SUMMARY
After a tense, even 1st half which saw OI establish a 9 point margin, the openning 12 minutes of the
3rd term went goalless. It was a desperate struggle for ascendancy. Which team would crack? OI
goaled 1st as a consequence of a DLS turnover in the mid field when DLS was in a promising
situation. Several minutes elasped before OI got their 2nd for the term. Then the flood gates
openned as DLS 3rd term bogy, thought to be slain in the brilliant victory over Old Brighton,
re-emerged. OI kicked the next 7 goals unaswered many as a consequence of DLS poor disposals.
DLS responded with 6 goals in the final term but OI confidence had risen to the extent that they
easily withstood this late challenge.

QTR1
Tense opening. 8 minutes before Jarrod Moloney sharks hit out in goal square for a fine snapped goal.
OI peppering goal but forced into rushed kicks or shots on goal from distance. Tom Moloney, Dan Close and Luke Jarvis have big tasks and are faring well. Fine play around pavilion wing involving Matt Fieldsend and Matt Moore lands ball with David Lowe who converts accurately from an acute angle and DLS had skipped to a handy 9 point lead 17 minutes in. Butler gets OI 1st at 20 minute mark. Several opportunities go begging through poor disposal. Right on siren Toovey marks and gives OI the 3 point lead at the 1st break.
DLS looking good with key players getting hands on ball. Run is obviously troubling OI and centre players breaking even despite Heta’s hit out dominance

QTR2
Another spirited opening. Fieldsend again swoops on loose ball passes to Aaron Shields who as usual is coving more ground than the early settlers. Shields quickly onto Ben Corin who takes a strongly contested mark and converts truly and DLS lead. Plays swings between deep in each others forwards zones. The defence without Corin and Jeff Morel is performing well but OI get 2 goals the latter after 13 minutes of 2nd term play. Nick Roberts doing well on his wing wins contested ball and passes to Sam Pickett whose accurate conversion reduces the margin to 5 points.
As he had done in Qtr1,Toovey marks on siren and OI have a 9 point lead at the main break.

QTR3
Intensity lifts immediately. The contesting of Jarrod Moloney in the centre and the young backs Jarvis, Oakley, Close and T Moloney is admirable. BC now rucking and in centre bounces proving valuable with strong tackles and use of body to advantage on Heta. Speaking of the latter, credit to Dan Close whose 9 kick ins to date have managed to deny the big one a chance to compete. David Lowe, having a fine game linking well with back 6, and delivering s long into the scoring zone. Matt Moore contesting well but against multiple opponents is overwhelmed. Promising move out of defence to wing, attempted pass into corridor is SHORT & HIGH. Interception, ball quickly to Toovey who gets the 1st of the 3rd stanza after 12 minutes of high standard tough football! DLS respond but only minors result! In the remaining 10 minutes OI kick 6 unanswered goals with confidence high and playing virtually non stop football. Although now being beaten out of centre the fundamental problem is OI runs out of defence and long quick delivery into their forwards who are now moving deliberately, confident of fine delivery.

QTR4
Needing quick goals DLS, trailing by 51, contest fiercely. A mismatch in defence has big Al Greenhalgh on the diminutive Theodossi who had kicked the last goal of the 3rd term. He now adds 2 more at the 4 minute mark of the final quarter and one senses that it was all over with the deficit now 63 points! To their credit the boys responded positively. Ryan Sherman who had plenty of ball but was being closely manned, broke clear across the centre, onto Pickett to Fieldsend to Nick Roberts who goaled on the run. Roberts quickly followed up after strong contesting won Fieldsend the ball, onto Jarrod Moloney to Roberts for a kick off the ground. Fieldsend was again involved when he passed to Lowe whose long run through centre found Nick Roberts, who was enjoying a fine spell, and his smart hand pass gave Michael Duggan a clear run to goal which he did. 3 goals in four minutes was a great if belated response. Despite being 46 up OI seemed a bit rattled as after a fine Lowe run through the centre lands the ball deep into attack where Moore is crudely tackled and pushed in the back. From the resultant free, Moore kicks his 1st and DLS 4th for the quarter.
OI hit back with 2 quick goals but DLS is not finished. Corin, strong in the contest, passes to Duggan whose kick to the “hot spot” is roved by Tim Demetriou who runs into the open goal to score. Sam Nethersole’s clear hit out finds Lowe whose fine pass finds the leading Moore and his 2nd was on the board. OI were not to be outdone and late goals to Heta & Butler saw them edge out DLS by 1 point in the final quarter.

Colin Glover
Secretary De La Salle OCA FC Inc