Fancy soccer footwork on the pitch was no match for the aerial skills of Wangaratta Rovers footballers when the two codes met in a friendly international rules match.
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The battle of Wangaratta “football” at W.J. Findlay Oval on Friday evening was close for the first half, but Rovers ran away with the game to finally prevail 56-34.
Played with a round ball on a rectangle pitch, the game used the same rules as Australia and Ireland employed during their international rules battles.
Rovers moved the ball quickly and players kicked long, while Wangaratta City put the ball on the ground at every opportunity.
The Hawks’ top players such as Shane Gaston and Stuart Booth proved they were adept with the round ball as they charged through the soccer team’s defence.
Regular Devils goalkeeper Hamish Busk played on the field as one of his team’s best.
Bulgarian-born Stoycho Ivanov was new to the Australian game, but provided a highlight when he kicked an “over” off the ground from 60 metres out.
