The Deniliquin Rams replaced Nathalia in the Murray Football League’s top six with a stirring 32-point win over the visiting Purples on Saturday.
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It took the Rams three quarters to shake off a dogged Nathalia, who closed to within a couple of goals, kicking with the wind in the third term.
But young gun Charlie Hillier put the match beyond doubt, slamming home the opening two goals of the final term, both from about 40m in the same far forward pocket, kicking to the council depot end.
Rams stalwart Todd Gallagher put the icing on the cake with a strong mark and goal as the home side recorded their eighth win of the season, their third in a row, in front of another big home crowd.
The Purples had their chances, hitting the behind post five times during the match.
Both clubs’ seniors and reserves sides lined the oval for the NAIDOC Week smoking ceremony and Nathalia won the toss and kicked with the breeze in the opening term.
Both sides took time to adjust to the conditions, including dry ground, but a strong wind blew as kicks struggled to find their mark.
The visitors had six shots on goal, with Liam Evans and Alex Hicks both kicking truly as the Purples built an early lead.
Sam Lloyd got the Rams moving with some slick kicking through the midfield and also kicking the home side’s opening goal.
The Rams were resolute in defence, with Mick Barnett and Ryan MacDonald winning some crucial one-on-one battles and Jake Hobbs finding plenty of the ball in the midfield.
Nathalia held a seven-point lead at the first break, but the Rams went to work in the second term.
Lachy Small and Will Henderson both returned to the side and had a big impact in the second stanza.
Small, in particular, won a crucial ball on the far wing and charged the ball forward allowing Hobbs to finish with a goal.
The home side kicked five majors for the term, with Lloyd snapping truly and Hobbs nailing his second for the quarter.
Hamish Shepheard was dominant in the ruck and gave the Rams’ onballers first use of the Sherrin.
But the Purples didn’t lie down, kicking two late goals to be within eight points at the main break.
The Rams called for calm at half-time, and coach Ash Morris implored his players to be cleaner with the footy.
The third quarter was an arm wrestle, with the visitors gaining some ascendancy, with Bailey Bell and Ryan Butler finding more of the footy, but their side could only muster one goal and five behinds for the term.
Meanwhile, Hobbs goaled on the run and then Liam Pitts got on the end of a good passage of play to kick a late goal for a 16-point buffer at the final change.
Rams vice skipper Angus Durnan stood tall in the final term, taking some strong grabs at centre-half-forward, and Hillier’s two-goal heroics put the game out of reach for the visitors halfway through the final term.
The Rams were able to rest ruckman Shepheard late and give more game time to rising young ruckman Doug Billings, who took some strong marks up forward early in the match.
Hobbs was named best afield with four excellent goals and keeping the Rams in the match in the first half alongside Lloyd (three goals).
Other good players were running defenders Small and Ryan MacDonald, who has been in great form, along with Durnan up forward, Hillier, changing on ball and Henderson, playing in his first match back from a foot fracture.
Final score: Deni Rams 12.10 (82) def Nathalia 6.14 (50).
Best players: Jake Hobbs, Ryan MacDonald, Lachie Small, Angus Durnan, Will Henderson, Sam Lloyd.
Goals: Jake Hobbs 4, Sam Lloyd 3, Charlie Hillier 2, Angus Durnan, Todd Gallagher, Liam Pitts.
Reserves
It was a really good win by the boys, coming off the bye.
We needed a quick start, and the Deni Rams’ reserves delivered with four goals in the first quarter.
This set us up for the rest of the day, with Ben Nisbet kicking eight and a younger midfield playing well together.
These wins go a long way coming into the pointy end of the season.
It was a four-quarter effort from all 22 of the boys.
A big couple of games are coming up in the next two weeks, and we will see where we stand compared to the rest of the competition, but it was a good win this week.
Final score: Deni Rams 18.16 (124) def Nathalia 2.4 (16).
Best players: Ben East, Noah Bradley, Miller Fitzpatrick, Dean Macdonald, Tom McCallum, Jack Tyndall.
