The Central Augusta Bloods consolidated top spot on the Spencer Gulf League ladder with a strong win against South Augusta Bulldogs on Saturday.
Bloods won in the ruck and with the brilliant Gary Hull giving plenty of opportunities in the first half.
South improved in the second half, but the damage had already been done.
As play commenced, South won the toss and kicked to the highway end with the aid of a slight breeze.
Murphy, Jacobs and Fitzgerald were the officiating umpires.
With a pin-point pass, Hull found Ryan Morris and he split the centre for the first goal of the game Central’s way.
There was good play by South that ended with Todd Kernahan kicking, but he was off line and South’s had wasted an increasingly strengthening breeze.
It was a similar story for both teams with off-line goals missing the posts from both teams.
Good ball control by Chris Heron saw him gather a goal for South from 45 meters out.
At the 23 minute mark, the scores were even 1.5 to 1.5.
Hull continued to give good drive but nothing eventuated before the siren.
In the next quarter, Hull made the most of the opportunity with a great pick up and a long kick for a sensational goal.
He also took advantage of good clearance to find Ryan Morris who kicked a six pointer.
Central’s Joe Quigley found Morris and his long shot gave the Bloods a handy 23 point lead.
Centrals’ Peter Jackson made a strong mark and found Hull, who once again turned it into a nice angled goal.
The Bloods continued with plenty of contributors and were looking to be in the mood.
From there, a great handpass led the ball to Hull and on his left foot, slammed a good goal.
Strong plays during the quarter included Jackson’s first run on the ball at the 16 minute mark, Curnow’s domination and Fuller’s great support.
Bloods had opened up a 41 point lead.
Quigley freed, given a 50 metre; the ball moved to Beink who found Chris Heron, and he in turn found Warren, but it ended in a bad miss with a minor score.
Centrals’ Ryan Morris then made another long goal to push the Bloods further ahead.
At the 24 minute mark, Bloods had carved a strong 45 point lead with 47 points.
After the break, South kicked the opening major with a good snap by Chris Heron.
South’s Ryan Struck marked, received a 50 metre penalty and goaled.
Central responded with a strong mark by Ryan Morris in the goal square which resulted in a major.
A loose ball gathered by Chris Heron led to his third major for the match, pulling South closer by six points.
Hard work by Hull got the ball to Robert Clayton-Waye for full points again for Centrals and then Chris Heron freed in the square for an easy goal for South.
A run of great play by the Bloods ended with a free to Ryan Morris and another major.
In a show of Blood’s determination, Clayton-Waye freed and added another full pointer to the scoreboard.
South retaliated, with Heron finding Todd Kernahan who made a good pass for a goal.
But they could not beat the siren with Bloods still in the lead by 36 points.
In the final quarter, Bulldogs gave a better effort and no side seemed to be able to break through to goal.
Both sides registered a minor score in the first seven minutes; Struck to Jessee Skipworth, marked by Ian Brown for a full pointer to South.
Kernahan also added to the goals for South.
Brown kept in front of the pack to gather and goal and by the 15 minute mark, Blood’s lead had been cut to 18 points.
But when the goal margin had closed to 10 points, the Bloods started pumping and bounced back with goals from Curnow, Chris Heron Hull.
By the 23 minute mark, the Bloods led by 16 points.
After a dominating first half, Central ran out by 23 points.
South will benefit now knowing they cannot play catch up football against a top side.
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