On, what was a perfect day for footy, with the Mt Compass oval looking a picture and perfectly prepared the day got under way with Willunga taking on Encounter Bay in the Junior Colts.
Willunga won the toss and kicked down hill with the slight breeze and this certainly paid off as they took a handy lead into the first break. Had they wasted the use of the oportunity, however, kicking 1 goal 6 points?
In the second quarter Encounter Bay seized the moment and kicked 2.4 down the hill whilst holding the Demons scoreless.
A goal apeice in the third quarter kept the crowd in the game but again Willunga were wayward kicking a further 6 behinds with the slight advantage of the wind and the slope.
The Bays made them pay dearly for those missed shots as they powered away in the last quarter pouring on 3 goals 2 behinds to a mere 3 points.
A well fought victory to Encounter Bay with Oakley Johnson named best for the Bays, also kicking 2 goals.
The same two clubs ran out onto the oval in the Senior Colts game and again Willunga had the advantage of kicking with the wind towards the school end in the first quarter.
Encounter Bay held their own with 2 goals at the northern end as Willunga had an 11 point advantage at the break. Again their kicking was some what wayward with 5 misses - some due to the Eagles pressure.
Quarter 2 saw the Bays take the lead with some good play but would the 3 point differential be enought with the Demons looking to turn up the volume in the second half.
2 goals to 1, once again saw the lead change as Willunga reversed the difference, holding a 3 point margin at the last break. Again would this be enough to hold of the lads from the Bay.
In the last quarter Encounter Bay certainly wanted to show that the would like to hang the flag up in their club house as the held the Willunga side to just 1 behind as they poured on 3 goals 5 behinds to win comfortably by 19 points.
Wade Sweetman was the best player for Encounter Bay - with Andrew Fyfe kicking the top score of 2 goals.
Again Willunga ran out onto the ground this time in the Reserves Grand Final with Myponga/Sellicks their opponent. The breeze had picked up a little but was certainly not the howling gully wind some of us have come to know that can define the Compass oval. Conditions otherwise perfect.
Myponga were out of the blocks early and showed they ment business as they took the ascendancy at the first turn with a 5 point lead.
Wilunga tried hard to narrow the small margin but the game was pretty even at half time and the Mudlark on the hill was still sqwarking as the lead was still 2 points at the longer break.
After half time, Myponga/Sellicks, poured on the pressure and the score as they took the game on and kicked twice as many goals as the Demons to win by an impressive margin - 10.12 to 7.5.
Best player for the Mudlarks was Brady O'Hanlon with Lyle Sansbury top scorer with 3 majors.
Now it was time for the big game with Langhorne Creek lining up against McLaren - who had made the journey from bottom spot to be here.
Langhorne Creek won the toss and like all those before them on the day went to the southern end with the slight breeze at their backs.
This certainly proved to be the right choice as the Creek kicked 5.1 to the Eagles 3.4 into the, now seemingly lessening wind.
After the first quarter break and after the huge number of supporters for both teams left the oval, it was McLarens turn to use the advantage of the hill and the wind. Plenty of oppotunities presented the Eagles but once again misses might prove costly as they scored 4 goals 6 behinds to the Hawks 3 goals 3 including a great goal by Matt Roberts - a 15 year old Junior Colt!
Half time it was back to square one as the scores were all tied up 52 points apeice. The crowd was anxious and excited as the stage was set for a great second half - where both had showed enough that anyone could win.
The Hawks kicking to the school end again out scored the Eagles on the score board but with both having the same number of shots - could the missed chances come back to bite McLaren as the crowd noise grew to another level as the siren sounded for the last stanza.
The slope played no part in the last quarter as Langhorne Creek, definitely more finals harded in recent years, took control and worked extra hard to make every kick and handball work for them leaving the opportunities few and far between for the McLaren team. The final siren saw the Hawks win by 4 goals and McLaren wondering at what might have been.
Best and West End Medalist for Langhorne Creek was Jarod Kellock also finishing with 4 goals. Ben Warren had 3 and young Matty Roberts finished with 2 goals he will, probably never forget. Thomas Fenoughty was best for the Eagles with Jess Watchman and Jorden Mutton each finishing with 2 goals.
Well done Langhorne Creek on a great win, well done Mt Compass Footy Club for turning on a great day and well done to all the patrons that turned out to witness 4 games of football that could have gone either way at anytime.
