves in the 8.12 (60) to 0.2 (2) victory at Angle Vale Sports Club.
Jasmine Tudor, the in-form Madison Kalleske and Ruby Allan starred for Angle Vale while 2019 division three medallist Jordan Woodards put in a fighting performance for Golden Grove.
SMOSH West Lakes bounced back from its first defeat of the season last week by dominating Salisbury by 88 points on Saturday.
Tayla Gordon kicked five goals and Evelyn Goldsmith was influential as the Lions had few troubles in the 14.12 (96) to 1.2 (8) win at Salisbury Oval.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Payneham Norwood Union 14.6 (90) d Old Ignatians 6.4 (40) at Payneham Oval
■ Morphettville Park 4.4 (28) d Adelaide University 1.11 (17) at Fred Bloch Oval
patrick.keam@news.com.au