Up in Armidale the New England Nomads were hoping to break the curse that the Saints hold over them. Unfortunately they couldn't do it this time. The Nomads have been struggling all year with getting the same 22 players each week, and this week was no different with a quarter of the team changed from last week. The Saints are also struggling to get their best 22 each week and had the likes of Mick Viney, Justin Pay and Peter Heath missing. The Saints set up the win in the first quarter dominating on the score board to lead at quarter time by 39 points. In the second quarter the Nomads staged a comeback outscoring the Saints to be down by 34 points at half time. The Saints regrouped at half time and came out ready to play like they did at the start of the game. They dominated the score board but they were inaccurate kicking, 5 goals and 9 behinds, stopped them from grabbing a percentage building win. The Saints led at three quarter time by 64 points. The Nomads again outscored the Saints in the last quarter, but it was not enough finally going down to the Saints by 54 points and the curse continues.
In Tamworth the main interest in the Kangaroos v Cats game was could the Kangaroos beat their close rival's, The Swans, Country Energy TAFL highest score. They fell 7 points short of that feat but gained some valuable confidence for their team to go forward in the coming weeks. As the Saints did the Kangaroos approved match day permits for a couple of its players to play with Cats so both teams could play with even numbers on the field. And just like the Saints the Kangaroos are to be commended for their sportsmanship in doing this. In the end it was a 221 point win with Dan Overeem and Michael Filosi both kicking 9 goals each.
Down at the Kennel the snarling Bulldogs wanted to kept their home ground winning record this year, but the all conquering Swans were standing in their way. In wet and miserable conditions the Bulldogs got the jump on the Swans in the first quarter kicking 5 goals to 2 to lead at quarter time by 20 points. The Bulldogs set up the win by dominating the second quarter kicking 7 goals to the Swans 2 goals to take a 52 point lead into half time. But as we have seen this year the Swans can come back from half time deficits and the Bulldogs were well aware of this fact. As expected the Swannies came out snapping in the Third quarter more than doubling their half time score and restricting the Bulldogs to just 1 goal, 1 behind for the quarter and reduced the Bulldogs lead to 33 points at three quarter time. At the three quarter time break the Bulldogs Captain, John Woolaston, and Coach, Dave Chapman, voiced their anger at letting the Swans back into the game. This was the spur that the Bulldogs needed and they matched the Swans in the last quarter and eventually won the game by 35 points. For the Bulldogs their young gun Sam Naismith continues to show improvement this time kicking 3 goals.
Last Modified on 28/06/2009 20:02