Robe 17.15 (117) d Mount Burr 11.7 (73)
THE Mozzies have just about had enough of losing to the Roosters and the meeting of the pair at “Mick” and Jean Walker Oval at Mount Burr on Saturday resulted in a decisive 44-point win to the seasiders.
It was Robe’s fourth consecutive win over Mount Burr and the first at this venue in around a decade.
The replay of the 2018 grand final was the undoubted match-of-the-day in round ten of the Mid South East Football League and the terraced area of “Can Hill” was packed with supporters of both teams.
There was much at stake with Mount Burr attempting to consolidate its new-won status as a top four team while Robe had the chance of leading the competition for the first time in the 2019 season.
Coming into the match, there were injury clouds hovering over coach Tom Renzi and reliable defender Tyler Stanley.
The former ended a 103 consecutive game run due to an ankle injury but the latter took his place.
The home team recalled veteran Mark Teagle for his 300th senior game in a green-and-gold guernsey.
Robe Football Club vice president Roger Sweetman said the match started at a cracking pace with players from both teams committing themselves to the contest and it was only late in the first quarter that Robe gained a two-goal ascendency.
Sweetman said the second quarter produced exciting and tough football as eleven goals were scored for the quarter.
“Robe applied their trade mark pressure on the ball carrier and streamed forward when they had control of the ball and kicked five goals through the strong marking of Zack Deane at full forward,” Sweetman said.
“However when Robe lost possession of the ball Mount Burr through very clean and efficient ball use were able to catch out the Robe defence on the counter attack and outscored the Roosters kicking six for the quarter and reducing the deficit to less than two goals.
“This was as close as Mt Burr got for the remainder of the march.
“Robe produced a scintillating third quarter and completely dominated all aspects of the game resulting in a nine-goal quarter.
“Its forwards presented well and provided many scoring opportunities, while its midfield continued to push the ball forward.”
According to Sweetman, the last quarter was a bit of a non-event with Robe doing enough to keep Mount Burr from scoring heavily while being unable to add any further majors to its score.
“Mount Burr gained some ascendency in field play in this quarter but did not have the skill level required to push home any advantage”.
“Robe again was not accurate in front of goal and the score line flattered Mount Burr, Robe’s 32 scoring shots to 18 from Mount Burr was a true indication of the Roosters’ dominance of the match.”
The loss meant Mount Burr’s place in the top four lasted just one week.
The match was momentous as it was the 500th A Grade match for field umpire Ben Young.
His imposing record includes 13 A Grade grand finals and a decade as the MSEFL umpires director.
Since taking up the whistle 30 years ago, Young has officiated in 680 across all four MSEFL grades and representative matches.
Before turning to umpiring, Young played 12 A Grade and 205 B Grade games for Glencoe.
He has also been the long-serving groundsman at the Glencoe Oval.
At game’s end, both teams formed a guard of honour and Young was carried from the oval by umpiring buddies Robbie Ransom and Neil Webber.
A similar honour was accorded to Teagle.
Mount Burr heads to Glencoe on Saturday while Robe hosts Kalangadoo.
Kalangadoo 22.13 (145) d Tantanoola 6.6 (36)
THE Magpies returned to the top four with a runaway win at home over the Tigers by 103 points.
The pattern of play was set early in the first term when returning player and 2016 Mail Medallist Jack Casey pinged Tantanoola joint assistant coach Hayden Brown for holding the ball.
Casey then converted the free kick with a goal from a 35m range and it was one of seven goals registered by the Magpies in the opening term.
They went to a 38-point lead at quarter time and increased it at every change.
The best effort, score-board wise, for the undermanned Tigers was the last quarter when they were outscored four goals to two.
Another bright sign for Tantanoola was the inclusion of former Encounter Bay premiership ruckman Matt Allen.
One of the extra incentives for the Magpies was to do well for the sake of ruckman Jonny Mules who was playing his 200th game in a black-and-white jumper.
As an extra point of interest, players wore rainbow-coloured laces to promote the Zaidee Rainbow Foundation while the Kalangadoo netballers also embraced the multi-coloured patterns on their attire.
This charity promotes conversations about the donation of organs and is a subject close to the hearts of members of the Kalangadoo sporting community.
Local MHR Tony Pasin supported the charity day and also volunteered his time on the barbecue.
Member for MacKillop Nick McBride regularly umpires in the neighbouring Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League, but other commitments prevented him from being one of the central umpires.
In round 11, Kalangadoo takes on the reigning premiers at Robe while Tantanoola has the bye.
Hatherleigh 11-18 (84) d Kongorong 7.9 (51)
THE Eagles maintained its top ranking with an unconvincing 33-point win at home over the Hawks.
After a narrow defeat at Robe on June 1, it was Hatherleigh’s second consecutive win and it does not need many more to secure a place in the 2019 major round.
With as many as seven top-ranked injured players on the sidelines and eager to return to A Grade, the 21 other Eagles are working hard to maintain their places in the team.
Among those to miss was forward Brad Wight who would be keen again to make the final cut for the Murray South East.
Wight is a past Murray South East representative and the South Australian Country Football Championships are being played at Port Pirie on July 13 and 14.
The absence of regular players enabled the likes of Lachy Jackman-Tilley to have their first taste of A Grade action.
The home side looked the goods early in the match and had built up a 14-point lead by quarter time.
The Hawks kept on persevering and were aided by inaccuracy in front of goals by the Eagles.
At the last change, Hatherleigh led by the equivalent of only one straight kick.
At this stage, the upset of the 2019 season was on the cards.
The home side then added 5.4 and conceded just 1.1 to finish the game well.
In round 11, Hatherleigh makes the long trip to Port MacDonnell while Kongorong hosts winless Nangwarry.
Glencoe 34.19 (223) d Nangwarry 4.3 (27)
THE Murphies banked a substantial amount of percentage as well as retained the Phil Muhovics Memorial Trophy after its yearly trip to the home ground of the Saints.
The trophy honours the memory of the noted footy identity who coached Glencoe and Nangwarry as well as Robe and East Gambier,
It has been won by Glencoe for the seven years of its existence while the Phil Muhovics Memorial Medal went to Tom Edwards, of the Murphies.
The umpires and the brothers of Phil Muhovics recognised his commendable spirit over all four quarters.
If was always going to be tough for the Saints as they were without some first-choice players as Tyson Ploenges and Ricky Lindner.
On a happier note, Nangwarry officials were pleased with the gatetakings as they were boosted by many Glencoe supporters.
Brodie Foster booted 11 goals for the Murphies when he made his MSEFL debut against the Saints in the opening round on April 6.
Foster was again on song in the return match as his 10-goal haul took him to 58 majors for the year.
This puts him 25 goals clear of second-placed Robe recruit Todd Lockwood and he has one hand on the goalkicking trophy which will be awarded at the annual Mail Medal ceremony in September
at the Millicent War Memorial Civic and Arts Centre.
If he can average six goals per game for the remainder of the minor round Foster will become the first MSEFL player to boot the “ton” in a season since Robe’s Phil Smith a decade ago.
Looking to Saturday, Glencoe will be planning on repeating its April 13 result at “Mick” and Jean Walker Oval when it defeated Mount Burr by 56 points and reclaimed the Ian McInnes Memorial Shield.
Another loss for the Mozzies will make it very hard to reach the major round.
Nangwarry will be on the road to Kongorong.