Goals: Ben Nisbet 8, Noah Bradley 2, Dean Macdonald 2, Darcy McManus 2, Jonty Tubb, Ben East, Jordan Amor, Brock Redden.
Thirds:
The thirds needed to bounce back after a bad loss to Barooga before the bye.
They welcomed back some key players to take on Nathalia, with both sides aiming for a spot in the top six.
The Rams started full of run and dominated the midfield battle to open up a six-goal lead at the first break.
Nathalia lifted and broke even around the midfield, but the Rams’ defence stayed strong, holding the visitors to just one goal for the quarter.
Up forward, the Rams took their chances, and by half-time, the margin was 52 points.
The Rams maintained the pressure in the third, linking up and running the ball well.
They kicked another four goals for the quarter, and by the last change, the lead was out to 75 points.
The team rested some players in the final term and gave them a chance in different positions, and the side ran the game out well.
The team still has improvements to make and now looks forward to challenging for a finals spot.
Final score: Deni Rams 13.12 (90) def Nathalia 4.1 (25).
Best players: Charlie Bull, Angus Hay, Chase Bartlett, Charlie Paton, Ted Wren, Jake Herberte.
Goals: Chase Bartlett 3, Nash Suckling 3, Charlie Paton 3, Sam Crossley, Doug Billings, Charlie Bull, Tom Murray.
Fourths:
From the outset, it was a very wet and tricky day to play football.
The Rams set out to take the game on and break the lines through hard work and discipline.
Zac Grimison worked tirelessly all day, driving the Rams forward attack.
We welcomed back Savannah Emery from injury and she didn’t miss a beat. She shone through with big moments of effort and desire not to give up.
Seth Boyer and Logan Elphick were instrumental in locking down their opponents and providing options and opportunities to attack for the Rams.
Tom Dudley provided a great option up forward with a link and nearly managed to kick a few goals.
Unfortunately, the Rams fell short by nine points.
The young Rams will look to bounce back and work towards a more consistent and balanced approach in their next game.
Final score: Deni Rams 3.5 (23) def by Nathalia 5.2 (32).
Best players: Zach Grimison, Savannah Emery, Seth Boyer, Logan Elphick, Darcy Finn, Thomas Dudley.
Goals: Logan Elphick, Zach Grimison, Max Burge.
Under-12s (GMJL):
The under-12s travelled to Colbinabbin on Sunday to take on Runnymede in round 11 of the GMJL. The game started a bit scrappy in tough, muddy conditions.
Eventually, Lach Jeffrey broke through with a brilliant passage of play for his first goal of the season, and the boys led comfortably at the quarter-time break.
The boys were moved around each quarter, and it was pleasing to see them use each other well, with great handballs from Fletcher Smith and Charlie Murray in particular, resulting in good team goals.
The boys continued growing their lead all match, just letting a few frustrating goals slip through the backline. Lachie Tritton was awarded the GMJL Spirit of Football Award by the opposition captain for his best-on-ground performance in the ruck. Well done to Lachie, who was everywhere.
Final score: Deni Rams 11.14 (80) def Runnymede 4.1 (25).
Goal scorers: Henry Pisasale (3), Charlie Murray (2), Jaxon Rothe (2), Will Crossley (1), Lach Jeffrey (1), Rocky Sztejman (1), Oscar Strongman (1).
Under-10s (GMJL):
The young Rams put on another fierce display, travelling to Moama on Sunday.
It was a very close game against Moama Black, who was one of our toughest opponents yet.
Harrison Leetham and Charlie Eastman were brilliant up forward.
The award winners were James Massingham (Canteen), new recruit Jake Taylor (That Pizza), Connor Manson (Surdex Steel), Leroy Fisicaro (Hat), and Oli Hall (McDonald’s).
Well done again boys. The improvement in skills and sharing the ball is excellent and showing good sportsmanship as well.
Keep up the good work.
Final score: Not scored.
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