Round 6 - Roosters Rattle and Hum

Our Mighty Roosters had a crucial Prospect Assignment against Jack’s Purring Panthers on Saturday. Crucial because of our up and down start to the season that had us just outside The Five. There was only one change to the announced line-up. Lonie was out then he was in again, courtesy of the Power.

In the first stanza, North resisted South’s first foray. Wintle was at the foundation of our first attack. Ryswyk marked in the centre. He booted it forward. O’Brien and Younie combined to get it to Alleway on the outer flank. He drilled the set shot. Minutes later, Sporn drove us out of defence. Wintle was there again. Archard, Ivens and Lonie worked it forward. White pinned his opponent in the tackle. BALL cried the members and BALL it was. White converted the free. After South got 2 soft frees, White got one of his own. The resultant attack finished with a point to O’Brien. South went to clear defence, but Archard magnificently intercepted a handpass and dished it off to Younie. The Unit drilled it. We went forward again immediately. Brett White booted to half-forward. Under pressure, Walker dribbled a handpass to Younie. In turn, Younie whipped out a magic handpass to O’Brien. He goaled from 40. Minutes later, after a screamer to White on the Grandstand Wing, North sent it forward from the outer Wing through Lonie. He found Walker who in turn found Younie. He booted his 2nd Sausage Roll from an F.A.D.  Once again, we swiftly moved it from the half-back line. Grose was on the end of it. His kick to the square saw Walker take an absolute screamer, with 2 bites of the cherry. He converted. With 6 unanswered goals, The Roosters were HOT! There was a brief lull in the scoring. Wright took a heavy knock at half-forward, then South got their first major. A few stalemates later we replied. Lonie got it to White. He marked and was pushed by Bennett. He converted the 25 meter penalty. A whirlwind opening had us leading 7-2, 44 to 2-3, 15 as South got another seconds before time.
In the second term, South went forward first but were thwarted by the likes of Ivens (with his helmet planted firmly back on his head). Archard started another slick run from defence. It ended with Allan at half-forward. He dished it off to a free running Lonie, SAUSAGE ROLL. The Panthers missed 2 by a whisker and then took advantage of a poor decision by Allan to go across goal deep in defence. South had managed to stem the tide for a few minutes, until another COAST TO COAST run was set up. Most notably it was mounted by Allan, this time taking the best option. It ended with Pfeiffer receiving it from Archard and splitting the middle on the run. South withstood our next foray. Ryswyk then got it in the middle, he handballed to Walker. His kick to full forward went to ground. Allan soccered it though. The ease with which we were mounting our assaults from half-back was becoming clear as Ivens and Sporn set it up yet again. Archard was involved in the centre and by the time White had bombed it in from half-forward, Archard was there to crumb a goal. Minutes later South full –forward Warren kicked his first. He was being well  held by McIntyre. Minutes later after Leroy missed one, South were hesitant bringing it back out. Wright (who had come back on earlier) spoiled it, Motlop swooped on it and booted a beauty from 35. South got one more before siren time. At the long break, North had a huge 41 point break, 12-5, 77 to 5-6, 36.

In the Premiership Quarter more of the same was required from North Adelaide. We were on the board again in 1 minute. At half-back Younie cleared the stoppage. White and Archard combined to get it to O’Brien. He found Motlop. He booted to a none-out contest in the square. Stewart was too tall. He took the grab and kicked the goal. Such was our run out of half-back  that South must’ve been dreading to go forward. Another WHOOSH from half-back. Leroy took an opportune bounce and snapped it over the umpy’s cap from 30. The status quo continued, forward goes South, out of defence shoots North. Ivens again, Wintle, Archard again, Ryswyk again. Drop punt forward;  Damon White marks again and goals from 45. A minute later South made a quick centre break to goal against the tide. There was a sustained period of goallessness  (is that a word I hear the kiddies ask, my Mum too in fact!)  The goals returned when Brett White put in a lovely spoil at Half –Forward. This led to Pfeiffer hitting Younie on the chest with a lace – out pass.? Younie booted his 3rd and brought up the ton (with a lovely cover drive!)  Moments later, South goaled from a free in front of goal. After a few unrewarded passages, South were about to clear. An off the ball incident handed Motlop a free and goal. Deep in time on, the usual suspects of Lonie, Sporn and Archard put a pass to Alleway. He kicked a ripper from 45. At Lemon time North led by a whopping 69 points, 18-10, 118 to 7-7, 49.

In the last stanza, it was an even tussle for the first 5 minutes. Then the 2 Whites were involved in getting a pass to Alleway.  His set shot missed.  South came up with another wayward re-start. Motlop booted it to the square. Allers was there on his lonesome and banged it through. After several minutes of aerial ping pong, Damon White got it at Centre half –forward. He tried a chip pass but it was smothered. With consummate ease, he ran through , took the smother on the bounce and kicked a beauty. Incredible! Straight out of the middle, Ivens single handedly worked if forward and deservedly got an F.A.D.  White bombed it forward. Stewart took a strong contested mark and converted. South then got their first for the term. In time-on, The Roosters added to the Panther Pain with a further 3 goals. One to Ryswyk (on his motor bike) one to White (his 5th) and one to Archard (his umpteenth kick!) A Mighty Victory for Our Mighty Roosters. The final scores , North 24-14, 158 to South 8-11, 59.

Kym Chaplain
Match Reporter
May 3rd 2008