On another great day for footy, the Rovers thirds came up against a very good Tungamah side.
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The Rovers started well, with Jack Van Lieshout giving his on-ballers first use of the footy.
Baxter Cowley, Alex Harvey and Ethan Connolly got their hands on plenty of the footy and Spencer Cowley, Andrew Smith, Brody Wills and Fletcher Campion were working well and looking dangerous up forward.
The Rovers took a 14-point lead into quarter time.
In the second quarter, both teams had the ball going end to end, the Rovers backline was standing tall with Cayden Hawley, Nick Fanning, Ben Hayes, Dexter Hardman, and Reagan MacDonald holding strong.
Tungamah still managed two goals to bring the score back to 28 all at half-time.
The third quarter was another tight contest with the game in the balance, and with some undisciplined play, saw, both teams have three players each sent off.
With the Rovers needing someone to stand up Landon Flisher caught his opponent holding the footy, leading to a goal, Max Watson taking some awesome pack marks, and Noah Dunn throwing himself at every contest.
The Rovers kicked three goals to one and took a 12-point lead into three-quarter time.
It was still anyone’s game in the last quarter, but the Rovers got off to a great start and got plenty of the footy into their forward 50, needing someone to stand up Spencer Cowley was unstoppable taking everything that came his way, and Henry Learmonth going head first at every contest.
The Rovers kicked two goals to one in the last quarter to win by 17 points.
Final score: Rovers 9.8 (62) def Tungamah 6.9 (45).
Goal kickers: Spencer Cowley 4, Baxter Cowley 3, Ethan Connolly, Brody Wills.
Best players – Baxter Cowley, Jack Van Lieshout, Ethan Connolly, Dexter Hardman, Andrew Smith.
Awards: BLT Fabrication - Baxter Cowley, Fanmac Ag - Jack Van Lieshout and Ethan Connolly, Intersport Deniliquin - Spencer Cowley, Canteen - Andrew Smith, Subway - Max Watson, Landon Flisher and Noah Dunn.
Fourths:
Back at Roverland this week after a couple of trips away.
We knew it was going to be a tough game against Tungamah and they came out with guns blazing.
Our defence was under pressure from the first bounce, with Tungamah driving it into their forward line.
The young Roos got rattled early and gave Tungamah the advantage in the first quarter.
It must have been an all-inspiring speech from coach Pete Wills at quarter time as the young Roos lifted their heads high and put the pressure back onto Tungamah in the second term.
They were able to control the play and had most of the ball in the forward 50.
Tungamah’s defence was strong, and Stuart Benger was able to put a major on the board despite many attempts and a few rush behinds.
Sam Conallin, Callan Glenn, Bentley Hardman, and Jobe Unwin continued the centre clearance dominance in the third term, and again, the Rovers were able to control most of the play.
Dannon Leetham and Stu put majors on the board and bridged the gap in the scoreline.
A phenomenal last-quarter effort by the young Roos saw them go down by only five points.
Michael Benger was outstanding all day with his pressure around the ball.
Xander Strong lifted in the last quarter and used his speed through the midfield into the forward line notching up two goals.
It was a truly commendable effort by the entire team to fight back and nearly take the win against a strong Tungamah outfit.
Final score: Deni Rovers 6.11(47) def by Tungamah 8.3 (51).
Goal kickers: Stuart Benger 3, Xander Strong 2, Dannon Leetham.
Best players: Bentley Hardman, Xander Strong, Michael Benger, Dannon Leetham, Stuart Benger, Sam Conallin.
Awards: Riverside Bookkeeping Services – Xander Strong, Wired Entertainment – Bentley Hardman, BLT Fabrication – Mikey Benger, Intersport Deniliquin – Lara Strong and Stuart Benger, Barber n Threadz – Sam Conallin, McDonald’s– Cormick Hardman and Jobe Unwin and Subway – Haydn Sampson.
Fifths:
No report.
Awards: BLT Fabrication - Nixon Sartore and Asher Parsons, Intersport Deniliquin - Jye Benger, McDonald’s - Arley Bulmer and Braith Leiper, Subway - Leo Herberte and Max Woolston and Lick It Quick - Cruz Leetham and Jack Priest.
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