SUMMARY

DLS again opened strongly this time against premier favourites Collegians at the Waverley oval on Saturday
but again failed to build on their half time lead . Collegians produced a dominant 3rd term
where they scored 6.4 to 0.1 to lead by 30 at the final break. DLS hit back early with goals to
Sam Williams whose pace and tackling had worried Collegians all match and Matt Moore. When
acting captain David Lowe stormed out of the centre to goal from 50 meters the margin was back 12 points.
It was tense as DLS attacked but could register only behinds. Collegians were playing defensive,
possession football, hugging the boundary whenever possible. Mid term Collegians goaled but still
DLS with intensity pressed for an unlikely victory. 10 minutes of goalless football was finally broken
when 1st year 2nd gamer Olmo Salvatore gaoled following superb play by Nick Roberts & David Lowe.
DLS continued to press but time ran out and Collegians staggered home by 9 points.
In his 100th game Tom Moloney was outstanding with many courageous possessions and containing
the man mountain Fergus Watts to just 3 goals although he did miss several which he would normally kick.

QTR1
The fact that it took 9 minutes before 2nd gamer Olmo Salavtore passed to Sam Williams for the 1st goal of the game demonstrated the evenness of the contest. DLS were clearly on top although Collegians were wasting their opportunities with inaccuracy in front of goal. Tom Moloney given the Herculean task on Watts was doing o.k using anticipation to advantage. Matt Moore contesting strongly as usual marked well at CHF but missed to the right. The DLS defence with Jeff Morel & Allan Greenhalgh missing was under pressure but Luke Jarvis in his 1st senior game for a prolonged period stood out. Defensive pressure by the DLS forwards forced an error when Moore intercepted a clearing pass and goaled on the run late in the quarter.

QTR2
Leading by 9 and with the aid of a mild wind advantage, DLS continued their fast running game which appeared to unsettle their more favoured opponents. Salvatore making the most of his 2nd senior opportunity found Moore whose contested marking is great to watch. Moore got his 2nd despite the double and sometimes triple tagging. DLS margin out to 15 but Reis got Collegians 1st and Taft their 2nd so that mid way through the 2nd term the DLS margin was reduced to 6.
Play had moved up several notches as Collegians fought to gain the ascendancy which DLS resisted stoutly. A scrimmage with many players involved caused a ball up deep in the DLS forward zone. Ben Mannix rucking superbly palmed to the charging Matt Fieldsend who snapped truly and ended a 12 minute goal draught for the Dees. With play constantly in the DLS half, packs formed frequently. From a boundary throw in when the Collegians ruck hit the ball directly back over the line Sam Pickett was freed. With all other options covered Pickett elected to kick from almost the impossible angle. He succeeded with a check side kick which brought much delight to the DLS fans and a handy 19 margin close to half time. But Collegians are a fine, proud team and they lifted and kicked the final 2 goals of the quarter with Watts getting his 1st. They relative effectiveness of the teams is amplified as Collegians scored 4 goals straight from just 6 entries while DLS added 3.6 from 12 entries. Was it going to prove costly? DLS had dominated the centre clearances 6:1 but had failed extract maximum benefit of this rare opportunity!

QTR3
Trailing by 9, Collegians blasted out of the blocks in much the same manner as Uni Blues had done 2 weeks earlier with Watts getting his 2nd within minutes of the resumption. Taft bobbed up for his 2nd soon after and Collegians had taken the lead for the 1st time since very early in the match. DLS rarely crossed the half way mark as the centre clearances were now dominated by Collegians to the same extent as DLS had done. DLS tried to slow the game down with numerous crosses in the back half. This seemed counter intuitive as the earlier fast play on game had served it well. Pressure mounted steadily. DLS could not find an avenue to the forward arc let alone to goal! Michael Duggan with a superb running effort tried to break the shackles but although inspirational, the 5 bounce run did not land DLS the goal which it desperately needed. Mannix was injured and Moore was being well held. The defence with Moloney, Jarvis and Trent Anderson just managing to contain their respective opponents was under siege! 4 more Collegians’ goals ensued with Adkins 2, joining in the party along with Watts & Taft .

QTR4
Trailing by 30 points going into the final quarter after a 40:1 point 3rd term, DLS for the 2nd successive week had given themselves a monumental task just to stay in the contest. 6 minutes of intense football saw DLS squander 3-4 promising opportunities. Sam Williams who had been had been quietened since quarter time marked under pressure and played on at half forward but his snap missed. Soon after Nick Roberts won possession passed to Duggan who found Williams at CHF and this time he kicked truly. DLS surprisingly had all of the play as Collegians appeared to be trying to save the game. Tim Demetriou covering substantial ground gained possession skilfully but was poorly tackled after disposal which gave Moore a free in front of goal. He got his 3rd and DLS crept to within 16 points with only 8 minutes elapsed. DLS was now clearly winning the centre contests and David Lowe gathered the rolling ball cleverly and goaled from about 50 meters and DLS surged. 10 points down with less than half the quarter gone. Forward entries are running at 3:1 in DLS favour but opportunities are not taken. Collegians are definitely in lock down mode hugging the boundary with short disposals. Man up Dees is the cry! Collegians creep forward. A doubtful free, quick play on, Taft marks 30 out from goal. Scores. Margin back out to 13. Still only 15 minutes have been played. Still time if DLS make the most of their opportunities. Long floating kicks into the forward zone are far from the ideal. Moore contests every issue but is out gunned by now 3 opponents. DLS miss 3 times but Collegians also miss (2). David Lowe playing courageously finds Nick Roberts who runs and disposes superbly to Salvatore who goals at the 22 minute mark.
Collegians shut the game down completely and run out winners by 9 despite some telling statistics;
Centre clearances 14:8 Forward entries 44:33 Shots on goal 23:22. All in DLS favour!


Colin Glover
Secretary De La Salle OCA FC Inc