Bulldogs v Eagles
If there wasn’t a scoreboard then this game looked closer than the scoreboard gave credit. The big difference was the Doggies had too many mobile targets in the forward line for the Eagles defence to try to quell. Plus the speed from the centre bounce and direct delivery into their forward line caught the Eagles napping quite a few times. Just like last week but with a different cast – Mavor wins tap, into Paddys hands handball to Tahu-thomson bang downfield down Stephensons throat GOAL. Or it was to Farres or it was to Tobias “I’m still jet lagged” Foley. Unfortunately Foley’s kicking boots were left in the Greek islands last week as he squandered some easy shots.
The second quarter started to even out the competition around the field with Eagles Boon sweeping through the middle and driving the ball into attack or new player Burke who used his impressive height and agility in to cut the Doggies attack mid-flight. He’ll be one to watch for the Eagles. Morel was solid down back and many times repelled the Bulldogs attack and linked well with Young and Clint but like plugging the dyke with your finger the attack just went around and kept coming and kept coming.
The Bulldogs were impressive with their direct kicking into their forward line who used their powerful forwards with full impact to keep the scoreboard ticking over. The straight running at the ball defence of Burdett, Cameron and Beck snubbed out any chance of a goal for the Eagles and they were constantly sent back downtown. Irish recruit Kieran proved he was not only quick but could punt a ball 60 metres off 2 steps caught everyone by surprise. At one point in the third quarter it was a kick to kick between the Eagles backmen and the Doggies backmen with the ball swapping ends a dozen times before another route was found to the Doggies forward line.
Final score read Bulldogs 16 11 107 d Eagles 0 4 4
Cougars v Blues
With the Blues big win last week this game was eagerly anticipated to see if they could back it up and also if the Cougars could keep up with the rampant Blues.
The first 3 quarters was quite even with the stiff southerly blowing through the middle of the ground. Cougars Read was his athletic self roaming all over the ground, first timer Rodes swallowed every pill across half back and pushed the cougars back into attack with some impressive kicking and the return of the Marauding Mexican Javier Balcazar impressed everyone with his array of skills borrowed from Soccer, basketball, NFL and volleyball?? Maybe. Whatever he was doing was impressive to watch when he had time out on the wing and even though he’s had short siesta away from the game his accurate kicking can still hit you on the tit.
For the Blues Johnsons workload across the ground was impressive and linked well with Blackler down the wing. Williams-Hair was floating everywhere to pick up some great marks and massive punts. Corey was good for a few sneaky goals. Bowden tried to keep the Blues I the game but by the last quarter the Cougars around the ground talent started to flourish. None more so than sneak-a-goal-a-minute-Mildenhall who soccered 4 goals in the last quarter. Other standouts were Cargill, Harrington and Roughan who all combined well to help create an easy win in the end for the Cougars.
Cougars 12 14 86 d Blues 5 8 38
by Steve Langridge
Last Modified on 08/12/2020 20:20