By Tara Murray
Romsey capped off the perfect season by claiming the Riddell District Football League premiership on Sunday.
Unbeaten all season, the Redbacks proved yet again they were the competition’s best team with a 9.17 (71) to 7.11 (53) victory over Diggers Rest in the grand final at Romsey Park.
But, unlike many of their other wins this season, the Redbacks were made to work for it. The Burras made the early running and took the lead. They even kept Romsey goalless in the opening quarter but failed to take full advantage; the Burras led by only nine points at quarter-time.
They continued to press in the second quarter, making it hard for the Redbacks to score. And when the Redbacks did get past the Burras’ defence, their shots were from angles and under pressure, and with that came inaccurate kicking.
In fact, Romsey had seven behinds on the board before a free kick gave them their first major.
One goal was quickly followed by a second and third and the Redbacks took the lead.
The Burras trailed 26-20 at half-time.
It was the first 10 minutes of the second half that changed the game.
The Redbacks got the first goal of the quarter and looked to be getting their running game going.
Then a holding-the-ball decision saw the Redbacks get a second and all of a sudden the margin had blow out to 20 points, the biggest at that point of the game.
Like good teams, the Burras didn’t go away. They kicked the next two goals and looked likely to grab a couple more as they controlled the play.
But they didn’t take full advantage on the scoreboard and were made to pay when the Redbacks took the ball down the other end.
Even so, Romsey’s lead at three-quarter time was still a catchable 19 points.
In the huddle at the last break, Diggers Rest player-coach Shaun Sims implored his players to take risks.
But it was the Redbacks who fired the first shots of the final term with two goals to get the margin out to 30.
The Burras got two quick goals back through Callum Wilson to give them some hope, but the Redbacks controlled the play, not letting the Burras within striking distance for the rest of the match.
Romsey’s Ayden Tessari was awarded ‘best on ground’.
“I just expect it from him,” Redbacks coach Dean Helmers said. “He’s a beauty. He can play small or tall and can run all day.”
For more photos of the weekend’s action go to www.sunbury.starweekly.com.au
