Article and Photos by Michael Shillito
There are good seasons and there are seasons when things don’t go your way. And it was a contrast in 2014 campaigns as North Shore faced off against Pennant Hills at Gore Hill Oval on Saturday afternoon.
For the home side, a season unravelling, decimated by injury. For the Demons, only one defeat so far; no fanfare or big talk, just quietly and efficiently getting the job done as they so often do.
But North Shore usually match up well against the Demons. The Bombers took the points in both meetings during the home and away season last year, and the Demons only just fell over the line in a knockout semi final last season. And the Bombers put up plenty of fight early.
A North Shore goal was on the board in the opening minutes, and the Demons struggled to get the ball inside 50 during the early exchanges. But eventually they found a way through, three unanswered goals giving the visitors a 13-point advantage at the first change.
But with so many big names out for the Bombers, they didn’t have the firepower to match it with the Demons for more than a quarter. And as the second quarter progressed, it was clear there would be no miracle upset this time. Around the ground, Demon winners began to emerge; running in numbers, finding targets and pumping the ball into their forward zone; forcing the Bombers into desperate defence. And frustration began to boil over, as experienced Bomber Ron Wason found himself uncharacteristically yellow carded late in the second term.
Four goals to one in the second term, and the Demons led by 31 points at the long break. And there would be no respite for the Bombers in the third term as the Demons added four goals without reply, extending their lead to 55 points at three quarter time.
But the game was to have an unexpected twist and a bizarre ending. Gore Hill Oval is located next door to Royal North Shore Hospital, and the hospital helicopter landing area was busier than normal. The Demons had added a further two goals to one, when the police arrived at the ground.
With the heliport full, and an urgent emergency flight on its way, the players and umpires were ordered to stop the game so a helicopter could land on the field. As the chopper circled and landed, and with the result of the game not in doubt, full time was called early. As important as football is, allowing a patient to be transported to hospital is a greater priority.
It was a 61-point result for the Demons; who remain comfortably in second place, just one win behind Manly and well ahead of the chasing teams. Harry Angel, Damian Dell’Aquila and Matt Thomas were prominent contributors for the Demons as they maintained their impressive 2014 momentum. On another disappointing day for North Shore; Matt Adamson, Liam McColl and Tom Aynsley kept working hard all afternoon.
UNSW-ES’s 2014 campaign hasn’t gone to plan, with a six-game losing streak. But the Bulldogs finally returned to the winning list on Saturday afternoon at the Village Green; and did it in style with a 61-point win over Sydney Hills Eagles.
The scoreboard was ticking over in the first quarter, the teams exchanging goals and matching it around the ground. Four goals apiece in the opening term, and the Bulldogs were three points ahead at quarter time. And then the Bulldogs took the upper hand in the second term, defending tighter than they did in the early exchanges to restrict the Eagles to just two goals in the second term while adding four themselves. At the long break, the Bulldogs were 17 points ahead and the Eagles were under pressure.
Goals were hard to come by during the premiership quarter, as a swirling breeze and some tight defensive work from both sides combined to make a frustrating term of footy for the forwards of both sides. The Bulldogs managed to find the big sticks twice, but drew a single flag from the goal umpires seven times. At the other end, the Eagles were held to just five behinds, and the home side’s lead had been extended to 31 points at the last change.
The defences had kept things tight in the third term, but the floodgates would be opened in the last; and the scoreboard operator was kept busy during the last quarter. It would be a quarter of vintage Bulldog footy, the best they’ve played all season, as they slammed through seven goals to two to double the Eagles’ score and win by 61 points.
James Pascoe spearheaded the Bulldog charge to finish with five goals; and along with Hayden Nichols and Tom Dickson was among their best. Aaron Drinkwater, Damian Charleston and Mark Skuse continued to put in a solid effort all afternoon for the Eagles. With the win, the Bulldogs leap-frog North Shore on the ladder thanks to their better percentage; but are still a game and a half outside the top five.
Wests remain in third place on the ladder, but the Magpies had to overcome a strong start by Campbelltown and an afternoon of relentless pressure at Monarch Oval on Sunday afternoon before they could secure the points.
The Blues have won just twice this season, but for long periods on Saturday they looked destined to pull off their third victory. Getting off to a flying start, they would take the lead early on; and with a run of three goals to two in the opening term, held a lead of six points at quarter time. Two goals apiece were scored in the second term, and the Blues led by eight points at half time. 
It was the second week in a row that the Blues were leading a top three team at the long break. Last week they weren’t able to go on with it in the third term, and it was something they were determined not to repeat this time. Continuing to apply the pressure and making the Magpies work for every possession, there was every prospect of an upset occurring as the Blues continued to match it with their more highly fancied opponents during the third term. Three goals were scored by each side, and Campbelltown had given themselves every chance of pulling off a stunning boilover as they led by six points at three quarter time.
