The enthusiasm was clear from the first bounce, Will Massey once again showing his worth and setting in place the ruck dominance that would mark his performance throughout the game.
The Roos on-ballers were on the attack early, Josh Hunter making a menace of himself in slippery conditions.
Some neat work from Eli Bonnitcha and Cooper Patten helped to create early opportunities in the Roos' forward-50 and a spectacularly clean set of hands from Harry Webb provided the first set-shot of the match. Steadying himself, Harry slotted the goal from thirty-five metres to set the Roos on course for what would be a close tussle.
Levi Arnold was making life difficult for the St Pats defence, but the early goal seemed to spark them to life. Hudson Bilney and Abe Spencer were working hard, but the sustained pressure applied by the tall timber in the St Pats forward line eventually broke them down, allowing them to sneak back two goals before the end of the quarter.
The second term saw much of the same with Ollie Matthews and Josh Hunter being called upon to scrap around the ruck as the ball continued to soak up the morning dew. sustained pressure from St Pats asked questions of the Roos' defence but Will Forrest stayed calm, consistently finding pathways out of the defensive-50.
The defensive pressure from the Lachie Douglas and Jake Witherden on the wings was starting to pay dividends as St Pats looked to send the ball through the middle where Will Massey was continuing to toil ceaselessly.
Aiden Wintle was dominant at fullback, breaking down St Pat's attacks as they upped the pressure towards the end of the quarter. At halftime, the game was in the balance.
Coach Patto asked the boys for more in the second half. It was all there to play for. The boys looked to use their pace and Josh Hunter and Josh Parker started to combine to shift the ball forward. Leo Davis was making a menace of himself up front and, as a result, Levi Arnold was able to chase down a loose ball, dropping it onto his favoured left boot for an impressive goal on the run.
However, St Pats were quick to reply, again upping the pressure on the Roos and moving the ball into their defensive line.
Some tough play from Nate Fenn and Hudson Kuschert served to slow these attacks and an impressive smother from a St Pats set-shot from Aiden Wintle served to limit the opposition to points, but a late goal opened up the margin to ten points at three-quarter time.
Tired and anxious, Patto urged the boys on for one final push.
Will Forrest came to life and, alongside Hudson Kuschert, started to make inroads in the St Pts lines. Hudson Bilney's monster boot was serving the team well, working alongside Aiden Wintle to shift the ball out of the defensive end.
However, the vocal Corowa crowd was hushed by a goal to St Pat's halfway through the final term. The sixteen-point margin seemed insurmountable.
With five minutes left in their season, a switch seemed to flick. The sustained defensive pressure converted into an intensive offensive shift and the ball started to ping around the forward 50. Some excellent bodywork from Cooper Patten started to create chances and the boys started chipping away at the gap, point-by-point.
Lachie Douglas was making life difficult for his opposition and the panicked kicks out of defence were being snaffled by Eli Bonnitcha, Josh Hunter, and Will Forrest, who, having taken the mark on the 50-metre ring, sold a dummy and stepped around his opponent, slotting the goal and putting the boys back into the contest.
A second goal to Eli Bonnitcha a minute later put the contest on a knife's edge. The atmosphere in the crowd was palpable and the volume increased tenfold. With the clock counting down, the boys once again managed to win the ball out of the centre and sent it forward, working over their opponents and making the most of their opportunities, resulting in a strong mark in front of goal.
A daunting task made more daunting, the tension rose with the sound of the hooter as the final kick was measured up. However, tired legs were to win out on the day with the ball sailing wide of the goals.
Final score: St Pats (4.5.29) def. Corowa (4.4.28)
The boys, though devastated by their one-point loss can hold their heads high. This was another impressive performance from a group of footballers who have grown astoundingly over the course of the season.
Huge credit and thanks should also go to Wayne and Wiz for their coaching efforts, and to Harry for his team management. Well done to everyone!
Awards this week: Will Massey, Aiden Wintle, Josh Parker, Josh Hunter, Harry Webb, Hudson Bilney, Hudson Kuschert, Cooper Patten, Eli Bonnitcha.
