A massive Deni crowd made the trip along the Riverina Highway to support their team, but after a promising start, the crowd was hushed as the Magpies went to work shutting down Deni’s key playmakers and ultimately winning the do-or-die final.
The Rams burst out of the blocks with a mark and goal to in-form rover Rick Gittens from about 45m out, and another mark and goal to teammate Will Shaw from about the same distance.
The blustery conditions made it difficult to hit a target by foot, and Moama steadied the ship with a couple of goals of their own.
Rams vice-captain Gus Durnan marked and goaled from directly in front, and his side held a seven-point buffer at the first break.
Moama hit back in the second stanza as their ground runners started to take control at the stoppages, and Tom Holman and young gun Jobe Shanahan giving strong marking targets up forward.
The Rams’ defence held its nerve - as it has done all year – with Brayden Hall, Cable Fitzpatrick and Lachy Small taking several goal-saving grabs.
But the weight of numbers made it difficult for the Rams, as the Magpies showed cleaner hands to kick three goals for the term and take an eight-point lead into the main break.
The margin could have been more if not for a brave pack mark from Small right on the half-time siren, leaving the defender struggling for air but fit to play on.
The second half was a dour struggle, with both sides having surges in the play – the Rams couldn’t quite bridge the margin, but the Magpies couldn’t put them away.
Harry Hillier goaled on the run and Gittens kicked his second, but Moama slotted three goals of their own to extend the lead to 15 points at the final change and in fairness looked the better side.
The Rams rallied in the final term, Sam Lloyd, who had been well held, marked and goaled from the goal square and Mick Barnett stormed forward and slotted a nice major from about 40m out.
But once again, Moama was able to steady and find goals at the right time. The Magpies matched the Rams with two goals of their own and the game was done.
Deni’s best were Hall, who capped off a fine year as the side’s key marking defender, and Gittens, who had nothing left in the tank by the final siren, kicking two goals and playing a lot of game time on the ball.
Other good players were defenders Small, Fitzpatrick and Barnett who all put their bodies on the line at certain stages throughout the match and all had fine seasons.
Will Shaw was another to shine, the former GWS-listed player showing pace and poise, rotating through the forward half and on the ball.
Final score: Moama 10.8 (68) def Deni 8.6 (54)
Goals: Ricky Gittens (2) Sam Lloyd, Angus Durnan, Mick Barnett, Jake Hobbs, Harry Hillier, Will Shaw.
Best Players: Brayden Hall, Ricky Gittens, Cable Fitzpatrick, Lachlan Small, Mick Barnett, Will Shaw.
Reserves:
The Rams reserves set themselves up going into finals, holding a second chance and an opportunity to win and go straight through to the grand final.
It was a good day for football but Mulwala came to play, it took Deni a while to hit the scoreboard with Mulwala going out to a 24 point lead.
The Rams boys fought their way back in the last quarter to only be down by seven points, but just couldn't get it done.
They still have the next round to play, so we will be looking to rectify a few things and go again.
Final scores: Mulwala 6.9 (45) def Deni 4.12 (36)
Goals: Clay Howe, Brett MacDonald, Ben Nisbet, Brock Redden.
Best players: Jack Hay, Lachlan Osborne, Ben East, Clay Howe, Liam Pitts, Brett Macdonald.
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