Romsey takes another step in the right direction in its charge towards a premiership in RDFL

ROMSEY’S premiership campaign took another step in the right direction on Saturday when the Redbacks accounted for Rupertswood in a low-scoring qualifying final.

RDFL football: Romsey V Melton Centrals. at Romsey Romsey 51 Dermott Smythe sandwiched Picture: Mark Wilson

ROMSEY’S premiership campaign took another step in the right direction on Saturday when the Redbacks accounted for Rupertswood in a low-scoring qualifying final.

Chalking up its 17th win on the trot, the Riddell District Football League’s hot premiership favourite controlled the contest after quarter-time on its way to a comfortable 22-point win at Wallan’s Greenhill Reserve, 9.14 (68) to 7.4 (46).

Held to just two behinds kicking against the breeze in the opening term, Romsey found itself in an unusual position, trailing by five points at quarter-time.

But a five-goal-to-none second term saw the Redbacks take back some control and, even though the margin was just six points in their favour at the final change, the result was never in doubt.

“I knew if we could be in front at three-quarter time we couldn’t lose from there,” Romsey coach Dean Helmers said.

“We know that any time we play Rupertswood they’re the Fremantle of the RDFL.

“They try and shut you down completely and they do a good job of it.

“As soon as I turned up I saw the breeze was probably a five-goal breeze to one end and I thought whoever played the breeze better would win. That’s sort of how it turned out.”

While it was a win worth celebrating, there was little time to do that.

The Redbacks are preparing to suit up against reigning premier Riddell in a semi-final on Saturday at Macedon where a spot in the grand final will be on the line.

“That will be another tough one but they’re all tough ones now,” Helmers said.

“They’re a very good side. We won’t change anything, we’ll just prepare as well as we can.

“We prepare the same every week, no matter if we’re playing the top side or the bottom side.

“Last time we played them it was in the mud.

“This time I think it will be a much bigger ground and it will be dry. We’re going to have to play our best footy to beat them.”

Rupertswood will be looking to bounce back when it meets Diggers Rest in the competition’s other semi-final at Rockbank’s Ian Cowie Reserve on Sunday.