“Again it was a case of not taking our opportunities,” Herzick said. “It was pretty much a shootout.

“Defensively we have struggled all year, having an opposition key forward kick six or more goals on at least eight occasions so far.”

Michael Dimuccio in his first A grade game played at centre half forward and while he didn’t have a huge possession count, this teenager was commendable.

Kapunda claim fourth

The race for fourth spot in this year’s BL&G finals series became a little clearer when the Kapunda Bombers comprehensively defeated the Panthers at Angaston.

Angaston still has a mathematical chance of playing finals however would need to win all their remaining games and then rely on other results going their way. Kapunda on the other hand now have every opportunity to get there, with their main challenger Willaston adrift on percentage despite having a game in hand.

Angaston’s hopes both long term and in this contest took a nosedive when Brenton Bascombe, Brandon Kurtz and first-gamer Nathan Taylor were forced from the field with injury. However you can’t take anything away from the Bomber victory as they outplayed their hosts from the opening bounce.

From Adam Turrell winning the first tap, to his brother Andrew kicking the first goal and then Damian Burgess kicking his first of nine shortly after, Kapunda were on top in all departments.

Kapunda had 3-1 on the scoreboard before Bascombe opened Angaston’s account and they continued their dominance to go into the first break with seven goals to Angaston’s two.

The Bombers were further ahead at the next two changes as they continued to outscore the Panthers who only won on the scoreboard in the last quarter when the heat was off the game.

The major differences between the two teams were the Bombers more precise disposal and their ability to provide options and the twin towers of Nathan Brady and Damian Burgess up forward.

Bomber captain Brady is one of the few genuine centre half forwards in the competition. He has no fear in getting to the front and presenting for the hard ball, and because he makes a contest on every occasion his running teammates are able to feed off the contest.

Burgess had six goals to half time and the Angaston defence were just not big enough to contain him.

Brad Valentine, skilled in every department and released from fixed position duties of late floated ‘James Hird-like’ around the ground.

Kapunda ruckman Adam Turrell continued to confound critics and thwart rival coaches with another creative display in the cauldron only looking vulnerable toward game’s end when Angaston swung Nick Egert onto the ball. Brother Adam Turrell was a busy contributor in the forward fifty and wingman Mark Cussadia continues to grow in stature every week.

Angaston’s contributors were far and few between, however centreman Craig Harvey played a massive game, if a little lone-handed. Ashley Clarke had a great tussle with Brad Taylor and was one of the few Panthers to win his share of contested ball. Already marked as a player of the future Greg Bain, after a slow start, got plenty of ball and Kurt Thiele showed plenty of composure rebounding across half back. Nick Egert, Andrew Small and Matt Doecke were honest.

Barossa embarrass Nuri

After a month of good form, Nuriootpa were dealt an earth-shattering blow being thrashed by 16 goals by a potent Barossa District side at Williamstown.

By the main break the game was over as coach Rian Nelson’s charges led by 79 points.

In real terms the Bulldogs actually had total control of the contest by quarter time.

The Nuriootpa Tigers had no answers to the Bulldog power forwards Heath Commane and veteran Daniel Thomas who kicked nine and eight goals respectively.

“Our first quarter was pretty good and Nuriootpa struggled early with the match ups they were happy with,” Nelson said.

“Heath had eight goals to half time and Daniel was consistent over the course of the game.

“We won the battle of the mid field, which was important.

“Despite the scoreline the game still had a bit of fire. They kicked seven goals to our 10 after half time.”

The ruck dual between the Barossa’s Aaron Spicer and Nuri’s Matthew Cragg-Sapsford was interesting.

Keen judges had them breaking even on the day.

Adam Spencer and Matt Stelzer were damaging around the ball for the Bulldogs while Darren Sharp finished with three goals.

Both Ashley and Jarrad Amber were constructive, with Ross Christie who was a tower of strength at full back.

Glen Chamberlain was strong in a different defensive role.

Against the onslaught Jarrad Tregenza was the Rovers’ defensive general continually trying to plug holes.

Arlon Hall, Ryan Foulis and Ryan Skipworth were all solid in a team which was well beaten especially in the first half.

Adam Fiegert left the ground in the third term with what looked to be a knee injury.

Barossa District and Gawler Central will be playing for second position on the premiership table this weekend at the Dog Track, while Nuriootpa have the bye.

Umpires Phil Fechner and Carl Whitaker were unnoticed for the majority of the game, performing well.

Finally a Willaston win

Willaston has been considered a finalist from season kick off, however a string of losses has seen them plummet almost out of contention.

They may have salvaged their season by defeating the Redlegs at Freeling as other results have thinned the race for the finals.

With first use of the breeze the gallant young Redlegs actually jumped Willaston to have a handy lead at the first change. Thereafter though it was all the visitors as they kept Freeling goalless in the second while they added five majors then matching them goal for goal against the breeze in the third.

Willaston coach Darrin Wilson was concerned that his team had conceded too many opportunities against a bottom team however this was a case of the win being easily the most important thing.

