Temora’s off-season recruiting looks to have hit the mark with the new Roos showing plenty of promise in their first game of the season.
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The Kangaroos consigned Coleambally to two straight losses with a hard-fought 8.11 (59) to 6.6 (42) victory at Nixon Park on Saturday.
It was the last man into the Temora tent, Kane Peeters, who was the standout in his return to Riverina football.
Originally from Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes, Peeters is based in Canberra where he had been playing with Belconnen.
Primarily providing drive off halfback, Peeters showed plenty of composure and capped his strong first appearance popping up forward to kick the last goal.
“He was our best player today and he’s got some real polish and reads the game really well,” Temora coach Christin Macri said.
“You get guys who know what they’re doing, it really helps you out.”
The same could be said of all Temora’s new faces even if it took the Roos some time to get going.
New ruckman Anthony Atkins and the Shea brothers, Kieran and Tim, made their presence felt but – finding few targets forward – the Roos went goal-less for the first term.
They kicked two behinds to open the scoring and didn’t find their first goal until early in the second quarter.
Good pressure and missed opportunities prevented either side breaking clear, but Temora added two goals while Coleambally coach Josh Hamilton was on the sidelines (after being yellow-carded for ‘wrestling’).
A three-point lead at halftime was out to 14 with two Temora goals shortly after Hamilton returned.
Coleambally got within two early in the final term after a classy Jake Breed snap but the longer the game went the more composed Temora looked.
Midfielder Sam Jensen showed class and Atkins handled a big assignment in the ruck almost singlehandedly against Hamilton.
“They’re a hard footy side to play against and they made it that way today but thankfully we stood up to that and we get away with a win,” Macri said.
“Our kicking’s been a bit off. It’s been something I’ve been really driving in the pre-season but once you start it probably still takes another three or four games before you start to get that polish.”
Defenders Charlie Vallance and Liam Pattison were impressive in containing a Blues outfit spearheaded by Chris Cerato who finished with three goals.
“Same as last week, he was really good, just composed – he’s got that football head obviously,” Hamilton said.
“He takes the time to get back and hit a target. Guys like that are priceless really.”
Wes Kiley also had a strong game for Coleambally while Breed and Shaun Light offered spark.
