Rabid Roosters "White-Out" Blues
After an eternity away from home Our Mighty Roosters clashed with Sturt at Prospect on Saturday. Coach Healy was forced into several changes. One such change was McEntee coming in for his debut game.
In the opening term there were several stalemates in the centre square. North withstood Sturt's first forward thrust. After Archard missed an opportunity we then repelled another Sturt foray, Emu figuring prominently. Minutes later, Leroy intercepted a Sturt clearing kick. He booted it to the square. Gill had drifted forward and marked strongly overhead. He goaled, went "BEEP-BEEP" and made a Bee-Line to Centre-Half Back. From the middle we went forward again immediately. Delvins got a free. Then the class of Archard and Sporn combined to find Younie on the lead. From 40 he gobbled up his " Bread and Butter". Sturt then had a few opportunities to attack. We allowed them no fluency. On the wing, Ryswyk got it to Alleway our " Official Team Bouncer". He in turn found White leading out of the pocket like a "Raging Bull". The Skipper went BANG. Minutes later, a lovely passage begun by Davis and Archard at Centre-Wing found Wright. He passed to Thiele. In turn he found Whyman then had his head removed by Sturt's Coad in the process. Whyman got 25 and scored from point blank. In time-on Allers hit the post and our defence remained resolute. We led 4-3-27 to 0-1-1 at the first huddle.
In the 2nd term it was tough hand to hand combat! Allers took a Speccy at half-forward but couldn't convert. We were giving Sturt absolutely nothing 15 further minutes of hard graft elapsed. A beautiful run from defence ended with Ryswyk passing to Alleway. He found Younie at half-forward. From 40 again "The Unit" had a 2nd piece of " Bread and Butter". After Sturt missed a sitter we went on another mesmerising run from the back. On the wing, Thompson and Whyman combined to boot it to White. The Skipper marked and goaled. In time-on we continued our relentless attack on ball and body. Sturt's Chambers missed a shot , then put in a " Gold Logie" performance trying to get another free. At half-time we held all the cards, 6-7-43 to 0-2-2.
In the 3rd Stanza any thoughts of complacency by the faithful was Gone...In 60 Seconds. Allan booted it to a leading White at Centre Half-Forward. The Skipper was pushed. He drilled the free. Sturt then finally troubled the scoreboard attendant with a goal to Chambers. Minutes later Sturt got another after a fisticuff on the wing gifted them a relayed free from point blank. We replied to Sturt's mini-surge within minutes. Archard fielded a clearing Sturt kick. He found the skipper. From the score-board pocket White kicked another beauty. Moments later Alleway took another screamer, in a Double Blue Sandwich! Nothing came of it though. On 13 minutes the class of Archard came to the fore yet again. He booted it to half-forward. Schwarze brought it to ground. He shook off his opponent, gathered it and booted a ripper Sausage Roll. As the forecast rain began to fall, The Roosters once again intercepted an errant Sturt kick. Just inside the centre square Thompson booted it to "White Territory". The captain marked and booted number 5. "Lone-hand Chambers" then booted 2 on the trot. We responded well. After another good build up from defence we forced a stoppage in the goal square. Whyman sharked a Blues handball in a flash and banged it through. Late in time-on Sturt's Coad was reported for elbowing Wright. We went into Lemon-Time with an increased lead, 11-9-75 to 4-5-29.
In the last Stanza the ball was camped in our forward line. After Gill unintentionally sent his opponent into La-La land and off on a stretcher, Allan "sold the dummy" and sent a pinpoint pass to Wright at half-forward. Wright went Bang. ALL WRIGHT!! Sturt couldn't buy a forward thrust but eventually got a point. This just served to unleash another superb run. Ryswyk and Allan were twice involved. At Half-Forward Schwarze earned a free and goaled. He was on the loose again a minute later but missed. This didn't deter us as we relentlessly pushed forward again. Taking a lovely handball from Sporn, Whyman goaled on the run (and the kids in the outer were heard to say, "WHYMAN, what a goal!). With a 65 point lead, it was time for a Wet Weather Football Clinic. White and Schwarze combined beautifully at half-forward to notch up another ton. With the Blue Boys desperately pining for the cares of Unley Rd. the Roosters banged on 3 more goals, two to White to make it 7and 1 more to Schwarze from " THE LADHAMS POCKET". The Final Scores- North Adelaide- 18-11-119
Sturt 4-6-30
K.R.Chaplain
Match Reporter
P.S. As previously reported I go into hibernation with my Polar Bear mates next week. Contrary to popular opinion Elizabeth is a pretty good oval. Unfortunately though it has no facilities for Disablied.