In round eight of Picola League senior football, the Deni Rovers hosted the Waaia Bombers in a top of the table clash.
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The Rovers got out to a hot start, kicking the first five goals of the game.
The home side’s midfield got on top early, with the straight kicking of Hayden Barker and the smaller forward fleet getting the Rovers playing well early.
A shell-shocked Waaia got their only goal for the quarter late, finding options behind a forward 50 stoppage, around the top of their arc.
The away side finished the quarter 1.3 (9) to Deni’s 5.2 (32).
The Rovers continued their good start in the second quarter, kicking two goals and two behinds.
However, the Bombers chipped away at the lead, kicking four goals and two behinds of their own to go into half-time trailing the Rovers by 11 points.
Waaia jumped out from the start of the third quarter, getting plenty of forward entry and good looks at goal, scoring four straight goals to the Rovers’ one straight goal for the quarter.
The margin was seven points in the Bombers’ favour at the final break.
With a continued undefeated start to the season in touching distance for both teams, Waaia pushed harder out of the middle to start the quarter.
The Rovers found a bit of belief midway through the last quarter thanks to a running goal from Cam Wills.
However, that was the only major they could manage for the quarter, with hopes of a comeback short-lived.
Waaia kicked five goals and five behinds for the quarter to run out winners by 34 points to solidify themselves as one of the benchmarks of the competition.
Despite the Rovers falling away later in the game, Cam Wills stood out for the Rovers until the end of the match, tearing the game apart with his possessions and extra handballs from the contest as well as two goals.
Liam East continued his great start to the season and proved his mettle as one of the league’s best smaller defenders, keeping Waaia’s leading goal kicker from last season with 87 goals, Charlie Burrows, goalless for the match.
Rhys McCulloch and Nick Hay again fought hard for the ball all day, putting their bodies on the line to get the ball moving the Rovers’ way.
Providing a contest all day around the ground was Adam Bodey, giving the midfielders a chance early in the ruck.
Hayden Barker led the way in the forward line when he got his opportunities with three goals.
The others who hit the scoreboard with goals for the Rovers were Rivva Karpany, who again added plenty of composure and flair, kicking two for the day, with other consistently silky contributors Waylon Johncock and Tyson Willis adding one each.
The Rovers get a chance to rebound with a trip to Dookie in their next match.
Final Score: Deniliquin Rovers 9.6 (60) def by Waaia 14.10 (94).
Goals: Hayden Barker 3, Rivua Karpany 2, Cameron Wills 2, Waylon Johncock, Tyson Willis.
Best players: Cameron Wills, Liam East, Rhys McCulloch, Nick Hay, Hayden Barker, Adam Bodey.
Awards: Cameron Wills, Liam East, Rhys McCulloch, Nick Hay, Hayden Barker, Adam Bodey, Rowan Frazer.
Reserves:
With two top sides going head-to-head, this was always going to be a massive clash - and it certainly delivered.
Waaia hit the scoreboard first, with a young and speedy forward line putting early pressure on the Rovers’ defence.
Connor Didcock was quickly moved into the backline, where he made an immediate impact.
Rovers trailed at the first break and, after a hard-fought and almost even second quarter, Waaia maintained a narrow lead at half-time.
The intensity lifted again in the second half, with finals-like pressure from both teams and hardly a possession coming easy.
Rovers managed to outscore a relentless Waaia in the third term, closing the gap to just five points at the final break.
However, it was Waaia who held on in the end to claim the win.
Kaiden Joss once again showed his class, as did Didcock.
Dylan Mills was dangerous up forward, finishing with two goals, while Bailey Caruso’s pressure and repeat efforts were rewarded with a couple of goals of his own.
Sam Richardson stood tall in defence and was among the Rovers’ best, along with Harry Turner.
Final score: Deniliquin Rovers 5.3 (33) def by Waaia 6.7 (43).
Goals: Bailey Caruso 2, Dylan Mills 2, Scott Howard.
Best players: Kaiden Joss, Harry Turner, Connor Didcock, Dylan Mills, Sam Richardson, Bailey Caruso.
Awards: Kaiden Joss, Harry Turner, Connor Didcock, Sam Richardson, Dylan Mills, Bailey Caruso, Jordyn McCulloch, Bobby Hall.
Thirds:
No game due to no opposition.
Fourths:
With the ground a little soft in patches following overnight rain, the young Roos got off to a flying start, booting 4.1 to nil in the first quarter.
Haydn Sampson was dominant in the ruck, giving great service to midfielders Ryan Bulmer, Taj McCully and Connor Sampson, who were all influential early.
The momentum continued into the second term, with another four unanswered goals taking the Rovers to a 50-point lead at the main break.
Up forward, Cormick Hardman, Jed Fitzmaurice, Michael Benger, Callan Leiper, Jobe Unwin and Jett Boyer proved a handful.
Down back, Reece King, Carter Sartore and Angus Knuckey repeatedly turned back Waaia’s attacks.
To Waaia’s credit, they kept working hard and managed a couple of late goals in the final term.
But the day belonged to the Rovers, who put together a strong all-round performance to finish 84-point winners.
Final score: Deniliquin Rovers 16.4 (100) def Waaia 2.4 (16).
Goals: Cormick Hardman 4, Michael Benger 2, Callan Leiper 2, Jed Fitzmaurice 2, Jobe Unwin 2, Lucas Braybon, Jett Boyer, Connor Sampson, Ryan Bulmer.
Best players: Reece King, Jed Fitzmaurice, Carter Sartore, Cormick Hardman, Callan Leiper, Haydn Sampson.
Awards: Jed Fitzmaurice, Reece King, Callan Leiper, Connor Sampson, Carter Sartore, Ged O'Donnell, Jett Boyer, Lennix Leetham.
Fifths:
It was another great outing on the big stage this week, with plenty of the boys giving it their all.
Our recent focus on tackling was on full display, with some of the best efforts coming from Bertie Landale, Tate Parlato and Logan Littmann, landing clean, precise tackles that stopped their opponents in their tracks.
Knox Sartore, one of our smallest players, was impressive as well, weaving through the bigger bodies and getting his hands on the footy.
It was fantastic to see such strong footy from such a large group. Great signs for the Roos!
Awards: Bertie Landale, Darcy Arthur, Lincoln Arthur, Enzo Craig, Knox Sartore, Jake Horne, Henry Braybon and Levi Norris.
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