The experts will tell you that occasionally a side needs to win ugly, and that was certainly the case when Deni Rovers defeated Berrigan by 19 points on Saturday.
The Picola League match was played at Berrigan, and the Saints are always difficult to beat on their home ground.
They applied plenty of pressure to make the game a real slog.
The Rovers started off well with Raymond Murphy kicking the first goal of the day.
The visitors had established a 17 point lead at quarter time but they were not playing the fluent style of football that has been a feature of their games over recent weeks.
The side suffered a body blow in training on Thursday night when playing coach Alex Hay broke his arm in a training drill.
His ball getting and kicking abilities were certainly missed on Saturday.
The Rovers extended their lead slightly in the second quarter, kicking 2.4 to Berrigan’s 1.6, and led by 21 points at half time.
The two sides were still struggling to establish a decent score margin between them.
Berrigan attacked with great enthusiasm after the long break but were unable to break the Rovers’ defence and put goals on the board.
Their inaccuracy meant they could only add 1.4 compared to Rovers’ 1.3 for the quarter.
The lead at three quarter time was 20 points but was certainly not a convincing break that could assure the four points.
The scrambled-type play continued in the final quarter with Berrigan doing plenty of attacking, but continuing to be very inaccurate and not capitalizing on their opportunities.
A classy snap at goal from Tyson Willis finally secured the game with that being the only goal in an error ridden final quarter.
Berrigan blazed away kicking eight behinds for the quarter to finish with 2.19 for the game.
Rovers also missed some very kickable goals during the course of the game.
The major positive from the day was the four points that leaves Rovers with a 4-2 scoreline from the first two games.
Stand-in coach Josh Bode was also happy that the side was able to “battle through and win the game despite not playing at anywhere near their potential.
“I told the players that it was all part of the learning process,” he said.
It will be a big game this Saturday when Rovers host Mathoura at the club’s Sponsor’s Day.
The only multiple goalkicker on Saturday was Hayden Barker, who led and marked well to kick 2.5.
Best on ground was Brady Trotman who seemed to bob up all over the ground and won plenty of hard ball and provided plenty of leadership.
The backline held up well with Peter Lewis at centre half back and flankers Jordyn McCulloch and James Gilligan creating a wall across the half back line.
Kaiden Joss showed plenty of speed to create opportunities whilst captain Adam Bodey battled strongly in the ruck.
Final score: Rovers 7.8 (50) def Berrigan 2.19 (31).
Goals: Hayden Barker 2, Scott Howard, Raymond Murphy, Joe Hay, Tyson Willis.
Best: Brady Trotman, Peter Lewis, James Gilligan, Jordyn McCulloch, Kaiden Joss, Adam Bodey.
Awards were not available at time of print.
The reserves were always in control of their match which saw a winning margin of 99 points at the final siren.
The first quarter was a real battle with Berrigan kicking what turned out to be their only score of the game and holding Rovers to 3.5.
From that point on, Rovers assumed full control and extended their lead in each of the quarters kicking 15.15 to Berrigan’s 1.0.
The win cements the side’s position on the ladder as they head into this week’s game against Mathoura.
John Allitt has been in dominating form in recent weeks and continued down the same track with a great performance.
Jack Pekin kicked seven goals alternating between full forward and centre half forward to be a real focal point.
Bailey Caruso is ever dangerous around goal whilst Lachie Holschier, Ryan Hetherington and Caleb Weir were other good contributors.
Final score: Rovers 15.15 (105) def Berrigan 1.0 (6).
Goals: Jack Pekin 7, Matt Wade 2, Bailey Caruso, Ben McCalman, Zack Thompson, Matthew Horne, John Allitt.
Best: John Allitt, Bailey Caruso, Lachie Holschier, Ryan Hetherington, Caleb Weir.
Awards: Globe Hotel - Jack Pekin; Frank n Beans - Bailey Caruso; Myo on the Move - Ryan Hetherington; N8 Health - John Allitt; Keet’s Hair - Lachie Holschier; Evolve Fitness + Wellbeing - Alex Rourke.
The under-17s boys showed again that they’re the team to beat with a strong start.
Tyson Willis was on the end of a beautiful centre clearance kick and slotted the first goal for the day.
Alex Harvey found the goals, as did Connor Didcock, and saw us with a six goal lead at the first break.
In the second quarter, Max Caruso and Harry Way were working hard and as usual and Logan Leiper was bursting packs and delivering with pin point accuracy.
Andrew Smith was playing like a man possessed with his second and third efforts and hard tackling helping to get the side out to an eleven goal lead at the main break.
Coach Chris Maher made some big changes at the half time which saw the young boys having to step up and that’s exactly what they did.
Young Benny Hayes was playing out of his skin as was Dexter Hardman and Brody Willis.
Brodie Elphick and Connor Didcock had plenty of run and carry.
The final quarter saw Berrigan boys getting frustrated, but to the their credit they kept their composure and kept the pressure coming.
Eddie Dudley and Hayden Doncon stood tall and showed their toughness and finished the game in style.
Final score: Rovers 17.14 (116) def Berrigan 2.6 (18).
Goals: Tyson Willis 5, Connor Didcock 4, Cooper King 3, Brody Wills 2, Brodie Elphick, Eddie Dudley, Alex Harvey.
Best: Connor Didcock, Tyson Willis, Ethan Connolly, Ben Hayes, Cameron Wills, Logan Leiper.
Awards: Deni Driver Training - Harry McIlwain; T McCully Construction - Jack van Lieshout; Glow Beauty - Brodie Elphick; Barber & Threadz - Ethan Connolly; Fanmac Ag - Dexter Hardman; Rovers Canteen - Ben Hayes; Rovers Dinner - Brody Wills.
It was a good start to the first quarter for the Roos fourths, with Isaac Behsman kicking the only major for the term.
It was a hard fought battle all over the ground with our defensive players restricting Berrigan to just three points.
Tom Way and Lincoln Meharry worked hard in defence to give the midfielders the opportunity to drill it forward.
The second quarter was fairly contested between the two teams with Berrigan notching up a major to go into half-time with a two point lead.
Bentley Hardman and Isaac moved the ball well from the centre into the forward line.
Berrigan came out firing in the third term and managed to get a out to a three goal lead heading into the final term.
Connor Wilson continued to work hard in the ruck all over the ground, with support from Stuart Benger hunting the ground ball contests.
The Roos picked up again in the final term with Isaac adding another major to finish off the game.
A solid effort by all involved despite the result.
Final score: Rovers 2.8 (20) def by Berrigan 7.8 (50).
Goals: Isaac Behsman 2.
Best: Bentley Hardman, Tom Way, Stuart Benger, Isaac Behsman, Lincoln Meharry, Connor Wilson.
Awards were not available at time of print.
It was a great game from the fifths.
With Berrigan being a bit short on numbers it was good to see the Rovers boys happy to jump in, throw on a Berrigan jumper and give a hand with numbers for them.
It proved to be a very competitive game between the two sides with not much between them at the end.
Awards: Cruizin* Diner - Mannix Taylor; Fanmac Ag - Hunter Dunn; BLT Fabrication - Mason Williams; CWS - Jaxon Beames; McDonalds - Beau Jervis, Rhys King, Mikey Benger and Connor Sampson; Subway - Angus Knuckey.