Semi Final, Melville V’s Kalamunda at Troy Park.
After winning their elimination final against Thornlie last week in shocking weather conditions, the Cougars would have hoped to have a fine day for this contest against their old enemy Melville.
Their last encounter in round 13 at Troy Park resulted in a draw and with everything on the line at this stage of the season this game promised everything.
The first term commenced with the Cougars off to a great start completely controlling the game by kicking 4.3 to Melville’s 4 points, with Joel Peters, Leo Lambert, Jackson Bowen and Josh Harris scoring the majors.
The main feature of this quarter was the run and accuracy of the Cougars in wet and slippery conditions.
Melville’s coach must have provided plenty of ‘encouragement’ for his team at the first break, as in the second quarter they began to target our key players with some ‘questionable vigor’.
Trent Pottinger playing his 250th was rough tagged in the middle and Josh Harris started to receive some scalp massage as the quarter progressed.
During this quarter Melville’s ruckman Alex Stewart took complete control of the ruck in the middle and around the ground, creating a feast of opportunity for his teammates. He brought them back to kick 3.2, to trail by 10 points at half time. His domination continued throughout the match.
In the third quarter the Cougars became unsettled, lost composure and must have forgotten coach Bolton’s advice at half time, as they began to play ‘paddock football’.
This was the signal for Melville to exert more physical pressure as the Cougars slipped and scrambled around the river flank to be out marked and outplayed by the Rams, squandering their lead to one point at three quarter time.
The final term became a desperate struggle with the Cougars defence led by Josh Touchell keeping the Rams attack to 1.1 while Giacomo Paduano saved the day with a late goal for a Cougars win by a single point!
The Cougars were lucky to win this game and must concentrate on their main assets speed, accuracy and control to overcome the obstacles of height and physical strength in the forthcoming game against Swan Athletic.
Final scores: Kalamunda; 6.7 – 43, Melville; 5.12 – 42
Best players: Josh Harris, Josh Touchell, Jayden Wood, Trent Pottinger.
Coaches award: Joel Peters and Leo Lambert – ‘courage’
Goals: Leo Lambert, Jackson Bowen, Joel Peters, Josh Harris, Cooper Boyd, Giacomo Paduano
Special Mention: Josh Touchell’s turn of speed!
Other final round games:
C1 Reserves: Semi-final, Kalamunda; 6.2 – 38, Hamersley Carine; 8.4 – 52 (Congratulations to Coach Dean Mann and team for your great support to the League side)
IDC Colts: Semi-final, Kalamunda; 5.8 – 38, Manning; 2.5 – 17
See This Weeks Topic – Alex Haight’s report: Trent Pottinger 250 games.
Next C1 game: (Preliminary Final) Swan Athletic V’s Kalamunda at Swan Athletic Sporting Club at 2.30 PM, Saturday 31 August, 2024.
This post is dedicated to, Mining & Hydraulic Supplies, proud sponsors of the Kalamunda ‘Cougars’ Football Club.
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