By Nick Kossatch
Finally the Riverland Superdogs made it another win against Adelaide-based Phantoms at Lobethal Oval by seven points in the Master’s Football League on Sunday.
It was a keenly-fought and titanic struggle, especially by Paringa Independent Football League (and 99-game player) Paul Matthews, who let his contents show at half time.
He and a fellow tall and rucking team-mate suffered after the Miss Paringa Footy Show the previous night.
The ‘Dogs were off to a shocking start as the hosts established a solid lead at quarter time by 17 points.
Matthews, again, was amongst it, getting hard-ball wins.
Newcomer Don Gardiner had an enthralling clash with Elvis Presley clone ‘Leo’ – but ‘is Don was good against the Phantoms’ show-pony.
‘Elvis’ had almost left the playing arena as some Doggy players remonstrated with the side-burn-clad forward and he soon thought that hamburgers were a treat.
Jeffro Coates displayed nous up forward and a one-handed mark just underlined the Bridgestone tyre-fitter’s skill and ability to perform in front of a large crowd (and good-looking female customers at his work).
The Doggie’s made a change, courtesy of Brett Greenslade’s suggestion to coach Darren Tieste, at three-quarter-time.
It worked a treat with Peter Hoffmann switched to full-forward.
His goal from over his head was as flukey as it gets but the eagerly-fought (to ruck for Berri A-grade) ‘Hoffy’ has other ideas.
They are that he wants to remain in a winning club!
Whilst ‘Weeds’ Matthews coughed and spluttered through another brilliant game, Shane ‘Rowdy’ Healy made sure that the Superdog’s broke their losing streak with a neat goal from a Rick Frahn hand-pass.
It was a wonderful bus trip home high-lighted by Paul “George Clooney’ Arnold’s one-liners.
The Superdogs confront Portland on Sunday 23rd August at Berri Oval.
SUPERDOGS: 6.17 (55) d PHANTOMS: 7.6 (48)
GOALS: J. Coates: B. Greenslade: P. Matthews: P. Hoffmann: J. Barrett: S. Healy 1
BEST: M. Wilksch, P. Matthews, P. Hoffmann, D. Gardiner, D. Francis, P. Arnold
Tall and intelligent and athletically built who calls a spade a spade. Love sports writing and sending letters and texts to the editor about AFL and the Port Adelaide Power – win, lose or draw. I do not sit on the fence. Soon to be 57! I played basketball and supers football having accomplished two Aust Masters Championships with the SA o35s (2006) and o40s (2009) and two All Australian Masters guernseys in 2008 and 2018. Have played amateur footy and a bit of cricket and basketball when living in Adelaide, Renmark, Paringa, Alice Springs and now Gladstone in Aueensland. I was also a sport newspaper journalist in the Alice (2013-15) and Gladstone (2015-20). Now I’m a postie and run a sport website Clear Play Media.
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