Rovers fall as player milestone marked

Kierans Deall’s 150th game for the Port Hedland Rovers was not enough to stop them from getting mauled by the Wickham Wolves at Colin Matheson Oval on Saturday night.

The top-of-the-table Wolves kicked the first goal of the game and did not look back, punishing their opponents’ every mistake and turned-over ball.

The Rovers put up a fight in the first quarter, scoring 2.1 to Wickham’s 4.1, meaning only a 12-point difference at the first change.

The game deteriorated from there, with the Wolves scoring eight goals in the second term compared with the Rovers’ one point, leading to a 61-point lead at half-time.

Port Hedland were unable to score in the third quarter, while Wickham booted another seven.

Rovers managed to get back on the board in the last term scoring 1.1, but the Wolves’ 7.4 meant a victory of 145 at the final siren.

Wickham continued their undefeated season, the final score being Rovers 3.3 (21) to Wolves 26.10 (166).

Jeremy Regan was on fire in front of goal, booting seven for the Wolves and Braden Dhu kicked five, while Ashley Grove and Riley Kay also has a good day in front of the posts, kicking three each.

Port Hedland’s Deall was still the champion, becoming just the fourth person in Rovers’ 51-year history to make it to 150 games.

Rovers president Russell Pyke said Deall’s achievement was massive given there were only 15 games in a season.

“He’s been with us since he was about 15 and stuck around in the good times and the bad — you can really see his passion for the club and we’re all proud of what he’s achieved,” he said.

The Rovers went better in the reserves, defeating the Wolves 10.9 (69) to 9.8 (62) to record their second win of the season.