The season to date certainly hasn’t gone to plan for UTS. The Bats, with their enormous pool of players and strong recruiting network, had high hopes that 2014 would be the year in which they would make it to the Premier Division finals for the first time. But the first six rounds had seen them left without a win, having copped some heavy defeats. Their only premiership points had come from a draw against Sydney Uni.
So when the Bats took the field against North Shore, another defeat would have been horrendous for their finals prospects. There was no time for any more losses.
The Bombers were another side with high expectations that the reality hadn’t lived up to. But, although decimated by injuries, the Bombers had at least recorded some wins; and were playing to move into the top five.
It was a gloriously sunny day at Waverley Oval, blue skies over the ground and extending down the hill to the ocean below. The ground was looking a treat, and there were plenty of spectators on hand as the Bats and the Bombers faced off.
With some early goals, the Bombers took the lead; but looked far from impressive. Goals were hard to come by, but the Bombers would remain ahead through the first half. Three goals to two in the first quarter, and North Shore led by seven points at the first change. But through the second term, every time the Bombers threatened to kick away, they found themselves unable to shake off the Bats; and the home side would come up with the answering goal. And with a late surge in the shadows of half time, the North Shore lead was cut to just two points at the long break.
This is UTS’s fourth season in Premier Division. In each of the previous seasons, North Shore have made the finals and UTS haven’t; but the Bats have given the Bombers grief, with the Bats having recorded a few wins and made the Bombers distinctly uncomfortable on other occasions. And there would be plenty of discomfort for the Bombers in the premiership quarter.
It took seven minutes for a goal to be scored, but a strong mark by Michael May just inside the 50 broke the deadlock and gave the Bats the lead for the first time in the game. And a couple of minutes later, May was again in the thick of the action, pouncing on a grubber kick forward and shooting over his shoulder. A running Adam Baker was cooking up a handy lead for the Bats as he slammed another goal through; and when Scott Tregoning capitalised on a free kick, the Bats were well on top. 
They weren’t finished yet, as Liam Flanagan launched a booming torp from outside the 50 to land another. Confidence, which had deserted the home side for so long, was back; as the Bats were finding winners all around the ground. Even with the Bombers getting a late goal back in time on, with Shaun Atkins finding himself at the end of an impressive run from Dale Fitzgerald, the Bats were 20 points ahead at the last change and victory was all but assured.
The last quarter was largely a countdown to the Bats being able to finally sing their victory song and wasn’t a term that produced any great highlights. But by now, UTS had regained the winning feeling and went on with the job in the last quarter with a run of four goals to two. Finally the siren sounded, and finally the Bats had cause to celebrate.
The final margin was 27 points, a comfortable enough result for the Bats’ breakthrough win. Brendan Brown, Harry Whiting and Tom Zilm had been their best. For the disappointing Bombers, Jack Campbell, James McKenzie and Daniel Schacher had toiled tirelessly; but it was a below-par performance from the Bombers and one which places their chances of making the finals into question.
St George hosted Sydney Uni at Olds Park on Saturday afternoon, two of the teams that have got themselves into the top five early in the season and look a strong chance to stay there. And it would be the Dragons who would give themselves a boost against a possible finals opponent when they capitalised on a strong start to record a 14-point victory.
With the home ground advantage, and keen to make a statement early, the Dragons burst out of the blocks with a flying start that would prove to be the difference between the two sides. The early goals would be crucial, a run of four goals to two in the opening term, with St George leading by eleven points at quarter time. And the Dragons would continue to attack the goals in the second term, but their accuracy would desert them. There were three goals apiece in the second term, and as the teams returned to the rooms at half time, the Dragons held a 14-point advantage.
The Dragons had been easily the better side through the first half, but the Students were still within striking distance. And during the third term, they threw the challenge out to the Dragons; with a string of goals to close the margin. But the Dragons had the answers, and would come up with goals to repel the Student challenge. After a quarter of four goals apiece, the three quarter time siren sounded; the margin finishing where it started at 14 points.
The last term was mainly going through the motions, as Sydney Uni never looked a chance to steal the game. Each side would score just one goal in the final term. The final quarter, like the third, saw each side record the same scores; the half time and three quarter time margin remaining intact at the finish. 
Dean Gilbert, Alex Wynn and Stephen Wilsen had been ball magnets for the Dragons, especially during the explosive opening term that would prove the difference between the two sides. For the Students, Jack Caspersonn, Sam Sleigh and Evan Smith were among their best.
It was an early start at Bruce Purser Reserve for the north-western derby as Sydney Hills Eagles played host to Pennant Hills. The Demons were red-hot favourites, and already by quarter time it looked clear that they were well on their way to a win. The Eagles had early chances but could only manage behinds; while the Demons scored four unanswered goals to lead by 20 points at the first change.
