In the first game theTamworth Swans travelled well over the hill to Armidale, with enough players to have 2 emergencies. The Swans won the toss and went straight into attack with full forward Dean Hoy kicking the first goal of the quarter off the ground. The Nomads answered not long after with a goal to Sam Trotman. From then on though the Swans took control of the quarter kicking the next 4 goals, 2 each to Hoy and Gavin Knee. Knee was making good use of the ball that ruckman Andrew Donohue was palming down to him.
Quarter time scores
Nomads 1-2-8
Swans 5-3-33
The second quarter saw the Nomads pick up their intensity and started with a goal to Trotman after a down the field free kick infringement by the Swans. This would not be the only goal that the Swans gave up due to undisciplined acts, it happened twice more in the game. The rest of the quarter saw a fairly tight tussle with Nomads4 more goals to 2.
Half time scores
Nomads 6-2-38
Swans 7-6-48
The 3rd quarter with 2 goals apiece before a front on head high tackle by the Swans Dean Hoy which saw him yellow carded for 15 minutes. The Swans unexpectedly kicked the first goal after Hoy's departure by Daniel Butcher. The Nomads then kicked the next 3 goals, but the Swans Gavin Knee was not going to let a little thing like being a man down hinder them and lifted his effort even more and kicked another 2 goals for the quarter. The Nomads didn't really take advantage of the extra man they and still trailed at 3 quarter time.
3 Quarter time scores
Nomads 10-5-65
Swans 10-8-68
The last quarter started with both teams trading goals before Hoy came back on the ground. With the game back to 18 on 18 it was a great spectacle for the crowd to watch, with the Nomads just holding off a fast finishing Swans outfit. The Nomads wish they had 2 Weston Whitby's so they could have 1 at full forward and won in the centre such was his impact in the game. And the Swans Gavin Knee can consider himself very unlucky to not get in the official best on the ground for the Swans, as I thought he was the best on ground for both teams.
Finals scores
Nomads 14-10-94
Swans 13-11-89
Nomads
Goal Kickers: W. Whitby 5, S.Trotman 4, A. Wright 2, A. Walsh 2, C. Dobos
Best Players: S. Trotman, J. Reid, A. Wright, H. Robertson, C. Dobos, N.Schultz
Swans
Goal Kickers: G. Knee 7, D.Hoy 4, J. Darcy, D. Butcher
Best Players: L. Rowling, D. Miller, A. Donohue, T. Jonet, N. Green, D. Wendt
In the last game to finish off round 1 the Gunnedah Bulldogs chased the Muswellbrook Cats up a very large tree, beating them by 108 points.
The Cats started the game well and in fact led the Bulldogs at quarter time but both teams had six scoring shots apiece. The Cats star forward Stuart McAdam was the difference though kicking the straighter.
Quarter time scores
Cats 3-3-21
Bulldogs 2-4-16
The second quarter was also a tight tussle with the game balanced on a knifes edge at half time as the Bulldogs turned a 5 point deficit into a 2 point lead. McAdam had 5 goals by half time and the game was set up for a big second half.
Half time scores
Cats 6-4-40
Bulldogs 6-6-42
The third quarter was where it all went pair shape for the Cats. The Bulldogs went ballistic kicking 8 goals 2 behinds to the Cats 4 behinds. With the Bulldogs Paul Brown and Farron Lamb proving to be a hand full the Cats had no answers.
3 Quarter time scores
Cats 6-8-44
Bulldogs 14-8-92
The last quarter was part time for the Bulldogs keeping the Cats scoreless for the quarter while piling on 60 points themselves. As I said earlier in the year the bulldogs are my dark horse this year but with wins like this it will be hard for them to slip under the radar.
Final scores
Cats 6-8-44
Bulldogs 23-14-152
Cats
Goal Kickers: S. McAdam 5, G.Ellis
Best Players: D. Howard, G. Ellis, K. Garland, W. Gunn, A. Griffiths, B.Howarth
Bulldogs
Goal Kickers: F. Lamb 5, A.George 3, S. Naismith 2, D. Chapman 2, A. Donnelly 2, M. Baker 2, M. Nazzari 2, B. Middlebrook 2, J. Edwards, D. Vidovic, A. Smoverley
Best Players: P. Brown, F. Lamb, S. Naismith, A. George, D. Vidovic, A.Donnelly
Last Modified on 02/05/2009 23:38