They say that when times are tough the best stand up and superstar Donnybrook Chris McLean threw off the tags to send his side to this important win with plenty of possession and five goals from his midfielder role.

Chad Norsworthy, Matt Brooks and Ross Whiston were also there when the whips were cracking. Matt Cotton repaid his selection with four goals as a fixed forward, which is different to Willaston’s normal avenue to goal through their midfielders.

Not sure what Paris Fowden has to do to make the best player list, but the veteran keeps bobbing up with goals each week to keep his team competitive, this week four. The younger ‘guns’ at Freeling in Travis Muster, brother Brad, Lachie Heinrich and Travis Barnes indicated there is a future for the Redlegs.

Others to do well for the Redlegs who were outgunned but not disgraced were Russell Clark and Josh Newberry.

- Keith Jamieson

Barossa, Light and Gawler Football Association

Played July 19.

A Grade

Gawler Central 3.2 12.6 17.10 23.15(153)

South Gawler 7.6 9.9 16.12 18.14(122)

Best: Cent - C Hill, L Howard, S Hahn, C Thomas, B Taylor, A King; South - A Johnson, A Geradis, A Bayliss, L Makris, S Foster, A Costa.

Goals: Cent - S Hahn 7, B Niklaus 5, C Hill 4, P Bova 2, J Scott 2, R Clasohm, C Thomas, B Taylor 1 ea; South - A Geradis 6, S Foster 3, L McCracken 3, A Johnson 2, A Bayliss, J McVicar, Aaron Bevis, L Makris 1 ea.

Kapunda 7.3 12.5 15.14 20.17(137)

Angaston 2.1 5.5 7.8 14.12(96)

Best: Kap - M Cussadia, N Brady, D Burgess, Andrew Turrell, Adam Turrell, B Valentine; Ang - C Harvey, A Small, G Bain, M Doecke, K Thiele, N Egert.

Goals: Kap - D Burgess 9, B Valentine 3, M Mickan 2, D Leslie, S Ryan, D Platten, B Taylor, N Brady, Andrew Turrell 1 ea; Ang - G Bain 4, E Hadden 2, M Doecke 2, B Swan, M Danielle, D Rathjen, B Bascombe, S Rathjen, A Pech 1 ea.

Willaston 2.4 8.10 13.13 16.17(113)

Freeling 5.2 5.3 10.5 12.11(83)

Best: Will - C McLean, C Norsworthy, M Brooks, S Woods, R Whiston, J Harvey; Free - T Muster, L Heinrich, B Muster, R Clark, J Newberry, T Barnes.

Goals: Will - C McLean 5, M Cotton 4, C Norsworthy 2, L Coghill, M McLean, L Baker, M Brooks, S Childs 1 ea; Free - P Fowden 4, R Clark 3, J Newberry 2, L Heinrich, D Leske, T Ruediger 1 ea.

Barossa 7.3 14.9 21.11 24.12(156)

Nuriootpa 2.1 2.2 6.4 9.6(60)

Best: Bar - H Commane, D Thomas, A Spencer, A Spicer, M Stelzer, D Sharp; Nuri - J Tregenza, M Cragg-Sapsford, A Hall, A Fiegert, R Foulis, R Skipworth.

Goals: Bar - H Commane 9, D Thomas 8, D Sharp 3, A Spencer 2, P Stelzer 1, M Taylor 1; Nuri - R Foulis 3, B Nicholls 2, J Trewren 2, A Fiegert 1, G Falkenberg 1.

Reserves

Gawler Central 3.7 3.10 5.10 11.12(78)

South Gawler 0.0 5.2 5.4 6.7(43)

Best: Cent - S Gladigau, M Aggan, B Spiteri, A Fox, T Foreman, J Latimer; South - D McGree, T Clift, S O’Donoghue, J Kenny, K Antoney, A Barnes Tripp.

Goals: Cent - J Holbrook 3, J Latimer 2, T Durdin 2, J Speck 2, B Spiteri 1, S Gladigau 1; South - S Bunn 2, D McGree, M Bevis, S O’Donoghue, M Smethurst 1 ea.

Kapunda 3.0 5.1 6.3 8.3(51)

Angaston 3.2 4.5 4.7 5.12(42)

Best: Kap - K Pfitzner, M Johnson, B Higgins, M Koenig, T Leslie, M Ryan; Ang - H McGillivray, C Hadden, C Doecke, T Linke, J Schultz, J Talbot.

Goals: Kap - R Creber 4, B Higgins 2, M Johnson 1, L Mickan 1; Ang - C Hadden 2, S Linke, C Doecke, B Brook 1 ea.

Willaston 6.1 7.3 10.5 10.9(69)

Freeling 1.1 4.7 5.11 6.15(51)

Best: Will - T Rozman, P Doolan, R Boers, G Laubsch, C Rosewall, S White; Free - A Warnest, P Kerin, A Meredith, A Selleck, M Henson, A Graham.

Goals: Will - G Laubsch 4, B Silvy 2, A Barclay, J Farrow, D Jones 1 ea; Free - P Leske 2, T Clancy 2, A Warnest 1, S Hanish 1.