It was looking comfortable for the Demons in the second term, as they raced away with six goals to three to lead by 39 points at half time. But when the teams re-emerged for the third quarter, suddenly the Eagles found a second wind and began to work their way back into the contest. Players who were barely sighted in the first half began to get more of the ball, and the scoreboard began to tick over. The Eagles would kick six goals to three for the quarter, cutting the margin to 17 points; and but for a few missed shots that should have been kicked, would have got even closer.
But the Demons steadied during the three quarter time break, and the Eagles could get no closer. Four goals to two in the final quarter was enough to ensure the Demons would be in no danger, as they regained control of the ball and regained control of the contest. It had been a bold third quarter challenge by the Eagles, but the Demons were able to shut down the challenge when it mattered to run out 31-point winners.
Stephen Wray had been important in coming up with goals when they needed, and finished with a haul of six goals. He was ably assisted up forward by Sam Zikman, who finished with four. Around the ground, Kieran Wright, Thomas Edmonds and Stephen Wray had been among their best. On a day when the Eagles showed some fight against a top opponent, they were well served by the efforts of Aaron Savage, Matthew Scholz and Tim Garlick.
When Campbelltown, who have only won one game so far this season, hosted the undefeated Manly at Monarch Oval on Saturday afternoon, the Giants were the hottest of favourites. And they would take the points, but not before they faced an afternoon of determined resistance from a Campbelltown side that were determined to take the fight up to their opponents.
Not much separated the two sides in the first quarter, as the Giants struggled early on to cope with the vast expanses at Monarch and the swirling winds that the locals are so much more familiar with. Around the ground, the Blues were matching it with their opposition, denying the Giants easy possessions. Two goals apiece was the scoreline in the opening term, the Giants two points ahead after a more than competitive quarter from the Blues. 
Manly took the upper hand in the second quarter, although the Blues still weren’t making it easy for them. The Giants got on top on the scoreboard with three goals to one for the quarter, leading by 13 points at half time; although the game was still very much in the balance. But as the third quarter progressed, the Giants did enough to overcome their opponents with a run of four goals to two, extending the lead to 26 points.
It had been a brave effort by the Blues to take up the fight to the Giants, but they didn’t have the firepower to match it with them. The Giants were able to come up with goals when they were needed, piling on the scoreboard pressure; and a further four goals to two in the final quarter extended the visitors’ final winning margin to 41 points.
Brayden Fowler was the dominant force in the game, finishing with six goals for Manly in a best-on-ground performance; while Anthony Robertson and Calum Johnston were also prominent for the Giants; who maintain their unbeaten status in 2014. Matt Edwins offered plenty of resistance for the Blues, kicking four goals; and along with Nathan Lomas and Joel Bottin-Noonan was among their best. The Blues won plenty of respect for their competitive performance, but it wasn’t enough to take the points.
The round finished under lights at Henson Park on Saturday night, with Wests hosting UNSW-ES in a high-standard and entertaining game that would see numerous changes in momentum.
The Magpies, looking to maintain their position in the top five, were the stronger team as the match started; putting plenty of pressure on the Bulldogs to kick five goals to two in the opening term and leading by 18 points at quarter time. The second quarter was a shoot-out, as the Bulldogs threw caution to the wind and threw men forward to keep the scoreboard ticking over. It was a high scoring quarter of footy, six goals to three in favour of the Bulldogs as they cut the Magpie lead to just two points at half time.
But for all the free-flowing play that the Bulldogs used to get back into the game in the second term, they would find themselves frustrated in the third. Instead it was the Magpies who would re-assert themselves, shutting the Bulldogs down and holding them to just one goal for the quarter while adding five to their side of the scoreboard; getting out to a 26-point lead. Much of the sting had gone out of the game by the time the last quarter got under way, and it was a low-scoring quarter in which the sides would score just one goal apiece as a marathon day drew to a close with the Magpies completing a 25-point win. 
Brenton Mumme was the focal point for the Magpies’ attacking raids, finishing with four goals for the night. Around the ground, Matt Round ran rings around his Bulldog opposition to be best on ground, while Lindsay Scown and Leigh Conway also made prominent contributions. James Pascoe put up solid resistance on the Bulldog forward line, particularly during their second quarter burst, to finish with five goals; and along with Jeremy Daniher and Chris Jourdain, was among UNSW-ES’s best.
Premier Division will take a break next weekend, as a wet weather round was scheduled but hasn’t been required. There will be catch-up games and scheduled games in other divisions; but Premier Division will have the week off. This column will also take a week off, and we’ll be back in two weeks’ time to review the next round of Premier Division.
And a warning in advance that column will probably not come online till some time on the Monday after that weekend – I’m in Melbourne on the Sunday and I’m unlikely to get a chance to edit it on the Sunday night.
Last Modified on 19/05/2014 10:28
