GVL | Rochester bows out of finals as Cats’ purple patch continues

By Josh Huntly

Sep 4, 2022

On the boot: Steven Stroobants attempts to get his kick away for Rochester. Photo: Josh Huntly

Rochester’s season has come to a close at the hands of Mooroopna in a dour Sunday elimination final at Victoria Park.

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The Tigers fell 11.17 (83) to 7.9 (51) as the young Cats outfit weathered a dramatic late dash to keep their season alive.

Jackson Trengove’s five-goal haul proved decisive in what was a low-scoring first half, booting Mooroopna’s first two of the game in a tense opening stanza.

The Cats’ pressure was significant early in the contest, but a goal against the play to Rochester’s Hugh Hamilton helped the Tigers find their first major 22 minutes into the first term, with ruckman Dan Russell prominent early.

The Tigers and Cats squandered opportunities in equal measure in the second stanza, and despite its significant momentum, Mooroopna’s wayward kicking proved costly to leave them 2.8 early in the quarter.

Pumped: Hugh Hamilton celebrates one of his three goals for the day. Photo: Josh Huntly

Despite the Cats’ inaccuracy, Rochester could only muster one behind for the entire quarter, and it was Trengove who struck for the only goal of the quarter on the half-time siren after winning a holding the ball decision.

Holding a 16-point lead heading into the premiership quarter, Trengove, Lucas Caccaviello and Chris Nield extended that lead in the early stages before the match descended into a contested scrap.

Nathan Kay broke through to convert Rochester’s first goal, a booming 50-metre bomb to revitalise the Tigers.

Hamilton lifted once again to draw the Tigers back within two goals in the shadows of three-quarter time, but a converted set shot from Chris Nield on the siren meant the Cats had found two majors with the last kick of the second and third quarter.

Flying: Ben Hicks gets vertical for a strong grab. Photo: Josh Huntly

With the score sitting at 51-33 Mooroopna’s way, Rochester needed a fast start to stay in the game, and the Tigers got it to fire up the black and yellow faithful.

Kyle Waters pouched the first centre clearance of the quarter, and made no mistakes with a set shot from 45 metres.

The Cats were quick to win the next clearance from the middle, but a crucial goal line tackle from Mitch Bright prevented an early reply from Mooroopna.

A push in the back to Nathan Kay in the Rochester forward line and subsequently his second goal brought the Tigers right back into the contest, trailing by just seven points.

It could have been narrowed to one if Hugh Hamilton’s mark deep in the pocket had stood, but ill discipline saw a free kick awarded to the Cats instead.

The Cats were blistering in transition, and Kydan Atkinson capitalised to take the margin back out to 13 points.

Trengove snared his fifth goal of the day with 14 minutes gone in the final quarter, and despite Hamilton pulling another goal back for Rochester, Ethan Hunt and Darcy Russell booted the next two goals to put the result beyond doubt.

Hamilton, Russell, and Kay led the charge for Rochester while Trengove, Ethan Hunt, and Isaac Dowling were instrumental for the Cats.

The Tigers’ wait for its first GVL flag since 2008 will continue, while Mooroopna will take great confidence from the clash as it carries on in its first finals series since 2014.