Tara Murray
The sequel was as good as the original as the Riddell District Football League took on the Southern Football League in interleague on Saturday.
The two teams faced off against each other in 2019 and the RDFL claimed the win by three points in extra time.
On Saturday, the match was played on Southern’s turf this time round.
The Southern team kicked the first two goals of the game before the RDFL kicked the next six to lead by 26 points at quarter time.
Unable to convert in front of goal, the Southern team wasn’t able to make the most of their opportunities to close the gap in the middle two quarters, with the margin 33 points at the final change.
Southern came from nowhere in the final quarter to level the scores come the final siren. Like in 2019, it meant the two teams were going to extra time.
Unlike last time when the RDFL won by three points, it was Southern that came away with the win, winning 14.15 (99)-15.8 (98).
RDFL coach Daniel Nolan was proud of how his group went.
“I have mixed emotions,” he said. “I’m super proud of the players essentially batting above their weight against a big league in Southern.
“We led by five or six goals at one point and played an exciting brand of footy. They had talent across every line and we left a window open and came through.”
Nolan said Southern kept coming and coming and were able to push the game into extra time
He said the game itself was a good spectacle and exactly what you want for interleague football.
“It was unbelievable,” Nolan said about the result. “Who would have thought the sequel would have been as good as the original five years later.
“We might have to go again and lock horns, we need a decider.”
Nolan said it was really pleasing to see the spread of players and coaches from the league put their hands up to be involved.
He said that a lot of friendships would be formed.
“They could have had the weekend off and relaxed,” he said. “They wanted to be part of the program.”
Reuben Rode was awarded the best on ground medal for the RDFL.
Tommy Alkemade, Dylan Jobson, Harrison Huntley, Sean Morris and Jacob Gough were the other standouts.
The under-18s also suffered a loss, losing to Southern, 6.9 (45)-5.9 (39).