The Magpies had been under the pump for three quarters. But in the final term they were finally able to shake off the Blues and take the lead. Five unanswered goals broke the home town hearts as the Magpies finally asserted themselves and raced to a 25-point victory; a margin that didn’t do justice to the determined effort the Blues had shown for the first three quarters. But in the end, the Magpies did what they needed to do to maintain their ladder position and strengthen their claims to a finals berth this season.
Taylor Williamson spearheaded the Magpie charge to finish with four goals; while around the ground, Lindsay Scown, Leigh Conway and Levi Sands picked up a stack of possession. Matt Edwins contributed five goals to the Campbelltown effort, and along with Taran Etto and Joshua Van Luenen was among their best.
Manly haven’t dropped a game yet this season, their odds of going back to back getting shorter with every passing week. But Sydney Uni came closer than anyone else has so far this season in a twilight encounter at Sydney Uni No 1 Oval on Saturday, going down by just 18 points.
The Students returned to the winning list last week and went into their clash against the Giants with their confidence high and hopeful of claiming the biggest scalp in Sydney footy; and the Giants were placed under extreme pressure for much of the evening. 
There wasn’t much in the first quarter, three goals to two in favour of the Giants and an eight-point advantage at the first change. And the second quarter saw the run of play favour the Giants, with three goals to one seeing them lead by 22 points at half time.
But the Students rallied, and for the first time this season the Giants found themselves chasing their opponents as the Sydney Uni side sensed an opportunity to work their way back into the game and threaten an upset. The Giants were unable to score a goal in the third quarter, as the Students’ defence rose to the occasion and resolutely denied the Manly forwards scoring chances. And at the other end, three Sydney Uni goals went through during the quarter, the margin cut to just three points at three quarter time.
It had been a sensational third term by the Students, getting themselves within a kick of the runaway competition leaders. But for all their efforts, they could get no closer. The Giants rallied during three quarter time, and shut the Students out of the game in a low-scoring final term in which the defences were dominant. The Students were unable to score in the final quarter; and although the Giants were only able to conjure up two goals, that was enough to end the University challenge and keep their unbeaten record intact.
Braydon Fowler was again the focal point up forward for the Giants, finishing with five goals; bringing his season tally to 54 and keeping alive his hopes of being the first player since Gus Seebeck in 2009 to kick the ton in Premier Division. Around the ground, Gareth Benbow, Jordan Weir and Wills Brassil were ball magnets. Sydney Uni were well served through the evening by the efforts of Sam Sleigh, Jack Caspersonn and Glenn Smith.
At Waverley Oval on Saturday afternoon, St George maintained their impressive run of form, winning their fifth game in succession, when they overcame a sluggish start to account for UTS by 23 points.
It took time for the Dragons to hit their straps, while the Bats showed every indication early that they had come to play and wouldn’t be making it easy for St George. But accuracy in front of goals would cost them; as although they did manage to kick three goals to one and lead by 16 points at quarter time, it could have been a much bigger lead. And that buffer would have come in handy as the Dragons got on top in the second term.
The Dragons began to find room to move, and forward targets began to emerge. And then the scoreboard began to tick over quickly. Eight goals to two in the second term saw the St George deficit turned into a 21-point lead at the long break. The Dragons had only enjoyed one more scoring shot than the Bats in the first half, but the Bats’ poor kicking had seen them well behind after a half of football in which there wasn’t much between the two sides in general play.
The Bats were forced into chasing the game from behind, but they made a good attempt at getting back into the contest in the third term. A high scoring and entertaining term of footy saw the Bats win the quarter, four goals to three; but still trailed by 14 points at the last change. But the Dragons had the answers to any challenge the Bats would throw their way in the final term, and the home side was unable to bridge the gap any further. With a run of five goals to three in the final term, the Dragons would put the result beyond doubt; and although it hadn’t been a totally convincing performance, they had done enough to record the win.
In a high-scoring game, Alex Wynn scored five goals for the Dragons and Karl Merson four; Wynn, Merson and Nick Ryan being the Dragons’ best. Michael May kept the Bats in the contest with four goals, while around the ground the efforts of Kaizaad Mehta, Justin Kenna and Damon Collina were also influential.
So Manly remain undefeated on top, with Pennant Hills just a game behind. Wests and St George have only a couple of percentage points separating them, and the battle for the double-chance may well be between those two sides, who have already played a draw this season. Sydney Uni, despite having lost more games than they have won, remain in the top five; a game and a half clear of any challengers for the last finals berth.
Last Modified on 23/06/2014 10:59
