LIAM PHILLIPS
NURIOOTPA took a handy
percentage boost from Saturday’s
Barossa, Light &
Gawler Football Association
A-grade contest, hosting
Freeling for a 21.8 (134)
to 5.8 (38) drubbing to bolster
its position of second on
the ladder.
The forward pair of Samuel
Falland and James Bentley enjoyed
a day out, kicking seven
and six goals respectively as
no other Tiger slotted more
than one. Bentley’s six goals
extended his league-leading
tally to 45, nine clear of second-
placed Michael Howson
of Willaston.
While Nuriootpa was able
to generate scoring shots at
will, Freeling’s start was far
from disgraceful, with the
Redlegs heading into quarter
time down 5.5 (35) to 3.2 (20).
Nuri’s backline woke up
after quarter time, only allowing
another two goals for the
game as the Tigers rattled off
five goals, four goals and seven
goals in the next three frames.
For Freeling, Brady Scott
(three goals) and Ben Heinrich
(two goals) provided all
of the Redlegs’ goals, while
Scott Dutschke and Adam
Cockshell fought admirably
through the middle of the
ground under wave after wave
of Tigers streaming forward.
Outside of the big goalkickers,
Jack Henke, Scott
Bentley and Brad Hoepner
earned the plaudits of coach
Kyle Jenner, making it seven
appearances in the bests from
11 games for Scott, and five
times in six tries for Hoepner.
With an 8-4-2 record for
the season, Nuriootpa is one
point clear of Tanunda and
Kapunda occupying the third
and fourth spots, and two
points clear of Willaston and
Angaston in fifth and sixth.