5 September 2021
THE UNOFFICIAL MATCH REPORT
It was only early into the last quarter of the A Grade and already my pulses were higher than the lupins I’d noted, as I ran the only red light at Crossville Corner in a rush to get to Cowell for the start of Junior Colts.
The lupins were standing well to attention, perhaps they knew the coastal scuds (that dropped up to 17mm on Arno Bay) were heading their way.
I need not have worried, the line-up of cars at the gate stretched quite a way back down the highway, youngsters with Ports & Tigers footy bags slung over their shoulders were decamping from 4 wheel drives in droves.
The rain came and went as Kimba dominated the Junior Colts to set up a second semi final rematch with Ranges in next weeks Grand Final. They (Kimba) are an improving lot, Jackson Yates kicked the games opening goal (and 2 for the game) whilst Occy “Son Of Mop” Scott added the 3rd and final goal for the Tigers to see them run away with game 3.7 (25) to Ports 1.0 (6)
The Senior Colts was a fiercely competitive game that went right down to the wire.
Having been outplayed for three quarters and trailing by 26 points at the change Cowell looked to have the job ahead, but they did have a 4 to 5 goal wind blowing directly to goal.
The Cats lifted a notch kicking 3 goals to close within 7 points and were again deep in attack when the final siren called a halt to the game.
Tom Turner (5 goals) was high amongst Ports best but it was his 4th quarter defensive game that really stood out. Several timely contested marks, under extreme pressure, denied the Cats important scoring opportunities and allowed Ashton Hartwig BOG and others to run the ball clear of the danger zone. Kyle Ottens was another standout for Ports, he runs hard, attacks the ball head on and invariably gains his side valuable meterage.
Well played to Willow Cook and Aiden Turner who made the effort to thank the umpires after their heartbreaking loss - great sportsmanship - and to the Ports TEAM, who did likewise.
The B Grade went the way of Ranges (comfortably 9.12 to Cowell 2.3). They will be hoping the current forecast for next Saturday (Cloudy, 19 Max and a Waxing Crescent Moon) holds up and allows their skills to shine.
At about the 23 min mark of the A Grade final quarter, Ranges stalwart Jason Burton finally conceded the game was Ports.
By then Sid Master DCI “Detective Chief Inspector” who had been on more leads than Sherlock Holmes had cracked the game/case wide open. And it was Bobby (no pun intended) Raikawasa that provided the bullets….these were not mere breadcrumbs!
Time and again Bobby’s class shone through as he spotted up Sid with 50m tracer accurate passes. And the finishes were first class. It was the kind of footy that brings people through the gates.
The DCI finished the game with another bag of six, Alec Bryce a couple and Jake Bammann and Tom Davey all singles to all be amongst the victors best.
Did Ranges 4.9 opening quarter cost them the game? We will never know.
Final scores Ports 12.8 (80) defeated Ranges 8.15 (63)
It’s going to be one hell of game (Ports v Kimba) next week! The two sides have only clashed twice for the year, Kimba winning them both.
Round 2 by 112 points; it’s a leaner, fitter Ports side now.
And round 7 by 27 points.
The scheduled round 12 match was a COVID-19 Pfizzer
Congratulations to Ashton Hartwig the winner of the Senior Colts Fiegert Family Medal and to Cooper Allen the Junior Colts Danny Horgan Medallist, Cooper polling a perfect 24 votes from 8 games.
Last Modified on 05/09/2021 21:29