Rovers scrape past Tocumwal

Final score: Deni Rovers 11.6 (72) def Tocumwal 9.9 (63).

The game began with both teams showing their intent early on, attacking the ball with ferocity and precision.

Tocumwal quickly made their mark, with Flynn Tonks dominating the forward line for Tocumwal. He was a constant threat to the Rovers’ defence and finished the game with five goals.

Once the Rovers recovered from Tocumwal’s fast start, they held possession to end the quarter with steadying goals from Hayden Barker and a confidence-boosting goal for Kaiden Joss on his return from injury.

The first quarter set the tone for the rest of the match, with both teams exchanging goals and demonstrating their attacking prowess.

Tocumwal kicked four goals and no behinds as they edged slightly ahead of the Rovers’ three goals and two behinds to take a narrow four-point lead at quarter-time.

However, the Rovers responded in the second quarter, tightening their defence and capitalising on turnovers with Harry Way, Jackson Muldoon-Leetham and Tyson Willis all kicking majors.

Willis again took a mark-of-the-year contender to spur on the Rovers crowd.

The third quarter was a see-sawing affair, with neither team able to establish a significant break.

Willis kicked the only goal for the quarter, with the Rovers kicking two behinds and Tocumwal kicking three.

Heading into the final quarter, the Rovers held a slender 19-point lead.

The intensity of the match reached its peak, with every possession and contest taking on added significance.

Tocumwal threw everything at the Rovers, but Deni’s ability to withstand the onslaught proved decisive.

The Rovers’ main avenues to goals, Barker finished off the day kicking three goals while Willis was adjudged Rovers’ best on ground for his five.

In the dying minutes of the game, the Rovers held their nerve, maintaining possession and running down the clock to secure a hard-fought 9-point victory.

For the Rovers, Tom Blake was highly influential across the halfback line with his intercept marks and reading of the play.

Cam Wills continued his stellar season, being a ball magnet across the ground and in the midfield, as was Logan Ives, who was relentless around the contest in the wet conditions.

Rowan Frazer was reliable in the backline with his one-percenters, and Kaiden Joss provided plenty of run and effort off the wing.

Best players: Tyson Willis, Tom Blake, Cam Wills, Logan Ives, Rowan Frazer and Kaiden Joss.

Goals: Tyson Willis 5, Hayden Barker 3, Harry Way, Kaiden Joss, Jackson Muldoon-Leetham.

Reserves:

Despite a strong effort until three-quarter time from both teams, the Deni Rovers pulled away in the final quarter to secure the win in John Glowrey’s 300th club game for Rovers.

The Rovers started slow in the lunchtime game trailing at the first two breaks.

However the Rovers kicked into gear in the third quarter kicking four goals to Tocumwal’s none, setting up a match-winning lead.

The final quarter saw Rovers kick two goals and win the game by 35-points.

As mentioned, the game was all about Glowrey - a loyal clubman who played his 300th senior club game.

He was chaired off from arguably the far scoreboard wing, allowing plenty of time for Alex, Ed and Jane Glowrey to get ample footage on the video camera.

Final score: Deni Rovers 10.11 (71) def Tocumwal 5.6 (36).

Best players: Harry Mcilwain, Matthew Horne, James Kirby, Ben McCalman, Nick Stubbings and Aden Bermingham.

Goals: Matthew Horne 3, Tristan Fitzsimmons 2, Hayden Gardiner, Matthew Wade, Ben Littmann, James Kirby, Scott Howard.