Brendan Lines 6-7-2016

GAWLER Central dug deep to defeat a determined South Gawler by 33 points in Saturday’s BL&G footy suicide prevention round clash of the big cats.

Reeling from injuries after their Barossa District encounter, the Tigers were without key midfielders Luke Edwards and Jason Blakemore.

After thumping Freeling, coach Scott Lee’s Lions were hungry for another scalp, and continue pushing for the top four.

Pressure from South was on from the first bounce, and a tough, physical scrap continued all quarter.

The Lions were tenacious as Matthew Foldesdy and David Aldred led the attack.

South committed relentlessly to the 50/50 contests all over the ground.

Aldred’s marking up forward was proving to be a problem for the Tigers’ defence, yielding three goals for the match.

It took a combined effort of Bradley Mercer and Craig Taylor to mount a late response to keep the Tigers within a kick at quarter-time.

Anger was brooding from the Tigers’ coach’s box as Damien Herzick said “you are going to have to take on the contest against a side more desperate than you”.

Lee was upbeat, but realistic of the task ahead, calling for constant pressure at the 50/50 contests.

The claws were out as the Lions took the scrap right to the Tigers with the first major of the second term.

It was clear the Tigers needed new tactics.

Mercer joined the half-forward line, combining with Taylor, Thomas Dunne and Charlie Molyneux.
Goals to each saw the Tigers go into half-time ahead by nine points.

Happy with the intent at the contests, Lee reinforced the Lions’ resolve, saying “keep them working hard for their goals”.

Herzick asked his team for an immediate return to form, saying “show some more belief in what we’re doing”.

Central was back in the contest, in the third, and quelled the Lions’ confidence with an early goal off the back of efforts by Corey Solly.

The Lions’ resolve was now being tested by a more focused and accountable Tigers’ attack.

Momentum on the field teetered, as Matthew Naumann kept South to within two goals of the Tigers’ lead.

However, a goal on the three-quarter-time siren, by Mercer, gave Central the edge.

South kept up the assault, with goals to Nicholas White and Jack Millar reigning in the Tigers in the final term.

However, Mercer, Dunne and Daniel Stanley continued to direct traffic and score goals up forward for Central.

Late goals to Samuel Lee and Ben Kerr gave South a pulse, but that soon changed as Kirk Heberle shut down the Lions’ attack, delivering forward to Mercer and Dunne and icing the game.

https://www.bunyippress.com.au/lion-hearted-south-falls-short/