Faced with playing in a heavy fog that refused to move, the Roo boys looked determined to keep warm in the chilly conditions by going hard at the footy as their coach wanted them to.
The opening bounce saw the Roos clear the ball and an early forward 50 entry saw Levi Arnold win the ball and before we knew it the Roos had their first on the board.
After peppering the goals, the Roos scored their second goal with Leo Davis scoring with a nice running effort. The North Albury boys hit back with a goal before quarter time.
Coach Patten was pleased with the boys’ efforts even if he couldn’t see what was happening on the far side of the ground due to the fog. The message was to keep the pressure up at the ball and put your head over the ball.
The Roo boys came out for the second quarter determined to build on their start. A lot of the quarter was played on the far side of the ground however there was a great passage of play where the Roos won a free kick in the middle of the ground.
Charlie Hall handballed to Will Forrest who was running past. Will kicked it forward for it to be marked by Eli Bonnitcha. Eli spotted Ollie Mathews alone and kicked it to him with Ollie taking the mark. Ollie was outside his range but saw the Eli had continued forward and kicked it to him with Eli taking a strong contested mark. Eli went back and being within range slotted a nice team goal.
The boys were having a lot of success in keeping the ball in their forward line for long passages of time with Bill Barlow being a key contributor in locking the ball in the forward 50 in the second quarter.
North Albury bobbed up again with a responding goal only for Cooper Patten to slot another goal for the Roos just before half time. The score at half time was 29 to 12 in the Roos favour.
With the game still in the balance at half time the message was keep up the pressure on the ball. The boys responded will by applying some great forward pressure in the third quarter as well resulting in a mark inside 50 to Josh Hunter who went back and kicked the goal. The North Albury boys fought back with a goal of their own with the ball spending more time in their forward half for not much return due to the defensive efforts of the boys playing down back.
A nice rebound forward 50 entry to Hudson Kuschert resulted in a goal to Cooper Patten and the Roos extended their lead at three quarter time to be up by 30 points.
Harry Webb was moved into the ruck in the last quarter and Eli Bonnitcha moved down back which had an impact with some strong defensive marking by Eli and Harry putting together some good ruck work in the middle.
The Roos scored two more goals with Levi and Cooper adding to their tallies to run out winners 62 to 27.
Goal kickers: 3 L Arnold, C Patten, 1 L Davis, J Hunter, E Bonnitcha
Awards: L Arnold (Corowa Upholstery), W Forrest (Corowa Signs), C Patten (Moloney Real Estate), J Hunter (A&A Automotive), E Bonnitcha (Upton Engineering), J Witherden (Joel Bilney), O Mathews (Little Oasis Beauty), N Kuschert (Bilney Builders)
Under 14s
A close contest was expected against North Albury with both teams hovering out of the top 4. The standard of play belied the foggy and slippery conditions as both teams shifted the ball from one end to another. Tex Longmire was prominent early but wasted some shots on goal before finding the big sticks late in the quarter. Archer Coppolino was giving great drive from half back and only 5 points separated the teams at the half. Ashton Wynne and Emmet Northey were in everything as the young Roos skipped away in the second half. Ajay Haegney and Toby Hanrahan boosted the young defence but overall a great team effort saw and well ground out win. Tex’s 4 goals and Benji Hanrahan’s strength were telling. A very good win.
Under 16s
Hosting top of the table north Albury today, with heavy fog creating a slippery start to our game it was all about contested football and gaining some yards.
A first term arm wrestle would see Corowa 8 points to north 11 at the first break.
With Mitch Parker busting his back side in the middle, ably supported by Jackson Bolger and Nick Sandral, the Roos broke even in contested football.
Judd Kuschert had the big job of closing down the league’s leading goal kicker in josh Murphy and did a great effort first up.
The second term was the same, wet slippery football. Angus Massey and Jackson Hargraves became important players, and new ruck pairing of Brodie Julian and Cooper Connell would break even against there more fancied opponents giving us a chance at the stoppages.
Jack Eales took some good marks and was a target across half forward, Caile Duryea was presenting as good forwards should, the Roos back line of Ethan Lane, Hamish Baker and Judd again had held firm.
Two late goals to North Albury would see them lead 31 to 15 at the main break.
Coach Rippingale swung a couple of changes as the sun came out after half time hoping for more goals, but like his usual Saturday quaddie it went pair shaped quickly.
Judd from half back to on ball and Tom Forrest who’d had a solid day down to defense.
Unfortunately, north relished the suddenly dry conditions and smashed the boys in the midfield.
Accordingly, the backline players were under relentless pressure and try as they did the dam burst with a 7 goal term to north, all to their premier player Murphy.
Mitch Parker carried a lone effort in the middle and Tom Forrest never gave up trying.
So behind 75 to 21 and with Tom going off ill, the other lads had to stand up, and as they have all year, they hung in there and kept north to 4 goals for the final term.
A 76-point loss was a massive improvement from the 140-point loss a month ago to them, and with three good players to return to the side the Roos will keep getting better.
Award winners: Thanks to all sponsors
Rivalea Award : Mitch Parker
Moloney Real Estate: Jaxson Bolger
Boyer Automotive: Jackson Hargraeves
A & A Automotive: Judd Kuschert
Peter Ellis: Hamish Baker
Upton Engineering: Cooper Connell
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