AARON DEGREEF
BAROSSA DISTRICT secured a tight nine-point win over Gawler Central on Saturday in Barossa Light & Gawler A-grade football.
Straight out of the rooms, the ferocity of both side’s midfield was top notch.
Although the composure of Barossa allowed it to dominate the centre clearances, Tiger Adam Byster took a great mark and slotted a textbook set-shot to open his team’s account.
This was complimented by another major from Brad Mercer after receiving a free kick.
Overall, the opening term was a pressure game, which the Tigers managed to play more efficiently to lead by seven points at quarter-time.
The second term saw a retaliation from Barossa.
Darren Sharp swallowed a hospital ball and booted the first goal for the term, before Todd Miles added another after collecting the crumbs off a contest and kicking truly under pressure.
This was followed by an extended arm-wrestle across the midfield and the backlines until Barossa eventually broke the Central barricade, with Giles O’Driscoll slotting a tight 40-metre shot and Jaydn Goodfellow guiding two majors through.
However, the Tigers kept in touch with Andrew Wright working some magic with a 50-metre banana kick, which he immediately added to with a running goal.
The main break arrived after Central sharpshooter Bradley Mitchell converted from 60 metres out to close the difference to two goals at quarter-time.
Barossa was the first to strike in the third term, with O’Driscoll and Leigh Ryswyk collecting one goal apiece.
Byster countered with a set shot, adding another to his collection, before Goodfellow and Ryan Watson responded from long range for the Dogs to extend their lead to 26 points at the last change.
The final quarter began with another arm wrestle, as the ball zipped around the midfield, with neither side gaining advantage.
Sharp broke the deadlock, and although Tigers displayed a strong finish, Barossa hung on in the final minutes to secure the victory.
Speaking after the game, Barossa playing-coach Miles was happy with the win.
“Ben Cummings, Ryan Watson and Daniel Kickel, among a few others, were very good,” he said.
“It was great to have Jaydn (Goodfellow) back in the team, with him supplying the team with four goals.”
However, Miles noted some areas of improvement.
“We really need to work on our goal kicking and on simple skill errors…as those are the two things that are costing us,” he said.