RAMBLERS won the toss and elected to kick with the wind to the road end in their clash with Mypolonga at the Tigers’ home ground.
The Roosters cleared the first centre bounce through a kick by Troy Cowland, with a point the first of many points scored by both teams for the day.
Mypo kicked back to the centre through Mark O’Born and Joe Pedler but Ryan Viney intercepted this attack, tapping the ball onto Adam Jackson who kicked to Patrick O’Neil for another point.
Mypo were playing a strong defensive game with Joe Pedler, O’Born and Aaron Zrim repelling Ramblers’ attacks.
Nathan Creaser for Mypo handballed to his team-mate Keiren Jaensch whose kick was intercepted by Daniel Zadow, who sent the ball back to the Rooster forward lines.
Mypo’s Joe Oxborrow marked the ball and went rushing through the centre where three Ramblers tried to mark the ball but spoiled each other.
Caine Lynn for Mypo quickly scooped up the ball to kick the first goal of the game.
Back at the centre Mypo got the ball cleanly at the bounce through a kick from Scott Meneghetti, which was marked by Jed Dunbar.
He handballed back to Meneghetti who kicked towards Mypo’s goals.
Lynne again swooped on the ball resulting in his second goal.
Mypo were winning the centre bounces through Zrim but Liam O’Neil smothered the ball and handballed it to Mark Marchetti who went towards his forwards.
Both teams were working hard to win the ball with Joe Pedler winning lots of possessions ably supported by Dunbar and Meneghetti.
Ramblers were also getting lots of possessions but were inaccurate in front of goals.
A kick-in by Eli Koch was marked by Luke Button, whose kick earned Joel Matchoss a free.
He kicked to his team’s forward area where Mypo’s Dan Kelly cleared it back to centre.
Jarrad Weyland picked it up, kicking to Patrick O’Neil who tapped onto Matchoss whose kick was marked by Ryan Bretag.
An intercept by Mypo’s Joe Pedler sent the ball back to the centre.
Creaser handballed to Jaensch, who handballed to Brendan Corrie, who kicked towards goals.
Wells outsmarted his opponent to get the ball and run around to kick a sideways goal.
Another quick goal was scored by Mypo’s Paul Anastasiou when he cleverly kicked the ball off the ground and through the goals.
At quarter time Mypo led 4.4 to 0.6.
In the second quarter Ramblers won the first centre bounce when Patrick O’Neil kicked to his forwards.
A free to Mypo’s Jaensch sent the ball down the other end through Ashley Martin and Zrim where Ramblers’ Tyson Mathews cleared the ball onto Greg Stevens and then onto Liam O’Neil.
He then put a high ball into the goal area where it was marked by Jarrod Sykes who kicked Ramblers’ first goal.
A free at the next centre bounce to James Pedler was picked up by Button who kicked back to Sykes.
Koch received the ball and kicked to Zadow.
A strong mark to Joe Pedler who kicked to Ash Martin sent the ball back to the centre.
Liam O’Neil intercepted but his team couldn’t capitalise when Mypo’s Kelly marked in the goal square.
Jaensch for Mypo goaled after Zadow was sent off and Mypo received a 50-metre penalty.
Ramblers won the next centre bounce resulting in Jackson having a kick at goals. They still were having difficulty finding the centre of the goals.
The kick out was marked by Meneghetti who kicked to George Pedler who kicked onto Todd McAlister.
He tapped the ball back to George who goaled.
Ramblers got one back when Sykes kicked to Ryan Morris who goaled.
Caine Lynn kicked another goal after Joe Pedler kicked in from the back lines to Dunbar and onto Joe Oxborrow.
At half time Mypo led 7.5 - 2.12
Ramblers must have received a roasting at the big break as they came out firing and momentarily took control of the game. Goals came to Viney, Marchetti, Ben Dougall, Button and three to Liam O’Neil for Ramblers. This was before Mypo could get one through Brad Martin but Ramblers had a three quarter time lead of 9.15 to 8.7.
Both teams scored three goals each in the last quarter, with Ramblers running out winners 12.18 to Mypo 11.14.
It was an entertaining game with both sides fighting hard for the two points. Best players for Ramblers were Button, Ty Pfeiffer, Liam O’Neil, Viney and Cowland while Mypo’s best were Lynn, the three Pedler brothers and McAlister.
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