GLENELG THIRD QUARTER BREAK OPENED WAY FOR WIN
By Haydn Bunton
Good tactics, well-applied, gave Glenelg a decisive break over Torrens in the third quarter at Glenelg Oval today, and although Torrens kicked on better than the Bays in the last term, they could not bridge the gap.
|
|
|
| 1st
| 2nd
| 3rd
| Final
| Pts
|
| Glenelg
| 3.4
| 6.6
| 10.11
| 12.14
| 86
|
| West Torrens
| 2.2
| 4.12
| 6.14
| 9.17
| 71
|
|
|
Crowd: 11,000
In the first half, the result seemed in the melting pot, with neither team exercising enough influence to foreshadow a win
for it.
There was only a goal between the teams when they came out for the third quarter.
That was a pretty true reflection of the state of what had been, to then, a scraggy, slogging game. Both teams had played so close to each other that no better football could have been expected.
Trenorden on top
However, in the third quarter Trenorden beat Bob Hank at centre for the first and only time during the match.
This driving influence, coupled with the too-powerful Glenelg ruck work, and a resultant uplift in morale, aided the Bays to run to a four-goal lead at three-quarter time.
Torrens strove desperately in the last term to make good the leeway, but the game was in the bag for Glenelg when two or three Torrens easy shots for goal resulted in behinds.
On the day, Torrens can blame atrocious kicking at mid field and for goal for their loss. Even easy shots, at almost point-blank range, were put through for behinds when goals could have been expected. It was just sheer bad kicking — and, after all, bad kicking is bad football.
Full credit must be given to the Tiger defenders, who did everything asked of them. Captain-coach Johnny Taylor showed good tactics in the third quarter, too, when, capitalising on the big break the Bays had in ruck, he worked about 15 yards behind the centre bounce every time. He should have been covered, but wasn't, and Glenelg drove through him.
Glenelg obviously had orders to stay shoulder-close to Torrens through the first half, with the result that the game became ragged and scrambly, but with plenty of fire in the clashes.
It was a man-to-man struggle all the time, and no weight was spared. The Bays more than held their own in the air, while Torrens' field kicking, in particular, was awful to watch. You could see where the passes were meant to go — but they seldom reached the objective.
Torrens' scoring in the first term was almost solely due to Glenelg errors.
Don Laffin, in ruck for Glenelg, exerted strong influence on the game from the start. One of the biggest surprises was the strength of Glenelg's defence, which although under heavy pressure didn't give an inch. Bob Hank, at centre, had just the better of Trenorden in the first term, and repeated his superiority in the second quarter.
Torrens began a long-kick-to-goal play during the second term, and Don Prior came right into the game when he took three beautiful marks in succession within range, but from none of them could get a much needed goal.
The big crowd was kept on its toes by the closeness of the scores and the fire in the many hard-hitting exchanges.
In the third quarter the Bays really began to play as a team. They held the ruck, Trenorden was on top at centre, Johnny Taylor was half a kick behind the centre bounces and unchecked and doing a lot of damage. They plugged away at the goals.
Torrens defenders did wonders in staving off many attacks but it was inevitable that some got through.
The one bright spot for Torrens was Loades' good performance on a wing. He held it all day. It was his first senior game. His opponent was another ex-B Grade boy, Edwards, also promoted to the Bays for his first league game.
When Glenelg turned for home in the last term nearly four goals ahead, it was apparent that Torrens would have to play a far better brand of football to win.
Better finish
Torrens certainly finished better than Glenelg in the last term, but poor kicking for goal from good position shots early put them out of the race.
- Clarrie Window, for Glenelg, was outstanding in defence. He was safe in the air, and always was in a position to stop a dangerous Torrens drive.
- Don Laffin, particularly, held the ruck command, and though his knock was often neutralised, it was never taken from him.
Laurie Taylor, a centre half forward, had a big battle with Torrens centre half-back Phil Bennett all day, and gave valuable aid to the Bays when in ruck.
Churchett, with a bandaged left knee, earned seven goals, although two were given to him from team mates who could have easily goaled themselves.
- Reg Sully, in his customary back pocket position, repelled many Bay attacks.
- Alf Roberts, in spite of Churchett's goals, checked hard all day.
Bob Hank, although beaten in the vital third quarter, had the better of Trenorden on the day. The newcomer to the team, Loades, did so well as to ensure his inclusion in the team for some time to come.
Best Players —
Glenelg. Window, Laffin, L. Taylor, Haussen, Churchett, McPherson, Robjent. Hunt.
Torrens: Sully, Bob Hank, A. Roberts, Loades, Prior, W. Hank, Fischer.
Scorers —
Glenelg: Churchett 7.1 ; Laffin 2.0 ; Haussen 1.5 ; Donaldson 1.0 ;J Taylor 1.0 ; Crabb 0.2 ; Brooker 0.2 ; Kempson 0.2 ; Robjent 0.1 ; rushed 0.1.
Torrens: Pyatt 3.2 ; Bradford 2.4 ; Prior 2.3 ; Willis 1.3 ; Fischer 1.0 ; Coverlid 0.3 ; J. Edwards 0.1 ; rushed 0 1.
Note: In "Snapshots" in the same newspaper it was reported that the Captain/coach Johhny Taylor collapsed when he came off the field at half time. He recovered enough to still address his players at the break, and resumed on the field in the third quarter. After the match it was reported that he had suffered concussion from a head blow in the second quarter.
It was reported in the Monday Advertiser that he was not aware until 6 p.m. Saturday night that his side had won, playing the second half "unconscious".
