Just three rounds remain before the finals, and we still have a three-way tie at the top of the ladder. There's a good chance those three teams will get the double-chance; but the minor premiership is still up for grabs. And it's virtually locked in who the final five will be.
All six games in Premier Division were played on Saturday afternoon, a warm and sunny day across Sydney. Grounds were in good shape, and conditions were perfect for some good football.
At Gore Hill, North Shore played host to Sydney University. The Bombers had been hit hard by injury during the season, but gradually their big names have been slotting back into the lineup in the last few weeks. The Bombers had been hanging on to the top three, with the lowest percentage of the teams in the top five but getting the wins when they needed them.
The Bombers faced some resistance from the Students early, and goals were hard to come by. It was still one goal apiece as the clock ticked into time-on in the first quarter, as the Students' defence was equal to the task set them during the early exchanges. But the time-on period was critical, as Danny Roberts twice led and goaled to open up a 13-point quarter time lead.
Although it wasn't a big quarter time margin, the momentum of the game had shifted the Bombers' way; and they would go on with the job in the second quarter. The Bomber midfield was dominant, so much so that the Students barely got the ball inside their 50 metre arc in the first 20 minutes of the quarter; while options presented themselves up forward. The Bombers would put the result of the game beyond dispute during the second term, with the first seven goals of the quarter putting them on their way to a 54-point half time lead.
The third term wasn't one that reached any great heights, as the Students scrapped to try to stop the scoreline blowing out too much further but the Bombers continuing to look in control. Three goals to one for the quarter, and the Bombers 65 points ahead at three quarter time. The pressure valve was then released, and a high-scoring final quarter would follow where goals would flow freely. Six goals to three gave the Bombers a convincing 84-point win.
Danny Roberts was at his unstoppable best on the North Shore forward line, finishing with eight goals. Roberts, along with Evan Davis and Sam Carruthers, were North Shore's best. For the Students, MJ Figg, Ben Coffey and James Howard kept working hard all day.
The Bombers remain in third position. Their final two games are against UNSW-ES at Gore Hill and Manly at Weldon. With their inferior percentage, their hopes of the minor premiership depend on winning both their remaining games and hoping that St George drop one of their last two. But it was disappointing for the Students, with the loss ending any remote mathematical hopes of qualifying for the playoffs.
The gap between the top three and fourth place was stretched to two games after a shock result at the Village Green. The Bulldogs had beaten the Demons earlier in the season, but the Demons had gone on a nine-game winning streak since then before going down to North Shore last week. But the shock value was not just that the Bulldogs won, but the 98-point margin.
The Demons charge had been dealt a blow with a run of injuries coming at the wrong time of year; but few could have predicted that this game would be as one-sided as it was.
The Bulldogs burst out of the starting blocks and got the jump, setting up an early lead that the Bulldogs never looked a chance to recover from. The Bulldogs would score the only six goals of the first quarter, leading by 33 points at the first change. The Demons would attempt a fightback in the second term, but goals were hard to come by and they would manage just two goals for the quarter. At the other end, the Bulldogs were flying high and would score three, and for all the Demons' efforts the Bulldogs would win the quarter, extending their advantage to 41 points at half time.
The Demons were down for the count, and they would not get back up. They would not score another goal for the game, as a team that had looked so dominant just a fortnight ago was unable to match it was the Bulldogs. The home side would score five goals in the third term, going 71 points clear at three quarter time. Four more goals in the final quarter would see the margin finish only two points short of three figures.
Henry Mason stood up on the Bulldog forward line and was rewarded with his efforts with a seven goal haul, while Jeremy Kiel contributed four. Max Collett, along with Mason and Kiel, were the Bulldogs' best on a memorable afternoon for the club. On a disappointing day for the Demons, David Smith, Peter Barnes and Damian Dell'Aquila continued to persevere.
Pennant Hills's final two games are away to Sydney University then St George at Mike Kenny. UNSW-ES have North Shore at Gore Hill and then Sydney Hills at Village Green. Unless either team can win their last game and one of the top three teams lose both of theirs, the Bulldogs and Demons will meet again in sudden death in the first week of the finals.
Balmain, after back-to-back grand final appearances in the last two seasons, have slid down the ladder this season. A turbulent season boiled over when several players walked off in their match against Western Suburbs last week.
The Dragons were in no mood to show any mercy, and dominated proceedings from start to finish to record a convincing 115-point victory.
St George always looked to have the game in control, but the Dragons faced some resistance in the opening quarter; with the Dockers managing two goals to hold the St George at 22 points at the first change. But the Dragons had the attacking options during a high-scoring shootout of a second quarter, scoring six goals to three to extend the margin to 46 points at half time.
The high-scoring nature of proceedings, with the forwards consistently getting on top of the opposition defenders, continued in the third quarter. Looking for a way back into the contest, the Dockers attacked hard and scored four goals, but let in six at the other end. And by the time the last quarter came around, the Balmain resistance had crumbled, with the Dragons getting the ball forward with regularity in a nine-goal quarter that put the margin easily into three figures.
