BERRI GOOD WIN
By Robert Laidlaw

Round 9, 2/6/2007

Central District Bulldogs played its first official game at Berri and easily accounted for West Adelaide Bloods, for a 'very good win,'
tasting an 89 point success.

From the get-go Central hit the boards running, kicking a goal through James Gowans in the first two minutes, and a brace of three in a two-minute period soon after, plus another quick pair half way through.

At quarter time the Bulldogs led 7-1 to 1-2, and for all intents and purposes, the game was over as a contest. Central was dominant on every line, and West did not look capable of matching the top side.

Daniel Schell, playing his 100th game for the club has been a revelation at centre half back this season, and was moved up forward, rookie Daniel Havelberg switched to half back, captain Paul Thomas was on the wing, and Jonathan Giles shouldered the bulk of the ruckwork.

These moves, plus Nathan Grima completely blanketing Nick Prokopec from full back, Chris and James Gowans doing the hard work at the stoppages, and Elijah Ware tearing the heart out of West with his pace, saw a confident Bulldog outfit stamp its authority on the game.

Things went from bad to worse for the Bloods in the early part of the second term as Central kicked four unanswered goals in the first 13 minutes to lead 11-1 to 1-3.

Some inaccuracy saw the Dogs only add four behinds to half time, while West could only manage one rushed point. Goalkicking options were a major difference, as Central had six goal-scorers in the first half, including four by Ware and a pair each by the Gowans twins.

A resolute fightback by the Bloods saw them do most of the attacking in the first 10 minutes of the third term for a return of 2-1, but two goals each to Ware and Heath Lawry saw the Dogs go to a 15-5 to
3-7 lead at lemons.

Lawry's clever gather of a loose ball 30m out and 'un-natural' right foot snap score the goal of the game into time on.

The match had become more of a tussle after the long break, and West did have its moments in the last term, but Central was playing consistent good football and powered away with a five to two goal final stanza to finish the rout.

Very rarely do players with 20 plus possessions miss out on the best player list, but a couple did this week, such was Central's even team performance.

For four-quarters of solid football, including eight bone-crunching tackles, Paul Thomas played his best game of the season, while close behind was in-form Elijah Ware, whose six goal return added a bit of polish to the team.

The Gowans boys were hot, while Grima was solid in defence and Schell continued his exceptional marking exploits up front rather than down back. A special mention to rookies Giles (three goals) and Havelberg, who both had outstanding games.

It was a good weekend overall for the Dogs with four memorable victories. The reserves held the Bloods to just one behind in a 70 point thrashing, the 19s came back from three goals down to win by a point, while the 17s were even further behind but got up by nine points.

The Berri match was Central's sixth country game since 1994 and fourth victory, after two contests at Port Pirie (versus North), and games at Clare (Sturt), Whyalla (Port) and Nuriootpa (North), but the first in the 21st century.

This week Central travel to Unley Oval, where the Bulldogs have not lost since 1985 (when the Blues left for Adelaide Oval). Returning in
1999 with a win at the ground, the club is 7-0 since.

Central 20-7 (127) d West Adelaide 5-8 (38)
Best: Thomas, Ware, James Gowans, Chris Gowans, Grima, Schell, Havelberg, Giles.
Goals: Ware 6, J. Gowans 3, Giles 3, C. Gowans 2, Lawry 2, Callinan 2, Schell, Havelberg.

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