Imperials 14.17 (101)
Mannum 11.10 (76)
AT Johnstone Park, the home side’s big men proved the difference with Imperials winning by 25 points over a gallant Mannum.
In a game Imperials were expected to win easily, forwards Martin Ballie and Luke Harrowfield kicked truly to set up an early three-goal lead.
Even with a big injury list, Mannum kept on persevering and were rewarded with Matt Connolly putting on a display.
Connolly changed the game in a matter of minutes as his three quick goals suddenly had his side back on level terms.
The Roos did not stop there, as captain Ben Quinn added two more goals and when Connolly registered his fourth, Mannum was leading at quarter time by 13 points.
After a rev up by coach Tony Fielke, Imperials clicked into gear with their defence holding Mannum goalless.
Imperials’ Ryan Edwards was the architect in the back lines as the midfield of Henry Hodge and Roger Puckridge was beginning to provide problems for the Roos.
Ballie and Harrowfield again chimed in with three goals between them, and when Quinn was sent off, Mannum had lost momentum and was trailing by 11 points at half-time.
The third term saw both sides play strong, contested football, yet Ballie was proving too strong for the Mannum defence.
His two goals in the quarter helped his side extend the margin, however Mannum replied quickly through Maloney and Quinn.
Mannum’s defence was not having the greatest game, but Imperials’ forwards were continually wasting opportunities and allowed Mannum to stay in the game with the Roos only down by 21 points at the three-quarter break.
Ballie started the last quarter well as he booted his fifth, and it was now looking like a convincing win, or so the home faithful thought.
Three goals to Andrew Warnest, Shard Malchow and Mark Dearman put the side within two goals and had the Roos supporters out of the car and urging their side to push on.
Imperials’ Matt Kowald kicked his third goal from the goal square, and then a free gave him his fourth, effectively ending the game.
The final quarter proved a little too close for comfort for Imperials as they allowed Mannum stay close for the whole game.
Best for Imperials was Hodge, who amassed more than 40 possessions, with Edwards, Puckridge and Jason Roberts also contributing well.
The win now puts Imperials on top of the ladder, while Mannum is still outside the top five.
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Mening ie gives Jervois a scare
Jervois 22.11 (143)
Meningie 9.4 (58)
In perfect conditions on Saturday, the young Meningie side took it up to their more fancied opponents for three quarters before the Trevor Rigney show began, and Jervois ran out comfortable winners.
Meningie goaled first through Stuart Willis, five minutes into the game.
Jervois struggled across half forward and when Meningie kicked two more majors they had built an 18 point lead half-way through the quarter.
Zac Ewer kicked Jervois’ first goal at the 16 minute mark only to have an immediate reply from Adam Bettanischi, for Meningie.
Both teams were making some terrible ball handling errors, but Meningie had outplayed the reigning premiers and led by 13 points going into the first break.
Jervois started the second term with three goals in six minutes and there was a sense that the Bluds were about to stamp their authority on the game.
But to Meningie’s credit they withstood the challenge and stayed in the game, continually forcing turnovers with hard tackling and constant pressure.
By half-time Jervois had a hard-earned two-point lead.
After the main break the game was dominated by the defences on both sides.
It was not until Trevor Rigney goaled for the home team at the nine-minute mark that either side could manage a major score.
Two minutes later Jack Lewis responded for the Bears after a brilliant interception.
Each time Jervois looked to be gaining the upper hand, Meningie would respond and keep themselves in the game.
When Stuart Willis kicked his third goal, just before three quarter time, the margin was eight points and the scene was set for an exciting finish.
Exciting it was, but not from a Meningie viewpoint, as Jervois totally dominated the last quarter.
Jervois’ Trevor Rigney, who had struggled all day, came to life and could not do a thing wrong.
When Rigney goaled after the final siren, he had kicked eight of the Bluds’ 12 goals in the last quarter, in an outstanding quarter of football.
For Jervois there were few four-quarter contributors, but Steven Braun defended well all day and Zac Ewer and Brad Schmidt were both good in the midfield.
For Meningie Jack Lewis was excellent across half forward, Robert Payne, on a wing, gained many possessions and Aiden Barker was also named in their best.
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E agles waste half-time lead
Mypolonga 21.9 (135)
Tailem Bend 12.13 (85)
COMING off a thrashing at the hands of Imperials in the previous round, Tailem Bend were looking to get back in the winner’s circle.
But the Eagles conceded 12 second half goals to go down to Mypolonga by 50 points.
Tailem Bend started well with Steven Thomas converting a free in the first minute.
Mypolonga replied quickly through Brad Martin before Thomas booted his second.
When Thorton Farmer set up Thomas for his third and when Wayne Luckett kicked truly, Tailem looked in control.
Patrick Gabb and Dylan Hogarth combined well to set up numerous forward attacks but the Eagles could not make the most of it.
Goals to Martin and Brendan Corrie narrowed the margin to one point and James Pedler put the visitors in front.
Martin and Todd Downs were having a good battle and at the other end Thomas was getting the better of a tight tussle with Matthew Lindner.
Tailem had chances to close the two-goal gap before the break but couldn’t convert and trailed by 11 points.
Farmer opened the scoring in the second term with his first goal but David Wallfried replied immediately for the Tigers.
Anthony Gregurke snapped truly and Damien Raidis goaled to give the Eagles a three-point lead. Two late goals to Phil O’Connell and another to Raidis gave Tailem a handy 15-point lead.
Mypo started the third quarter well with early goals through Martin and Corrie to put them back in front.
Hogarth tried to drag his side back into the game as it quickly slipped away.
The three Pedlers were dominant for Mypo and doing plenty of damage.
Cain Lynn was getting the ball forward quickly for the Tigers and the big men in Martin and James Pedler took some top marks.
Both teams rebounded well and Mypo took a 15-point lead into the final change.
Corrie put Mypo further in front with his fourth.
Tailem trapped the ball deep in their forward for several minutes before Corrie’s fifth extended the lead.
Damien Raidis cut the margin but Joel Eckermann sealed the win midway through the term.
Late goals to George Pedler, brother Joe and Martin put the icing on the cake as the Tigers ran out the game with 12 of the last 13 goals.
Final scores were Mypo 21.9 to Tailem Bend 12.13.
Cain Lynn was best on ground with Eckermann and Joe Pedler also featuring in the side’s best.
For Tailem, Michael Thomas was solid at centre half back, along with Tony Lynch in the middle and Phil O’Connell provided a target all day at centre-half-forward.
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