The Yass Roos held off a persistent ANU outfit by 20-points in a scrappy contest at the university on Saturday.
Struck by injuries, Yass did enough to win their 13th consecutive game this year and reinforce their credentials as competition favourites.
Ryan Cox, the competition’s leading centre-half-back was forced from the field with hamstring complications, Adrian Paull played despite a recurring knee-injury and Lloyd Scroope’s day was cut short courtesy of a broken finger. With three players out of action, the Roos battled on with a near-empty bench, doing enough to keep their unblemished record intact.
Yass came into the match on the back of a three week break. As expected, the top of the table Roos were somewhat rusty in the opening exchanges. Both sides exchanged early goals before the visitors skipped out to hold a marginal 11-point lead at the first change.
An early goal to half-forward-flank and players’ player Ben McCallum gave the Roos breathing space and indicated they might run away from their less-fancied opponents. ANU continued to hassle the Roos and through sheer determination reduced the deficit to 13 by half-time.
An improved showing in the third term saw the visitors earn a healthy 24-point lead by three quarter time. With tiring players, one semi-fit charger on the bench, and the team’s key on-baller Ben Serafin in strife with a leg injury, the blue, grey and whites were simply satisfied with the four competition points.
Great news for star backman Doug Watchorn and veteran back-pocket Wayde Chalmers: both can keep their pants on at the end of the year. The ‘Fox Terrier’ and Watchorn both registered their first goals for the season.
Roos’ Coach Terry Lemon was delighted with the outcome. “It was a game we had to have,” Lemon said. “ANU is the only side we haven’t kicked a 100 points against this year. We went into the contest with the right attitude; we knew they were a tough side.
“I was expecting to win, but I knew it was going to be tough. We need to improve on our commitment to each other. Otherwise, I don’t plan to change anything.”
This week, the Roos travel to Kingston to meet the Eastlake Demons. With two weeks before the finals, coach Lemon will use this week as a chance to rest those carrying niggling injuries. Ben Serafin and Ryan Cox will sit the match out, Adrian Paull is a 50/50 chance to play, while the versatile Ben Scroope will be given a rest after a string of busy games.
With each win, opposing teams' desire to knock off the undefeated out-of-towners grows. A slip in concentration could culminate in a surprise loss at the back end of the season. For now, Yass hope to just keep rolling along.
***
Yass Roos 12.14.86 [B McCallum 5, B Foran 3, D Poidevin, B Serafin, W Chalmers, D Watchorn goals] defeated ANU 10.6.66 [G Jones 4, E Gordon 2, D Orr, W Jay, A Feeney, A Kay goals]
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