ERRORS PROVE COSTLY
By Robert Laidlaw

Round 22, 2/9/2006

Central District Bulldogs paid the price for earlier errors when it went down by two points against North Adelaide Roosters, after making a late six-goal charge at Elizabeth on Saturday night.

At least three defensive goal-costing errors and two set-shot misses on goal proved fatal in the end, although the Bulldogs ability to run out the match and fall tantalisingly short will leave question marks in North's psyche going into the finals.

The first quarter was tight, with neither side was able to break through for a score until Chad O'Sullivan converted a clever pass from Luke McCabe 10 minutes in. A big bomb from Luke Cowan a minute later saw Central flying.

But an undisciplined free kick half way through the term, and a dropped mark in defence, saw the Roosters hammer home two goals to take a one point lead. At the first break the scores were tied up at
2.2 apiece.

Through the first half of the second term the Bulldogs had the ascendancy, but two early behinds resulted, one a simple shot on goal from Chris Gowans, which faded to the right.

O'Sullivan gave a repeat performance at the 11 minute mark when he took a back step from a pack and snapped the first goal of the quarter, which was followed up by a clever major from Leigh Westhoff, when he tapped a ball back and retrieved the footy, then snapped truly.

A brilliant tackle from Stuart Cochrane in defence seemed to signal Central had control leading into time on, as the Roosters had failed to trouble the scoreboard attendants.

North finally kicked a goal against the run of play, but when O'Sullivan lined up from 40m out at the 26 minute mark, the answer seemed imminent.

In the lead-up to the shot, Luke Cowan had laid a perfect bump on a Rooster player, before the ball was delivered to Daniel Schell and transferred to O'Sullivan. The bump knocked out the unfortunate North on-baller, which required a stretcher.

O'Sullivan waited patiently for his kick, but after a two minute delay, sprayed his shot for a behind, the fired up Roosters then took the ball down for a goal, and managed another quick major to grab a four point lead at the long break.

An obviously pumped up North came out with all guns blazing in the third term, kicking another five unanswered goals up to time on, the Bulldogs managing three of the four final majors to close the gap to
23 points at lemons.

When Adrian Wilson marked and converted three minutes into the last quarter, Bulldog fans started sensing a possible fightback. But three majors over the next 10 minutes saw North extend its advantage to 37 points, and the Roosters visibly relaxed.

Just before time-on Elijah Ware kicked a good goal, and after a North behind, Schell and Chris Gowans booted majors to reduce the margin to 20 points, but a four minute scoreless period seemed to signal the end of the contest.

At the 28 minute mark Westhoff booted his third major, and when Wilson did likewise two minutes later, an exciting buzz went through the crowd.

Luke Cowan, who had returned from injury, brought the house down with a long running goal of the game at the 31 minute mark, as the Bulldogs trailed by only two points and an impossible comeback victory looked on the cards.

Unfortunately the final minute of the game was a scrap in the centre and when the siren sounded, a relieved but jubilant Rooster outfit left the field, while Central was applauded for its effort by the Bulldog faithful.

The major difference in the game was Crow ruckman Ben Hudson, who showed no ill-effects from his knee reconstruction and controlled the ball ups for North.

Many Bulldog players were contained, but with its ability to run the game out and only just miss out on victory, it should hold Central in good stead on the doorstep of the finals.

O'Sullivan, Thomas and Slade were the most effective on-ballers for Central, while defenders Brad Currie and Quinton Graham were solid four-quarter performers, and Leigh Westhoff came off the bench to add plenty of bite in the forward area.

This week the Dogs travel to Richmond Oval to take on bottom side West Adelaide, and must win to keep their double chance in the finals alive.

North Adelaide 14.7 (91) d Central District 14.5 (89)
Best: O'Sullivan, Graham, Slade, Thomas, L. Westhoff, Currie.
Goals: L. Westhoff 3, Wilson 3, O'Sullivan 2, Cowan 2, Schell 2, Ware, C. Gowans.

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