Andrew Smith and Logan Leiper lay a tackle. Photos by Wayne Bradley.
Charlie Hillier gets the ball away before being tackled to the ground. Photos by Wayne Bradley.
Zac Free, Chase Bartlett and Aydan Matthews provide some team defence.
Good Friday football came to the Hardinge St Oval over Easter with the Deniliquin Rams coming away with a stunning six point win in front of a massive crowd.
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The first quarter of the traditional Murray League Good Friday clash with the Finley Cats saw both sides going goal-for-goal, with neither team able to get on top.
But the blue-collar Rams midfield proved they were more than a match for their A-list opponents.
With the aid of the strong breeze in the second quarter, Finley started to get on top around the ground but were unable to convert their numerous chances hitting the timber several times and going into the main break with a 20-point lead.
The message from the coach was to keep taking the game on in the last half and take the game on is exactly what the young Rams did.
Charlie Bull, Will Henderson, Zac Free, and under-17s sub Oscar Wren started to get their hands on the footy.
Brock Redden, Will Shaw, and Charlie Hillier found space in the forward line and the Rams fought their way back into the contest.
The scene was set for an epic final term; the Cats had the breeze, and the Rams knew they had to continue to attack to win the game.
Brock Redden took a mark of the day contender in the goal square and converted to get the Rams going.
With the crowd excitement intensifying, the Rams got out to a two-goal lead but Finley we’re not going to lay down, making it a six-point game with only a minute to go.
The siren blew and the Rams kept the lemon tree in town for another year.
For the Rams, Mick Barnett was a standout across halfback taking multiple interceptions.
Will Henderson continued his great start to the season through the midfield and Brock Redden with three goals up forward is proving to be a master move from coach John Fitzpatrick.
Zac Free, Tom Macallum, Miller Fitzpatrick and young Wren, showed for the second week in a row that with so many young players getting a taste of senior footy that the future is exciting at Ramland.
Final score: Deni Rams 11.3 (69) def Finley 8.15 (63).
Goals: W Shaw 3, B Redden 3, C Bartlett 2, C Hillier, M Fitzpatrick, L Leiper.
Awards: M Barnett, C Bull, W Henderson, B Redden, L Leiper, M Fitzpatrick.
Reserves
No match report supplied.
Final score: Deni Rams 2.2 (14) def by Finley 12.8 (80).
Goals: K Hillier, S Dalzell.
Best: L Marshall, S Dalzell, J Cavallaro, M Barnes, B Thomas, T Rourke.
Thirds
No match report supplied.
Final score: Deni Rams 15.7 (97) def Finley 1.4 (10).
Goals: S Cowley 5, T Wren 2, L Elphick 2, B Hardman, H Robinson, T Rothe, M Grimwood, R Smith, O Ives.
Best: S Cowley, T Murray, T Wren, L Elphick, M Murray, B Hardman.
Fourths
The young Rams secured a strong 55 to 41 win over Finley, finishing full of run after a tight contest early.
The Rams held firm after half time, breaking the game open with a dominant final quarter.
Jaxon Rothe led the way up forward with four goals, well supported by Lachie Tritton, while Rocky Sztejman, Angus Henderson and ruckman Jaxon Ives combined brilliantly in the midfield.
Across the ground, Deniliquin’s pressure and teamwork proved the difference, with a consistent four-quarter effort sealing an impressive 14-point victory.
Final score: Deni Rams 8.7 (55) def Finley 6.5 (41).
Goals: J Rothe 4, L Tritton 2, J Ives, R Sztejman.
Best: J Rothe, R Sztejman, J Ives, L Tritton, A Henderson.
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