Murray Bridge United will take on Northern Wolves in Anzac round

This story was contributed by Joe Di Santo.

Anzac Round in the South Australian Amateur Soccer League division three this Saturday will pit Murray Bridge United against Northern Wolves in both the A and B grades at Beatty Terrace.

The A grade will be playing for the annual Anzac Mateship Perpetual Trophy and the Di Santo Medallion will be awarded to the best and fairest player on the day.

The medallion honours and acknowledges the Di Santo family’s 40 years of contribution to football and military service in the region.

Last year was the first encounter between the two clubs, in which the Wolves won convincingly.

After a promising pre-season and a shaky start to the season, United are in a transition phase with several key players departing the club.

Younger players are getting an opportunity to step up and new recruits from the Limestone Coast in the state’s South East and the Oceania countries of Kiribati and Tuvalu have brought flair and depth to the squad.

Captain and last year’s runner-up in the SAASL division 3A player of the year Dale Binney, and club veterans and joint vice captains Graham Alympic and Dylan August, balance out coach Jeremy Byrnes’ squad.

Byrnes’ men can expect a tough battle with the Wolves, who will come out firing from the get go.

They are a team with lots of technical ability, high energy and continually press throughout the game.

The Wolves are keen to hold onto the Mateship Trophy while United are determined to secure their first win of the trophy.

United club registrar and Adelaide Hills Junior Football Association’s newest life member, Grantley Klenke, said he saw the clubs as more like allies than rivals, but that could change.

“Last year SAASL drew us against the Wolves in the Anzac round and again this year, which has turned out really well as they have a few serving veterans playing and our club has a number of past players that have (also) served,” he said.

United is calling out to past players and the wider community to get down to Beatty Terrace on Saturday to help kick-start and support the season.

It’s a must-win game which will help guide their season and campaign as they aim to return to division two.

The B grade will get proceedings underway at 1pm, followed by a brief ceremony before the final game of the day at 3pm.

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