Kingsley hosted Gosnells in the Perth Football League, the former Western Australian Amateur Football League division C2 at Kingsley Oval in what I previously described as very wet, windy, cold and therefore, testing conditions for both teams. Kingsley were searching for a much needed win to put them in any possible contention for finals football. Whereas the visitors were searching for another win to keep up with the pack of teams in the top four to ensure that they would feature for finals football come the pointy end of the season come September. Tonight's fixture would prove to be quite the challenge for both and provide a close tussle that entertained both home and away fans alike to the final siren.
Now admittedly I have been out of touch of sorts when it comes to analysing Australian rules football as the game has evolved so much over the last few decades. However, I will try my very best as an amateur 'journalist' and I say that in the most loosest of definitions as clearly I am not one! However, I will endeavour my very best to best describe what I witnessed in miserable conditions.
It was always a close affair throughout the match with Kingsley holding the lead after the first break being 3 points down after a low scoring affair with the score at quarter time being Kingsley 2.3-15 points and Gosnells 3.0-18 points. Kingsley then slightly broke away but the Hawks were still in touch with the Cats at the half time break being Kingsley's 5.5-35 to the visitor's 5.1-31.
The conditions were difficult for both sides and full credit to the hosts who despite maintaining the lead heading into the third and final break managed to keep Gosnells at bay, yet credit to the visitors who were not allowing the home side from taking full advantage of the slick and boggy conditions and potentially posting a bigger score. The score at the final change was Kingsley 9.8-62 to Gosnells 8.5-53.
The final quarter was an arm wrestle in difficult conditions with both sides squandering opportunities with handling, kicking and passing errors. Occasionally these were due to the dreadful weather, being placed under pressure from the opposition but there were also numerous unforced errors that would ease the pressure off the opposition at the most coincidentally convenient times. Just the nature of amateur football and it certainly was a good contest to watch as Kingsley Cats ran out winners by 15 points with the final score being 12.9-81 to Gosnells Hawks 10.6-66.
Now time for the food and drink. I bought a pie and a can of Jacks and coke. The pie was just a simple Mrs Macs meat pie for 5 dollars and the Jack and coke was 8 dollars. So all in all was satisfactory price wise and was simple food that hit the spot on such cold, wet, windy conditions. Then I had a little snack during the second half of the match with salt and vinegar chips and a can of coke for 5 dollars. The chips were 2 dollars and the coke for 3. Pricing not an issue and hit the spot to just keep me ticking over during the match.
A highly unique experience as I haven't watched a Perth Football League match in many, many years, it was nice to see something different with quite a decent crowd watching. Id say there was about 500-600 people there with vocal support for the visitors too.
