A Grade Preliminary Final
FOOTBALL: Strathalbyn kicked with the wind first and absolutely smashed Langhorne Creek in the centre square with whoever was in there, Eatts, McDonald, Elliott and Hart and this gave the Rooster forwards a real feast.
When the Creek did get the ball they fumbled, kicked into the man or kicked straight to Strath players and this proved costly in a match that had so much at stake.
Forever the opportunist, Strath goalsneak Eagleton crumbed well for the first major and then the same for McDonald.
Another snap from Cousins saw Strathalbyn dominating at ground level, as their ball handling was sharp and first give as the Creek looked hesitant and slow.
Dominant full forward Duffield was too good for Golding, as he booted the next three goals with a combination of strong marks and an off the ball free kick.
The match was being won by the Roosters very quickly and Cleggett had to be moved onto the dangerous Duffield.
Mark Tucker snapped Strath's seventh goal before McHughes bombed a long one through to get Langhorne Creek on the board.
The Hawks were in early injury trouble, as Footner was stretchered off and looked in big trouble after a shirtfront from Duffield.
At quarter time Strath were 7.3 to Langhorne Creek 1.0.
Langhorne Creek started to get a bit of the ball through Rothe, McHughes across centre, Watson and Potts, but Strath repelled easily through Hickey, Low and Gale as the Creek couldn't gather any crumbs at ground level up forward.
Duffield kicked his fourth followed by another, as a real blowout loomed as Dellatorre and Watson were sidelined for the rest of the day for the Creek with shoulder injuries.
McLeod was freed in front for the Creek's second goal, as Matt James and occasionally Golding rucked well, but Strath had a load of options to sweep the ball away from the packs through McDonald, Eagleton, Hart, Ellis, Eatts, Cousins and R Tucker.
They were out playing Potts, N Warren, Hill and R Follett at their own game, as two more goals to Strath and then a late Creek goal to Bown-Ayers had the Roosters home and hosed already it seemed and it was only half time.
The Roosters were up by 57 points at the long break.
A courageous third term from Langhorne Creek with plenty of grit was shown by a determined defence led by Cleggett, Verco, James and Nurse, restricting Strath to hurrying their play and not being able to generate much precise footy as in the first half.
N Warren goaled for Langhorne Creek, but R Tucker marked and replied for Strath.
McHughes and Matt James were doing really well for the Creek as was Potts in the middle and the Hawks had plenty of chances to put some scores on the board, but the ball was burnt time and again with wasteful finishing letting Strath remain with a match winning lead.
There were plenty of frees to Langhorne Creek, as Strath were playing from behind a bit, perhaps subconsciously looking ahead one week.
McLeod finally kicked truly for the Hawks, but livewire Eagleton bobbed up for his third to counter.
Langhorne Creek had broken even for the term, but two goals to Thorpe and Ellis right at the end had Strath up by 69 points at the last change.
With no bench to use Langhorne Creek also fought out the last term extremely well at one stage down to 16 on the ground when Hill went off with the blood rule and Matt James copped five minutes for an indiscretion.
Rothe topped off a fair day personally with a good long goal, but Strath still had plenty of legs through Cousins, the Tuckers and Eagleton and Duffield brought up his seventh goal despite stoic resistance from Cleggett in the last three terms.
The Hawks didn't give up and James, back on, drove them forward as Strath continued to give away FAD's.
Langhorne Creek notched three of the last four goals, as T.Follett, McLeod and James at least made the scoreboard look reasonable as the match ended tamely with Strathalbyn home by 68 points.
In the end Langhorne Creek's player depth and class was not sufficient to match it with a hard running and confident Rooster outfit who now at least enter the grand final on a high, but knowing they face a daunting task to beat the might of Willunga in the season's decider on Saturday.
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