Eastern Eyre Football League
A Grade
RUDALL v COWELL…A young Rudall team faced up to the reigning Premiers Cowell for the first round of the EEFL. It was a warm Autumn day and all the supporters were keen to see if all the pre season training would come to fruition.
Rudall managed the perfect start to the season with D. Hutchins crumbing off the back of the pack for the first goal in the opening seconds. Veteran B. Hampel, playing his first A Grade game in many seasons set up P. Peters with the second. The game settled and with the aid of a slight Northerly breeze, J. Siviour scored for Cowell, followed by C. Henderson.
The game was tight and fast and the Cats were handling the ball more. It is great to watch young players running hard, like B. Norris and S. Gray for Rudall, but N. Johnson and D. Taylor were creating havoc across the Cats' forward line. Due to pressure, Cowell managed to kick plenty of points keeping Rudall alive in the game who were kicking straight to make the most of every opportunity.
The Rudall oval was very soft after being top dressed which I think the players enjoyed because the tackling was ferocious from both clubs. It was no place for the weak hearted. The ball was being controlled around the centre by coach T. Evans for Rudall and M. Edwards for Cowell. Both defences were spoiling well so the goal scoring opportunities were taken by roving players such as J. Burton and B. Hampel for Rudall and N. Johnson for Cowell.
S. Wildman put his experience loose across Cowell's half back as the Rams were now attacking and controlling more of the play but they couldn't apply pressure on the score board as the play was goal for goal.
At half time the points were the difference, 9-2 (56) to 9-11 (65).
After half time, the wind direction changed, cooled down and was blowing straight towards the clubrooms. The blood was running hot with many hard clashed opening up the play. Panel umpires in M. Schaefer and T. Harris kept control of the players.
Cowell scored the first three goals with cool heads and experience. Rudall was applying much of the hard work around the oval but when N. Franklin kicked a long goal on the run from the pocket, the score was getting beyond the Rams. N. Johnson was in everything with solid play and a devastating left leg. The Rams used the bench like the AFL, with players on and off all day, but Cowell managed seven unanswered goals with the breeze. C. Mason for Rudall has a fantastic leap and wins most of the taps to set up a goal for the Rams.
The last quarter didn't slow down in intensity which is a credit to all the players.
A large crowd had gathered along the clubhouse and was getting vocal at every decision, country footy will never die if supporters remain passionate! G. Roberts had an influence all day at centre half forward kicking some long running goals.
The game turned ugly in the dying quarters when the yellow card was used to send off A. Siviour while J. Noble left the ground with concussion. The outcome will be finalised by the League Commissioner.
It was a good effort from both teams and is probably a fair indication of where both teams are at the moment.
Good players for Cowell were N. Johnson, M. Edwards and W. Piggott. Better players for Rudall were C. Mason, G. Roberts, S. Gray and T. Evans.
Cowell 19-18 (132) d Rudall 12-5 (71)
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