Round 7 - Third Quarter Costs Rooster

Our Mighty Roosters clashed with traditional foes Glenelg on Saturday at Brighton Road. It was Rivalry Round in the SANFL. For the first time in his 5 year tenure at Menzies Crescent, Jars had the luxury of naming an unchanged line up.

In the first stanza, the GLIDEROL Tigers got a soft free in the centre. They scored the opener in 30 seconds. After Glenelg missed a sitter, we worked it along the outer wing. Lonie and Archard were involved in getting it to White. He then found Younie in space. The Unit missed his Bread and Butter shot from 40. The Roosters were nervy in defence and gifted Glenelg their 2nd goal. A few more promising build-ups came to zero. Then Sporn was penalised for holding on to McConnell. Very soft indeed! I think Sporn was penalised for slipping on Justin’s hair gel. The gift from the umpy was converted. Things were getting away from us when Glenelg kicked their 4th in succession. Nerves were calmed a little when Ryswyk, Sporn and Wright combined through the middle. Wright’s pass found Allan. He ran on to goal. We went forward again. Damon White intercepted an errant Glenelg back pass. White found Younie again. This time Younie gobbled up his Bread and Butter from 40! Glenelg’s first stanza ascendancy returned with another 4 unanswered goals in time on. The signs at the first huddle were not good. North 2-1, 13 to Glenelg 8-3, 51.

In the second term, the Job was at hand. Glenelg went forward. McConnell tried an “airey” snap. Brett White didn’t like and let him know! (at which point Justin called for a comb and mirror as a hair fell out of place!) Minutes later, North shot out of defence. Allan found Wintle in the centre. Wintle’s bomb was strongly marked by White. He drilled the shot from 20. We rushed forward again. Stewart had a chance. His snap hit the post. Glenelg made us pay with the next goal. After a rushed behind, Allan gathered it at half-forward. He found Younie. The Unit drilled a nice one from 40. Ex Crow Warhorse Bode got the next, continuing the goal for goal pattern of the term. Moments later, White intercepted a clearing Glenelg kick. He then found Alleway. The quiet Allers took his first mark and goaled. Glenelg then peppered the goals for 3 consecutive points. Minutes after Archard missed a close range shot, the goals returned. From a stoppage, Pfeifer booted it forward. Walker won the crumbs and snapped a beauty from 20. Another good combination in the middle saw Lonie boot it to the square. White took a strong chest mark. He drilled it. A well put together run then went unrewarded. We then broke the goal for goal chain when Pfeiffer found Younie at half-forward. Younie played on. Sausage Roll number 3. The Unit made it 4 when Lonie cleared it from a stoppage in the middle. Younie’s mark and goal had the Roosters on a Roll. (A Sausage Roll!) Glenelg then made a Centre Break to goal in the last play. A better 7 goal term saw us with a 13 point deficit at the Long Break, 9-6, 60 to 11-7, 73.

In the Premiership Quarter, North Adelaide had to consolidate their 2nd Term gains. It didn’t begin well however, Glenelg scoring the first in under a minute. A few fruitless forays later, Allan set up Wright. From 40, he missed. Once again, we paid the price as Bode scored. He looked to be out of bounds but the boundary ump was nowhere to be seen! Over the next 10 minutes Glenelg banged on a further 6 goals to wipe out all our hard earned 2nd stanza gains. Glenelg were running hot and North had jumped off the Glenelg Jetty! The only respite was a freakish goal by Allan in the scoreboard pocket hard up against the boundary. The contest was affectively over at Lemon-Time. North 10-8, 68 to Glenelg 18-9, 117.

In the last term, it was Head Down, Bum up time for the Roosters.  From a stoppage at half-forward, Sporn turned into plastic man to snap a pass to O’Brien. He booted it to the square. White used his strength to hold off his opponent, grab it and boot it. Glenelg replied fairly quickly. A nice run from defence saw Ivens boot it to Alleway. Allers passed to a loose O’Brien. He drilled it from 15 out. Minutes later, North had 2 on the trot. Sporn took a free on the wing. Allers fielded his kick and kicked to the square. Younie was there and snapped a ripper over his head for number 5. Several stalemates ensued before we got our 3rd straight. Archard was at the foundation , then he finished off the play after taking a pass from Allers. We had the momentum, but Glenelg had ample breathing space. At the re-start, Pfeiffer soccered straight into Budgie’s head ( a la Harry Kewell!) Eventually North ran it through the middle. Motlop booted it to half-forward. Allers marked and drilled it. We were flying, but still 26 points down. Just prior to time-on, Glenelg scored a settling goal. Then another for good measure. North scored 3 more in time-on, plus another blinder from the pocket by Allan that was disallowed. The boundary ump got momentary x-ray vision and called it out. If it wasn’t over already it was over then! A solid 8 goal term was unfortunately too little, too late for Our Mighty Roosters. The final scores North Adelaide 18-9, 117 to Glenelg 22-11, 143

Kym Chaplain
Match Reporter
May 12th 2008