Kingston continued their impressive early-season form after they accounted for Border Districts at Apsley on Saturday. The Saints used a third-quarter push to set up the victory and extend their unbeaten win/loss record to start the season at 3-0.
The weather conditions were perfect for football, and the Apsley ground looked in great condition. The Eagles opened the goal scoring for the game after Joshua Richards scored the first goal of the game. Kingston had a chance down the other end for the first major but kicked a behind before the Eagles rebounded the ball, and Richards finished off the work. Kingston got to work, and the Saints soon had two goals on the board to take the lead. Saints coach Alex Barns and James Siviour scored goals as the Saints took a six-point lead. Kingston kicked another goal as Luke Watson kicked a long goal to give the Saints a 12-point lead. Kingston had some players who were working hard, as Campbell Watts, Chris Draper, Ben Kennedy, Hagan Wright, and Tom Rogers were in the thick of the action during the first quarter. Border Districts workhorse Fraser Adams was at his usual best during the quarter. The Eagles were getting good returns from Joshua Richards, Joshua Mothersole, and Dre Stirling as well. Kingston led by 12 points at quarter time.
The second quarter was far more scrappy than the first quarter as there we lots of tackles and close hits due to the combative nature of both teams. Joshua Richards imposed himself on the game as the Eagles started to get their running game going. Kingston kicked the first four behinds of the quarter before Joshua started to lift the Eagles by pushing forward and kicking two goals in a row to bring the Saints’ lead back to three points. Fraser Adams, Sam Pridham and Mark Quinn looked lively for the Eagles. Border Districts ruckman Joshua Mothersole and Kingston’s Alex Barns were having a great contest in the ruck. The Eagles took the lead after Harrison Pretlove kicked a goal, and the home side was ahead by three points late in the quarter. Kingston was struggling to set up any dangerous scoring chances in the second quarter. A highlight of the second quarter for the Saints was a towering mark taken by Jack Tapfield. Kingston worked hard late and was able to get the lead back by halftime after Jack Harding kicked a goal to give the Saints a four-point lead. The Saints kept attacking towards their scoring end but could only score minor scores. Kingston went into the long break eleven points ahead of Border Districts. Kingston had some good contributors during the quarter, as Hagan Wright continued to get many touches, Jack Harding put in some great leads, Chris Draper, Ben Rogers, and Tom Rogers provided the Saints with runs and rebounds from the defence. Alex Barns, Ben Kennedy and Harry Tunkin were hard working around the ruck packs. Fraser Adams, Dre Stirling and Joshua Mothersole were very strong for the Eagles. Joshua Richards had a big second quarter as well for the home team.
Kingston took control of the game in the third quarter as the Saints started to win around the clearances and push the ball towards their forward line often. Harry Tunkin was gathering disposals at will as he worked hard in the packs and often read coach Alex Barns’ tap outs to pick them up and get it moving the Saints’ way. William Watts, Ben Kennedy, Ben Warner and Hagan Wright provided the Saints with lots of drive from the midfield. Ben Warner kicked Kingston’s first goal of the quarter. Ben kicked another after Alex Barns did a lovely tap down to Harry Tunkin, who then passed the ball to Ben Warner, and he finished off the work. Kingston were in control in general play and pushed their margin out to 25 points after James Siviour put through a goal. Border Districts tried to fight back but couldn’t find the goal needed to put pressure on the Saints late in the third quarter. Fraser Adams continued to provide much-needed drive from around the packs for the Eagles. Sam Pridham was another Eagles player working hard as he ran hard off half back to help the home side defend. Kingston had a good quarter, and by three-quarter time, they had their lead out to 24 points.
Border Districts started the fourth quarter strong as the Eagles looked for a way back into the game. The Eagles struck first in the fourth quarter as Kane Cini put through the first goal of the last quarter. The Eagles had the margin back to 20 points. Kingston responded straight away as James Siviour stood tall and kicked a goal to give the Saints a 26-point lead. Kingston’s Ben Kennedy was showing his class around the packs and using his left-foot kicking skills perfectly. The Eagles wouldn’t give up as Mark Quinn put through a goal as the margin came back to 19 points. Joshua Richards, Fraser Adams and Joshua Mothersole were doing some great work around the ground for the Eagles. Kingston again had the answers as James Siviour kicked his fourth goal to keep the Saints 25 points clear. The Saints were getting a lot of drive from Thomas Matsouliadis, Jack Tapfield, Ben Kennedy and William Watts. Kingston defender Tom Rogers continued to do a lot of defensive work for the Saints. Border Districts tried to stay in the game with a late goal from Zac Richards. Fraser Adams, Sam Pridham, Dre Stirling and Joshua Mothersole were running the game out strong for the Eagles. Kingston proved to be too strong on the day for the Eagles and ran out winners by 19 points.
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