DOWN BUT NOT OUT
By Robert Laidlaw
Round 14, 8/7/2006
In a tough encounter at Woodville Oval, Central District conceded the final four
goals of the match late to lose by 24 points to form side Woodville West Torrens.
Outplayed early, the Bulldogs showed plenty of resolve to match it with the home
team, with perhaps the previous week's hard slog against West taking its toll, against
the Eagles who sat out the shocking conditions with a bye.
With prolific ball winners Matthew Slade and Chad O'Sullivan kept in check, it
was left to the hard work of James Gowans and mercurial ruck efforts of Paul Scoullar
to keep Central in the contest.
The Eagles came out of the blocks hard, keeping the ball in their forward area
for the greater part of the first quarter, with some wayward kicking keeping the
Bulldogs in the contest.
Central's only goal of the term was a great pick up and snap from Justin Westhoff,
as the Dogs trailed 1.1 to 4.5 at the first break, a margin which should have been
almost double.
With a more accountable effort in the second quarter Central got back into the
game, and thanks to Luke McCabe's pair of majors, matched Woodville West Torrens
up to the time on period.
At the 23 minute mark an out on the full free in the forward pocket was converted
by Elijah Ware for the goal of the game, while James Gowans booted a major just before
the siren to see Central trail 5.1 to 6.8 at half time.
The first 10 minutes of the third term was all the Bulldogs, as Luke Cowan came
alive in the forward 50m, and consecutive goals to Yves Sibenaler, Daniel Schell,
Cowan and Elijah Ware saw Central move to a
11 point advantage.
Momentum was running with the Dogs, but a missed opportunity at the
11 minute mark gave the Eagles a chance to catch their breath, and they worked the
ball around and evened the field play, eventually slotting through three majors to
reverse the advantage.
A lucky free kick in the goal square at the 30 minute mark saw Alex Stengle convert
full points, for Central to trail 10.2 to 9.11 at lemons.
Woodville West Torrens went on the attack early in the last quarter, but from
three forward forays, only three points were scored. On the rebound James Gowans
slotted a goal to tie up the ball game.
After a rushed behind to the Eagles, James Gowans kicked a wonderful running goal
and the Dogs seemed destined for victory as they grabbed a five point advantage.
A major to the Eagles in reply then a point to Schell at the 14 minute mark saw
the scores again even-stevens. The next five minutes proved an arm-wrestle with neither
side scoring.
The Eagles then broke the shackles leading into time on with a wonderful soccer
goal between two Central defenders, and a further three majors against a tiring Bulldog
unit saw the margin out to 24 points at the finish, exaggerating the difference between
the sides on the day.
For Central, James Gowans was magnificent in the clinches, while Scoullar was
the best big man on the ground. Elijah Ware started slowly but was a crucial play-maker
as the game unwound.
Jason Mackenzie and Adrian Wilson were the best of an undermanned defensive unit,
while Chris Gowans played well in support of his twin brother.
While several media outlets have been focusing on various crowd behaviour incidents
at Central games recently, it was interesting to see an Eagles supporter escorted
from the ground after allegedly assaulting the Gowans twins at half time with a stick
supported flag.
This week Central District has a bye followed by an important fortnight of games
against Norwood away and South at home. Win both games, against top five contenders,
and the Dogs will virtually wrap up a finals berth.
With Quinton Graham, Brad Currie and Richard Cochrane all set to return, plus
Nathan Steinberner in the wings, Central has a good opportunity to set up a charge
for the top three over the rest of the season.
Scores: Eagles 14.16 d Central District 12.4 (76)
Best: J. Gowans, Scoullar, Ware, Mackenzie, Wilson, C. Gowans.
Goals: J. Gowans 3, McCabe 2, J. Westhoff, Sibenaler, Schell, Cowan, Stengle.
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