There were plenty of avenues to goal for the Dragons, with 13 of their number getting on the goal-scorers' list. Nick Ryan was the most prolific of them, scoring six, while Jason Saddington kicked five and Alex Wynn four. The youth trio of David Watts, Nicolas Shaw and Daniel Tomlins were the best for the Dragons; while the Dockers found willing workers on another hard day in Ryan Hezlett, Kristian Ericson and Matt Round; Hezlett scoring four goals to at least give the Dockers some scoring options.
St George have a tough final two games, taking on Manly at Olds Park and then Pennant Hills at Mike Kenny. Win those games, and the Dragons will take out the minor premiership. Win either of them, and they will have the double-chance in the finals.
At Weldon Oval, Manly maintained the ladder leadership, doing it in style with a comfortable 76-point win over Campbelltown.
The Blues have been big improvers during the second half of this season, and in the first quarter they would show some stern resistance against the high-flying Wolves. With three goals to two in the opening term, it was a five-point Campbelltown lead at the first change. But after so many impressive results in recent weeks, the Blues had nothing more to give and they were unable to maintain the intensity they showed in the first quarter for the remainder of the game.
The Wolves took control in the second term, and goals began to flow freely. When a team gets a run-on at the small Weldon ground, the floodgates can open; and this happened in the second term as the Wolves scored seven goals to two to lead by 28 points at the long break. Another seven goals to two quarter in the third term saw the lead out to 60 points at the last change; and from there the Wolves were coasting to victory with five goals to one in the final quarter.
Hayden Washington again looked impressive on the forward line to score five goals; while Robert Hart, Jack Lynch and Gareth Benbow were picking up possessions at will. For the Blues, Hamish Sherwood, Matt Edwins and Penisimeni Mahina were their best.
It's been a memorable season for Manly, and to still be top of the ladder with two rounds to go in their debut season in Premier Division has been a remarkable achievement. But it's a nightmare draw to finish the season for the Wolves, with fellow top-three teams St George and North Shore to come; and the Wolves will need to win both to be assured of the minor premiership.
Western Suburbs hosted Illawarra at Picken Oval on Saturday afternoon, with the Magpies going into the game fresh after the Balmain forfeit last week. The Magpies had a successful afternoon and etched another chapter in the season's tale of misery for the Lions with an easy 64-point win.
The Magpies had the early jump, and would score the only four goals of the opening term to lead by 25 points at the first change. But they would face some stern resistance from the Lions in the second term, as the Illawarra defence dug deep to prevent the scoreboard from blowing out any further. Just one goal apiece was scored during the second term, with the Magpies leading by 26 points when the teams returned to the rooms for the half time break.
When the teams returned, the Magpies had rediscovered their best form, and would put in a premiership quarter that would turn the game into a blowout. Players who were quiet during the first half began to assert themselves, and the Lions had no answers to the Magpie onslaught. Seven unanswered goals saw the Magpies 68 points ahead at the last change; and although the Lions won the last quarter, it wasn't enough to prevent another hefty defeat.
Brenton Mumme, Marcus Linsen and Yannick Milligan-Saville were ball magnets for the Magpies, setting up many of their forward thrusts throughout another impressive afternoon. Jeremy Daniher, Ken Ewen-Chappell and Jacob Brookfield were among Illawarra's best.
It's still mathematically possible, albeit extremely unlikely, for the Magpies to make the finals. The Magpies would need to win both their last two games, while hoping that either Pennant Hills or UNSW-ES lose both theirs; with the combined margin being enough to bridge the percentage divide. It's not going to happen, but 2013 has seen the Magpies being big improvers. But the news hasn't been so good for the Lions, who remain winless for the season.
The match between Sydney Hills and UTS at Bruce Purser Reserve had no bearing on the finals, but the Bats have belatedly turned on some good form and won their second game on the trot with a 56-point win over the Eagles.
The first quarter was a shootout, with both sides throwing caution to the wind and putting on an attacking, high-scoring and entertaining opening term. The Bats kicked five goals to four, leading by three points at the first change. And the momentum of the game continued to see-saw in the second term, with the Bats ten points clear at the long break.
When the teams returned to the field, UTS were ready to step up a gear, and the third term saw them take control of the contest. The Bats were running the ball forward more often, and chances would open up for them as they would score five unanswered goals in the premiership quarter, opening the lead out to 41 points at the last change. From there, victory was assured; and the Bats would go on with the job in the last quarter as they cruised to an easy win.
Mitchell Hall, Will Chambers and Luke Hendricks were best for the Bats; while the Eagles were well served by the efforts of Ryan Fitton, Ben Wharton and Trent Baker. No finals for either of these teams, but the Bats have lifted in the last few weeks to show the form that they must wish they had been able to produce earlier in the season.
Next week may well be pivotal for how the finals will line up. Pennant Hills have a relatively straightforward game against Sydney University; while St George take on Manly at Olds Park, and North Shore host UNSW-ES at Gore Hill.
If North Shore win, UNSW-ES will be in sudden death in the finals; while North Shore will be in the hunt for the minor premiership. The winner of St George v Manly will go top for at least the next week; but both have a tough game in the final round. The loser of St George v Manly, along with North Shore if they lose, will only be one game clear of Pennant Hills and UNSW-ES if they win. But the size of Pennant Hills’ loss is such that Manly and St George now have a better percentage than the Demons; although North Shore would still be looking over their shoulder if they go down this week.
Last Modified on 13/08/2013 09:58
