Solid defence sees Tigers cling to victory
ROCHESTER’S under 16 football side showed determination from the opening bounce in its game against Echuca Green.
The first centre clearance saw Spencer Cleary lining up in front, but his shot on goal hit the post.
Locking the ball in their forward 50 the Tigers kept peppering the goals.
Jack Oogjes won the ball and handed it on to Will Pressnell for Rochester’s first goal.
From the restart Rueben Hooper rebounded the ball from half-back onto Pressnell who went long to the hot spot where Spencer Cleary roved the pack and scored the Tigers’ second major.
The intensity was overwhelming from the Tigers, strong tackling by Broden Evans, Fraser Cleary and Seamus Henderson, leading the way and every time Echuca won the ball it stopped the home side from linking possessions together.
A couple of missed opportunities, including a second poster for the term stopped the opening quarter from being a blowout.
The Tigers scored their third goal through Pressnell who went long, Spencer Cleary roving the pack and giving the ball out the back to Kyle Waters for the goal to be 20 points up at quarter time.
Echuca had the opening goal after the break but the Tigers replied with Pressnell impacting through the midfield, Nash Hocking was starting to show his influence with his height but also at ground level.
Hocking had the ball onto Spencer Cleary who hit Gus Martin up for a goal.
From there it was all Rochester, Henderson winning the ball in the centre getting it on to Pressnell who hit Broden Evans up with the pass only for Evans to hit the post for a second time.
Locking the ball in the forward 50 was giving them plenty of opportunity.
Hocking brought the ball to ground from a long kick into the hot spot to see Spencer Cleary snap his second.
From the ball up it was Broden Evans long to Hocking again, the contested ball falling to the advantage of Grant Fuller who kicked the Tigers third of the quarter.
Echuca closed out the term with a late goal against the flow but were still 28 points down at the long break.
The third quarter was fairly even, Hocking was having a blinder and had been swapping between ruck and full forward with Oogjes, and this time Hocking was able to win the ball when it went to ground to kick the opening goal of the term.
Echuca had the next two goals and the Rochy back half was being tested as Echuca went forward several times.
When Rueben Hooper won contested ball and went long to half forward it was Tom Clarke who gathered the ball and kicked a check side that hit a leading Oogjes on the chest.
Big Jack went back and steadied the ship by slotting the last goal of the quarter for a 27-point lead at the last change.
Echuca came out strong as it seemed the Tigers were starting to run out steam.
Three goals to the home side while the Tigers were unable to get the ball forward.
The Rochy backline stepped up, Zack Oaff and Matt Serafini attack- ing the ball and using their pace to clear the defensive 50.
Blake Evans and Seamus Henderson both going into the backline to help shut the Echuca attack down.
Rochester Tigers 8.8 (56) defeated Echuca Green 7.6 (48).
Rochester Goals: S.Cleary 2, J.Oogjes, W.Pressnell, K.Waters, G.Martin, G.Fuller, N.Hocking
Awards: Rochester Caltex — Will Pressnell; Pizza Hut Shepparton — Jack Oogjes; Paul Evans Welding — Rueben Hooper; Rochester Family Caravan Park — Seamus Henderson; Paramount Cinema — Zack Oaff; Sportspower Rochester — Blake Evans; Rochester Wine Tavern and Wilson Family — Nash Hocking; Ward Bros, Boundary Umpire — Dylan Oaff.