Eastern Eyre Football
A Grade
RUDALL v PORTS…Rudall and Ports faced off in a game that promised to be pivotal for both sides.
Ports won the toss and elected to kick with the aid of a four-goal breeze blowing towards the silo end.
Muscles Siviour was living up to his nickname bouncing off many strong players and running off his half back line. The Rams were attacking but could not beat the strong breeze. Ports opened up their scoring twelve minutes into the quarter when Captain C. Hartwig kicked a long goal. Paddles Ramsey stopped everything across centre half back. Rudall held up the Ports attack most of the quarter with efforts from T. Evans until K. Hartwig kicked two long late majors. 0 - 1 to 3 - 5.
Rudall started the second quarter strongly with S. Gray winning the centre kick straight to Hutchins who goaled and then followed up with a goal of his own. E. Hunt and A. Raikiwasa showed immense skill and pace for the Magpies. But a veteran like Ben. Hampel split the pack and with his left, kicked the Rams' third goal. James Llewelyn was back playing A Grade which is great to see. Desperate play was coming from both sides and the defences were under pressure. Jonny Noble ran down his opposition to set up Gray for his second and Rudall had hit the front for the first time, only being two points up at half time. The game was still there to be won from both sides.
After half time, the large crowd had gathered which was great to see considering it is seeding season. Ports kicked the opening goal and when K. Schubert slotted one through from the boundary the Ports crowd was getting excited.
Brady Norris took on the opposition with pure pace but when Ben Lienert ran him down the ball turned around resulting in another goal to the Magpies.
After ten minutes of hard uninspiring physical football, the mad scramble finally opened up when Captain Evans snapped Rudall's first goal into the wind. The pressure really showed on the skill level of both teams and Ports responded with another major.
Ports' defence held up will through Diesel Whittle and when Kane Schubert kicked truly after the siren, Ports went into the three quarter huddle with a handy three goal lead and their tails up.
The previous strong breeze had died down but still slightly favouring the end Rudall were kicking to. After some strong play by L. Parker, K. Hartwig took a clever mark and scored, opening up a buffer for Ports.
The Magpies' defence was not pretty but effective, nullifying the opposition and running it out through B. Lienert and Evan Hunt. Ports finished the game with more running and their young players were more desperate to run than the Rudall youngsters.
It certainly wasn't a pretty game but all credit to the Ports club on winning both senior games.
All clubs have now registered a win for the season which makes the rest of the years football very exciting.
Good players for Ports included W. Ramsey, L. Parker, B. Lienert, A. Raikiwasa and D. Whittle, while for Rudall, S. Gray was best followed by J. Siviour, C. Mason, B. Hampel and T. Evans.
Ports 7-12 (54) d Rudall 13-10 (88)
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