Round 5, 2025 Summary

Tumby Bay continued their strong start to season 2025 with a hard fought win over Cougars at Cummins Oval in tough conditions, United Yeelanna had to work overtime to get over Elliston Districts and Lock had a comfortable win over Ramblers at home against a determine Magpies outfit.

Lock entered this game in strong form in recent weeks and it was always going to be a tough game against a strong defensive unit in Ramblers with a strong westerly making conditions tough. Trav Beard started the game in good touch to kick the first 2 majors of the game which was followed by another from Brown to give them an early break. Ramblers responded with a late goal to peg the margin back to 11 points at quarter time. Conditions were making it tough for any precise ball use but Lock were able to kick a couple more in the second via Declan Allen and Billy Byass, but more importantly were able to restrict the Magpies to just 2 points for the quarter to take a useful 22 point lead into the main break. The third quarter was a real arm wrestle as both sides struggled to find any momentum going forward but it was the class of Beard again who kicked his third to stretch the Roo’s lead. Ramblers responded again to keep themselves in the game but it was Beard who bobbed up yet again to goal again on the siren and maintain their half time lead of 21 points. The home side produced their best quarter for the day in the last as the game began to open up and scoring became a little easier. Byass goaled again early in the term, Beard followed up with his 5th for the day and when Byass kicked truly again the game was well and truly over. It was a hard fought win for Lock and they didn’t really put the game to bed until the final term. Aaron Beard was excellent all day in the ruck, Trav Beard the best forward on the ground booting 5, and Billy Byass with 4, and Morton, George and Heath were all important players for the Roos. For Ramblers, none were better than the classy Kingsley Bilney, Buchanan and Bullard were good in the midfield and Morrish and Turner had some positive moments throughout the game. 

Tumby Bay travelled to Cummins to take on Cougars with the Blues prevailing in difficult conditions to hang on and win by just 2 points in the end. They opened the game strongly and if not for poor kicking could have taken a bigger lead into quarter time as Murphy in the midfield and Walker dominated across half back creating plenty of opportunities for their forwards. They kept Cougars scoreless to quarter time and kicked 3.5 themselves to lead by 23 points at quarter time. The second quarter titghtened up with the game being played in between the two 50 metre arcs with Walker and Wandner proving difficult to get past in their respective defensive posts. Hartwig was proving a handful up forward for Cougars defenders and Murphy continued to find plenty of the ball in the middle and Gale was coming into the game strongly. Phelps was having some influence for Cougars along with Hill to keep them in the game as they pegged the margin back to 17 points at half time. Tumby Bay wasted several opportunities in the third quarter but were able to apply plenty of defensive pressure to restrict their opposition to just 1 point for the quarter whilst adding 1.5 to their own tally to lead by 27 points heading into the final break. Cougars came out firing in the final term and were suddenly able to hit the scoreboard as Ackland and Green came into the game. They were putting Tumby’s defence under enormous pressure and their midfield were getting their hands on the ball as they piled on 4 goals to come agonizingly short of victory to trail by just 2 points at the final siren. It was a tough game of footy, but the Blues did enough in the end to hold on led by Joe Walker in defence. Gale was also prominent and Murphy despite a quieter final term was good all day, and Trezise, McDonald and Hartwig all had solid games. Dylan Wandner was outstanding for Cougars across half back, Phelps and Hill prominent all game and Corey Paech and the Green boys had positive moments throughout. 

United Yeelanna made the trip to Poochera and had to work overtime to get over a determined and accurate Elliston Districts to maintain their unbeaten start to the 2025 season. The Roosters looked the better side in the opening term with Gum and Smith causing some headaches in the air to give the home side a 10 point lead at quarter time. The second term was another evenly fought contest but the Eagles were able to regain some ascendancy to take a slight 4 point lead into the main break. Rosalia and Archer van Doorn were looking dangerous on ball and up forward, whilst the experienced duo of Xavier Watson and Casey Carr showed some class and composure to get the Eagles back on track. The game continued to be a strong contest after half time with the Roosters accuracy in front of goals outstanding kicking 8 straight, but United Yeelanna were able to continue to apply enough pressure to keep themselves in front and lead by 11 points at 3 quarter time. The Rooster faithful were up and about and getting behind their side as they continued to work tirelessly and cause a boil over. They were able to find opportunities in front of goal and convert, but the class of the Eagles stood tall when it mattered and they held on to win by 9 points in a great game of footy. Watson was outstanding again, he is in red hot form at the minute, Casey Carr solid, Adam Murnane, Maxfield and Gerber were good all day and Aaron Watson as reliable as ever. For the Roosters Finn Reinerts was their best player, Rhys Kelsh good again, and Baker, Gum, Smith and Thomas Lee all played fantastic games.

Thoughts on being able to see the scoreboard worm?