The Deniliquin Rovers thirds have been eliminated from the Picola League finals after a tough match up with Rennie at the weekend.
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The Rovers looked a bit flat from the first bounce.
Rennie made it look easy in their forward line, and lucky for us our backline held strong.
We very rarely had it in our forward half. Tyson Willis, Connor Didcock, Alex Harvey and Cameron Wills were linking up well, but Rennie would always find a way to shut us down.
Coach Chris Maher reminded the side, at quarter time, to start playing wet weather footy.
The boys looked good for the first part of the second quarter, with Eddie Dudley’s second and third efforts, Jyah Lavars, Brodie Elphick and Tyson Willis pushing hard.
We still couldn’t penetrate their backline and with Rennie applying relentless pressure, and us having no interchange, we were in for a hard day.
With Maher trying to pump the boys up at half time, captain Liam East led by example playing tough football.
Didcock was doing everything he possibly could. Jackson Muldoon-Leetham went down back to give support, which allowed the Rovers to finally break through. Willis kicked our first goal, and shortly after Cameron Wills kicked another.
But Rennie just seemed to have all the answers and the margin was 40 points at three quarter time.
Coming into the huddle the boys looked spent, but Maher asked them to run out the game and give it everything they’ve got.
Jack Van Lieshout won the first tap and Wills kicked the first goal of the quarter.
Things were looking up, but it wasn’t to be.
Rennie banged on three unanswered goals, and Ryley Parr and Cayden Hawley were constantly under pressure.
They were finally given a bit of a breather when young Brody Wills snagged a consolation goal, but it was too little too late.
Final score: Rovers 4.3 (27) def by Rennie 12.11 (83).
Best players: Connor Didcock, Edward Dudley, Brodie Elphick, Tyson Willis and Cameron Wills.
Goalkickers: Cameron Wills 2, Tyson Willis, Liam East, Eddie Dudley and Connor Didcock.