He took control through half back and marshaled the troops so well it began to frustrate the Cowell players to such an extent Frank Wildman was uncharacteristically sent off for a very crude tackle. In contrast Kimba gained confidence and attacked repeatedly only to be held up by N. Johnson who was playing loose in defence and with the rain falling it was hard to penetrate Cowell’s defences.

Cowell went into the long break two goals in front but were starting to look shaky.

The weather began to fine up after the break and both teams came out from the rooms early eager to get back into the fray. With Wildman still on the pine completing his time out Kimba attacked but wasted opportunities inside 50 until Wakelin kicked a goal after drifting down from half back, this seemed to lift the Kimba side with Brook Seal marking deep in the pocket and kicking a goal to put Kimba up by six points. The battle in the middle between the respective on ballers of Franklin and Edwards and Hunt and Lienert and the struggle between the respective big men Buzz Fiegert and Chris Kenchington in ruck had become a terrific spectacle with each individual putting their bodies on the line for their team. Kimba had squandered the amount of forward entries that the onballers had given them through out the quarter with a poor return of two goals seven points. But with Wakelin, Jericho and Ryan Hannan holding sway in defence Kimba held Cowell to one points for the quarter and went into the final break six points clear.

Both coaches implored their players to give every thing they had left for victory and at the end of the quarter time address you would have thought you were watching the Grand Final with the large crowds surrounding each huddle.

The final quarter started the same as all the others with no player willing to give the opposition an opportunity that may cost them a goal. The respective defences were playing true man on man football but a poor kick out of defence by Cowell resulted in Simon Hunt taking the ball and delivering to L. Fitzgerald who kicked a goal to extend Kimba’s lead to 12 points.

Nathan Johnson was still holding Kimba up repeatedly and with Wayne Piggott marshalling his defence Steve Wildman was at half forward trying hard to inspire his troops.

Time beginning to become a factor and Cowell lifted their intensity, after repeated inside 50 entries Clay Henderson read the ball off a Kimba fumble to kick a much needed goal.

This seemed to be the spark the Cats had been waiting for and was followed by Siviour marking strongly and slotting a major from 40m out. Cowell immediately won the ball out of the centre and Taylor took the mark of the day and put the Cats in front.

Kimba could have been forgiven if they had dropped their heads after such a quick goal by the Cats, but to their credit they stuck to the task and replied with a tremendous goal from Nathan Hornhardt who snapped truly from deep in the pocket under pressure. Both teams continued to play attractive attacking football but the time had run out for the Tigers with the Cats winning a great game by three points.

As a footnote it should be noted that the Cowell Football Club should be congratulated on allowing Kimba to play Darryl Wakelin after the cut off date for clearances. Without the goodwill and sportsmanship they showed, the day would have not been such a tremendous success for the Kimba Football Club and Eastern Eyre Football.

Cowell 7-8 (50) d Kimba 6-11 (47)