Round 9 Blues v Cougars
1st qtr
The final regular round of the season saw fourth place Blues and third place Bulldogs even on wins of 2 each but the Bulldogs ahead on percentage. The pressure was on the Blues to do something they hadn’t quite done this year and beat 2nd place Cougars to earn their spot in a semi-final.
New Blues ruckman Taylor set up the Blues attack early through hit out to Jay and handpass to Binnie but inaccurate kicking was cut off by Connor for the Cougars. Cougars pass the ball well and try a fast moving game but as with many occasions this game the formidable half back floater Jared Court sweeps up the loose kicks and uses his impressive kick to turn an attack into defence very quickly for the opposition.
The first quarter was a dream for the defenders for both teams with inaccurate kicking into attack from half forward allowed the likes of Jinxy and Bangers (Cougars) and Courty and Buzz (Blues) to repel most attacks.
The Joel Selwood of the CAFL George read (Cougars) was sent off for the blood rule and returns as the Mummy all bandaged up. Hopefully this time it straightens his nose.
Bangers clean read of the play saw him take many good marks across the half back and hitting Edy at half forward regularly. First major for the quarter came through this play. Seconds later Jimmy (Blues) smart switch of play hit Buzz for a set shot 55m out. But unable to control the ball with swirling wind pushes it wide.
The Blues midfield Binnie and Jay combine well through the middle with 1 -2 and floated straight past Brooks (Cougars) who was more interested lecturing philosophy to the umpire than playing footy, thankfully for the Cougars he switched back on minutes later where he gathered the ball and found an elusive Edy in the pocket, turned and kicked straight into the square and found Kris for an easy goal.
Big Blues ruckman Leyton is like an octopus if you get too close and wrapped up a stray Cougar – Buzz tried to play-on and kicked the goal from 50 out in front but the umpire had called it back. Leyton’s kick fell short and Blues remained goaless for the quarter.
Quarter time Cougars 2 0 12 Blues 0 2 2
First attempt at a Blues goal came within minutes of the bounce after a switch of play, a free kick and a 50m penalty for post whistle shenanigans saw Taylor kick at goal from close range and hit the post. So they did it the hard way with a Cougars wayward kick-in found Will (Blues) who kicked a rotating helicopter 40 metres out from goal on the boundary line.
Most play was between the 50’s with both defences standing up in to cut off the attack. Cougars Irishman Connor smoked the usually wily Sammy who hit the aforementioned Mummy taking a strong mark at half forward. Using the wind his big kick fades to the side and this wind is proving harder to be accurate when its behind you. Big josh intercepted a cross court kick and kicked a rain maker into the heavens where Hoff dive’s full stretch for the ball in a low mark- he’s a bit dazed from kissing the grass and he kicks a point.
Courty puts on a showcase of two big jinks off the wing and hits Binnie 50m out. Once again poor discipline from the Cougars sees a 50 paid right up to the goal line and the Blues hit the front for the first time heading into the wind.
Half time Cougars 2 3 Blues 2 4
Kicking into the wind the scores are soon even with Jay using his left foot but is intercepted by Brooks, whose long kick to Edy in goal square falls to ground and tough defence rushes a behind.
A goal by Te (Blues) came from scrappy play from Andy who kicked after a evading a tackle and using the wind to kick long into a ground contest. A series of out of bounds on the full saw a volley of to and fro kicks until Jimmy kicked a high mongrel punt from 45m on the boundary for goal of the day. Blues are up by 2 goals.
HOWEVER minutes later a boundary throw in from the same spot is tapped cleanly to Keegan who curls the ball from 45 on the boundary. This now has to be Goal of the Day running through peak hour traffic to kick truly. Keegan’s Mum stands proud after travelling all the way down from Kaikoura to watch her son who travels up from Oamaru to play.
Blues have made good use of the breeze for the premiership quarter and pull 3 goals ahead.
Three Quarter time - Cougars 2 6 18 Blues 5 6 36.
The Cougars have the wind in the last quarter and they still seem full of run whilst the Blues seem to be fading in this quarter. Buzz, Courty and Jay try to lift the troops with some long runs into the wind but Connor at half back is hard to get past and finds Brooks at the half forward line with a boomer. Brooks high floater on the run from half forward line lifts the Cougars spirits and they are 2 goals down.
Taylor rucking for the Blues is hitting Binnie and Jay but Monster, Connor and Jinxy across half back are repelling most Blues attacks into the wind. The Blues are slowing down but the Cougars inaccuracy is slowing their advance. A Blues kick in goes straight to Monster who goes back from 50 and its looking good till the wind makes it dip and it hits the post.
Cougars next goal comes from a passage of play from a Monster intercept to find Edy on the run and for Brooks to mark truly and score in front. And the Cougars are only 5 points down.
Once again the rucking of Leyton puts the Blues into attack off the Blues midfield. Rongo tries to kick clear in defence but only finds Binnie in the Blue defensive wall – he in turn finds Sammy on the 50m. He takes his time, milks the clock, approaches his run off and then kicks the living skin off the sherrin into the wind for a 50m sausage roll.
In the end the Blues were too desperate for the footy and keep their hope of playing in a Grand Final again (last time 2014) and were prepared to put their head over the ball and pick it up when it mattered. Never mind these two teams will play the semi-final next week for the honour of playing in the Grand Final.
Ding Ding Round 2
Blues 6 7 43 defeated Cougars 4 8 32
By Steve Langridge
Last Modified on 28/11/2020 21:49