By Matt Beggs
KINGSTON 9.9 (63) D PENOLA 9.6 (60)
KINGSTON won a close contest against Penola in Round 13 of Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara football on Saturday.
The weather was windy and there was a bit of rain around, so it was always going to be a slog for both teams.
Penola began strong with the first major of the game when Harrison Evans kicked through the middle.
Kingston got the quick reply through Jack Armfield as both teams began to settle.
Penola hit the front again after Brodie Foster kicked a goal, but Kingston responded when Ethan Murdock kicked a goal to give the Saints a one-point lead.
Todd Lockwood had a good first quarter as he put through another goal to give Kingston a seven-point lead.
Campbell Watts, Armfield, Chris Draper, William Watts, Ben Warner and Ethan Murdock were in good form for the Saints in the first quarter, as were Evans, Jordan Galpin, Jayden Eldridge and Brad Bryant for the Eagles.
Kingston held a nine point lead at quarter time.
Penola dominated the second quarter as they had the breeze and most of the play in their front half of the ground.
The Eagles took full advantage as they added four consecutive goals through Beau Shinnick, Bryant, Galpin and Luke Walker to open up an 18-point lead.
Evans was getting plenty of the ball for the Eagles around the ground, while the run of Galpin and the experience of Eldridge showed as the home side took control.
Kingston tried hard to move the ball up the ground, but the Eagles’ defence was solid.
Kingston finally got a late goal as Watts broke away and scored just before the half-time siren sounded.
However, Penola held a 10-point lead heading to the main break.
Kingston came out firing to start the third quarter as the Saints were getting their running game going.
Watts kicked the first goal of the term, while Armfield followed up with his second of the game and the Saints claimed a three-point lead.
Draper was everywhere for the Saints as he gathered the ball and drove it forward time and time again.
Tom Rogers worked his way into the game at the defensive end of the ground for the Saints, while Todd Lockwood gathered touches and kicked two goals in a row as the Saints opened up a 16-point lead.
The Eagles needed a response and they got one against the momentum Kingston had built up.
Shinnick was able to run behind the Kingston defence to find space and kick truly.
Kingston had the quick response as Ben Warner put through a goal and the margin was back out to 17 points.
The wind picked up again in the fourth quarter and favoured the Eagles.
Penola had most of the play early as they pushed inside 50 regularly.
Evans, Galpin, Eldridge and Bryant were getting plenty of the ball and pushing it forward.
The Eagles struck when Garrett Ha put through a goal to cut the margin to nine points.
Penola then went forward and Foster kicked another goal as the crowd came alive and the margin was just three points.
Rogers was a tower of defensive strength for the Saints as he intercepted everything he could.
In the end the Saints claimed a hard-fought, three-point victory.