Barossa 5.4 10.5 11.5 12.7(79)

Nuriootpa 3.0 5.2 5.4 10.4(64)

Best: Bar - P Jericho, Q Gifford, D Goodfellow, K Jericho, D Handke, J Norris; Nuri - B Rohrlach, L Cook, B Lydeamore, C Linke, S Butler, R Gerlach.

Goals: Bar - M Laurie 3, K Jericho 2, D Emes 2, C Hodgsen, P Jericho, L Blucher, D Goodfellow, S Vanstone 1 ea; Nuri - R Newcombe 2, S Gerlach 2, L Sich 2, B Rohrlach, T Jensen, S Butler, J Fulgrabe 1 ea.

Senior Colts

South Gawler 3.4 6.11 6.11 9.14(68)

Gawler Central 3.0 3.1 4.5 6.5(41)

Best: South - R Rosewall, S Thomas, P Wharton, A Hewett, R Coogan, N Borowski; Cent - C Molyneux, R Wenham, J O’Hara, R Liveley, S Malycha, M Hutton.

Goals: South - R Barker 2, R Coogan 2, A Parsons 2, S Gosden, R Rosewall, D Clift 1 ea; Cent - R Liveley 2, C Bilney 2, A Crothers 1, B Smith 1.

Angaston 1.1 5.4 10.5 14.7(91)

Kapunda 3.5 6.9 10.10 12.10(82)

Best: Ang - T Chinner, A Daken, N Falland, C Davey, T Adler, M Talbot; Kap - L Smith, J Cobbledick, D Ryan, L Norman, C Richter, A May.

Goals: Ang - N Falland 6, C Davey 3, T Adler 3, B McHendrie 1, D Jones 1; Kap - D Ryan 5, L Norman 4, T McLennon, M Ruppelt, S Clancy 1 ea.

Freeling 3.3 8.5 12.9 16.10(106)

Willaston 1.1 1.3 1.4 1.7(13)

Best: Free - D Drummond, M Doherty, A Martin, R McDonald, J Zanandre, J Martin; Will - Z Borgas, A Cahill, J Palmer, C Duffield, J Humphries, Z Cavanagh.

Goals: Free - J Martin 3, M Doherty 3, T Barnes 2, R McDonald 2, T Ruediger 2, A Martin, R Sielmann, A Hornby, N Anders 1 ea; Will - J Williams 1.

Nuriootpa 5.2 7.3 10.7 11.9(75)

Barossa 2.1 4.4 5.6 7.7(49)

Best: Nuri - R Modistach, C McGorman, C McConnachy, S Hausler, A Modistach, D Cameron; Bar - M Van Dommele, A McAlpine, C Page, J Hanley, L Mitchell, A Gold.

Goals: Nuri - R Modistach 6, C McGorman 2, M Patrilli, S Carter, A Modistach 1 ea; Bar - L Smith 3, M Van Dommele 2, A Gold 1, A McAlpine 1.

JUNIOR Colts

Gawler Central 2.0 5.4 8.6 14.9(93)

South Gawler 3.3 3.4 3.5 4.5(29)

Best: Cent - M Pike, G Coulson, B Hunt, A Cox, T Hutton, B Simpson; South - N Bartsch, A Adams, J Chapman, M Gajewski, R Whennan, A Simpson.

Goals: Cent - B Hunt 6, T Hutton 2, T Clarke 2, G Coulsen 2, J Mercer 1, T Princiotto 1; South - D Musolino 2, N Bartsch 1, B Barker 1.

Angaston 1.6 6.7 9.14 10.19(79)

Kapunda 1.1 1.1 1.2 3.4(22)

Best: Ang - S Rusca, J Wilson, R Barrett, T Ryan, M Williams, C Ransom; Kap - T Matthews-Brown, P Keynes, K Johnson, T McKinnon, A Wilson, C Caven.

Goals: Ang - S Rusca 4, J Koch 2, J Miles, J Orchard Roesler, A Habermann, A Linke 1 ea; Kap - P Keynes, A Wilson, T McLennon 1 ea.

Willaston 1.3 3.3 10.7 13.9(87)

Freeling 2.0 4.2 5.2 7.3(45)

Best: Will - J Walhuter, T Maple, L Trenowden, J Smoult, T Philips, T Irlam; Free - J Ashenden, A Toet, J Hancock, T Doherty, J Robinson, L McKenzie.

Goals: Will - J Smoult 3, T Maple 3, J Walhuter 3, B Clinton 2, J Conroy 1, J May 1; Free - J Hancock 2, J Robinson 2, A Toet 2, B Ryles 1.

Nuriootpa 3.2 9.5 11.10 17.12(114)

Barossa 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0(6)

Best: Nuri - A Saint, J Jaensch, A Bryce, L Jaunay, D Burgess, D O’Neil; Bar - B Traynor, A Thwaites, D Curtis, L Plowman, B Cummings.

Goals: Nuri - S Lee 4, L Jaunay 4, J Baldwin 2, J Dahms 2, C Schneider 2, J Jaensch, A Bryce, C Shaw 1 ea; Bar - H Traynor 1.