SOLID EFFORT IN RIVALRY ROUND
By Robert Laidlaw

Central District Bulldogs faced its 21st century rivals Woodville West Torrens Eagles under lights at Elizabeth on Saturday, and with a workman-like effort, triumphed by 17 points after a solid final quarter.

Struggling against a class team on a three game winning streak, fighting for the double chance, Central answered the challenge for its best win of the season, and is now clearly positioned in the top three.

The repercussions of the victory ensure the Bulldogs are now in a good position to find some consistency without playing catch-up, and over the next month Central can set its season up.

Games away against the bottom two sides, West and Port, are followed by the state game and a home clash with South Adelaide - three winnable matches.

Against the Eagles, Central started well with three first quarter goals, Heath Lawry finding his range on the run, Daniel Havelberg converting a chance supplied by Luke McCabe, and Chad O'Sullivan using his best soccer skills, for an 11 point lead at the first break.

The second term was a nightmare for the home side, as the Eagles converted their five scoring opportunities into goals, while Matthew Slade's six-pointer was the Bulldogs only accurate shot from their five shots at the big white sticks.

Trailing by nine points at half time, Central looked the goods early in the third term after McCabe managed a goal and Scott Dutschke put the Bulldogs in front at the 17 minute mark, but the Eagles steadied for two majors to restore its advantage by the final break.

An obvious lift in intensity to start the final stanza saw Central relentless in its attack on the ball, and at the three minute mark Slade put the Dogs within a kick with a nice goal.

Against the flow of play the Eagles pulled one back, but after Leigh Westhoff supplied an opportunity to Havelberg, and Trent Goodrem put a good ball out in front of Lawry, Central scored full points twice to hit the front 13 minutes into the term.

A good running goal from Elijah Ware and Scott Dutschke's conversion from 50m supplied some breathing space, with Havelberg's snap across his body from 35m out the goal of the game, before the Eagles booted the final major.

With a disciplined defence, Central managed to stay in touch throughout the contest, with its 11 point lead at quarter time the biggest margin until the final term onslaught.

Andrew Hayes was superb at half back, taking 10 good marks and laying five solid tackles to be best. Paul Thomas, James Gowans and Matthew Slade worked hard around the stoppages, while Richie Cochrane again performed well in the back half.

Kapunda man Jason Mackenzie reached the 100 game milestone on the weekend for the Dogs, and worked in tandem with another Kapunda product, Jonathon Giles in ruck, to help the Bulldogs break even at the stoppages.

This week Central will be gunning for its 13th consecutive win over West Adelaide, and its fourth straight victory at Richmond.

Central District 3.1 4.5 6.9 12.12 (84 pts.)
Eagles 1.2 6.2 8.4 10.7 (67 pts.)
Best: Hayes, Thomas, J. Gowans, Slade, Cochrane, Lawry, Havelberg.
Goals: Havelberg 3, Lawry 2, Slade 2, Dutschke 2, O'Sullivan, McCabe, Ware.

Round 7 Award Winners

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