Joe Hanson contests for the ball as the Roos battled all game in a close-fought match-up with Lavington that ultimately saw them fall short by five points.
CFP Jun17
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PIC1 - Seniors Joe Hanson.jpg
PIC2 - Seniors Jy Lane.jpg
PIC3 - Development.jpg
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Corowa Rutherglen 11.7 73 def by Lavington 11.12 78
Corowa-Rutherglen fell agonisingly short in a thrilling contest against Lavington, going down by just five points after a dramatic, seesawing final quarter at John Foord Oval.
Fresh off breaking an 18-year drought against Yarrawonga, the Roos arrived determined to continue their momentum and claim their first win over Lavington since the opening round of 2022.
The Panthers burst out of the blocks early, placing the Roos’ defence under immense pressure, with Lavington spearhead Tim Oosterhoff looked ominous from the outset.
Kaelan Bradtke finally got the Roos on the board in the 19th minute of the opening term, finishing off a smooth transition through the corridor.
Corowa trailed by six goals at quarter-time, a significant deficit given the forecast conditions, however, the Roos responded emphatically.
Chandler, Bradtke and Purcell capitalised on some shaky Lavington defensive efforts as Corowa launched a fierce counterattack.
The margin was reduced from six goals to just three points by half-time, with the Roos carrying all the momentum into the main break.
Jy Lane gets a kick away to help the Roos stay in touch with the Panthers.
Corowa looked to seize control in the second half, but Oosterhoff again had other ideas.
Football journeyman Tom McCaffery delivered a classy major to help stem Lavington’s momentum, and Raven Jolliffe and Brodie Eyers were outstanding all afternoon.
As the intensity increased, tempers began to flare; both sides threw everything at each other in a contest carrying significant importance for their respective seasons.
A one-off appearance from Ainslie recruit Matt McGrory paid immediate dividends, with his strong crumbing work resulting in a valuable goal, reducing the margin to eight points at three-quarter time.
Tom Forrest was enormous in defence following a positional change.
The versatile key defender became a major asset, repeatedly taking strong intercept marks and repelling Panther attacks.
Bradtke then slammed home his fourth goal of the afternoon and McGrory was again in the thick of the action, kicking a brilliant goal that ignited the Roos faithful and handed Corowa its first lead of the game.
Liam McCarthy was influential, providing plenty of run and carry through the midfield.
A controversial free kick against Jayden Forge handed Lavington the lead and forced the Roos to dig deep once again.
Ky Williamson delivered one of the moments of the day, slotting a brilliant running goal from 45 metres out to put Corowa back in front.
His performance through the midfield drew praise from coach Daryn Cresswell after the match, but Lavington would have the final say, kicking a late goal in the dying minutes to snatch back the lead and break Roos hearts.
While Corowa was unable to come away with the four points, there was plenty to admire in the side’s resilience after overcoming a six-goal deficit and pushing one of the competition’s more consistant teams right to the final siren.
The Roos will now turn their attention to a crucial clash against North Albury at Bunton Park next week.
Development Squad
The Development squad had a tough time on Saturday as the Panthers pounced on the Roos to deliver a walloping to the tune of 162 points.
Roos outclassed by Panthers
Corowa Rutherglen 1.6 12 def by Lavington 28.6 174
Goal: OBrien
Best: Josh Eder, Tommy Allison, Taj Smith, Noah Amery, Sam Livingston, Rory OBrien
The Roos Development Squad was forced to make several changes following last week’s clash with Yarrawonga.
The Panthers proved difficult in all facets of the game, scoring consistently and applying significant pressure to the Roos’ defence throughout the contest.
Josh Eder and Tommy Allison were relentless all day, applying pressure, showing plenty of heart, and never giving up.
Taj Smith and Noah Amery once again displayed great determination and were impressive across the ground.
Sam Livingston, Kade Kuschurt, and Rory O’Brien provided valuable experience and leadership for the young Roos side.
The Panthers were ultimately too strong, with the Roos unable to match their intensity and scoring power, going down convincingly in the end.
Plenty of the Development boys put in a relentless effort, never giving up despite the growing margin.
Under 18s
Roos fall short in Thriller
Corowa Rutherglen 4.8 32 def by Lavington 4.11 35
Goals: Forrest 3, McWilliams 1
Best: Will Forrest, Aaron McWilliams, Austin Ross-Anderson, Ky Lowah, Beau Benton, Noah McSweeney
Corowa-Rutherglen’s Under 18s fell heartbreakingly short against Lavington, going down by just three points after a hard-fought contest.
The Roos dominated the early stages, with Will Forrest proving a constant threat and opening the scoring with the side’s first goal.
Aaron McWilliams then added a second with a long-range major as Corowa took control of the match.
Corowa continued to find strong form throughout the opening half, with Forrest again causing headaches for the Panthers’ defence as he slotted his second goal of the day.
Austin Ross-Anderson and Ky Lowiah were outstanding, linking up regularly and helping drive the Roos forward with their run and ball movement.
Lavington responded through a counterattack and gradually worked its way back into the contest, gaining momentum as the game wore on.
Beau Benton and Noah McSwenney were among Corowa-Rutherglen’s best, producing strong all-round performances and working tirelessly across the ground.
The Panthers eventually completed their comeback late in the game, delivering a shattering blow to the young Roos, who were left to rue missed opportunities in an otherwise impressive performance.
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