At NO.1 Oval in Tamworth the first of the local derbies for the year was held with the Swans getting over the Kangaroos. Both teams had notable absentees for this game, Tim Cotter and Cam Douglas for the Kangaroos and Dean Hoy, Jason Darcy and Richard green for the Swans. This weakened the mid field for the Kangaroos and the forward line for the Swans. The Swans got the jump on the Kangaroos in the first quarter over running them to lead by 23 points. The second quarter was all the Swans again as the Kangaroos just had no answer and the Swans lead at half time was a massive 60 points. During the Half time break stand in coach of the Kangaroos Geordie Ackeroyd changed his team's game plan and implored them for a greater effort in the start of their huge fight back. Although they only managed to cut the Swans lead by 15 points at 3/4 time they were showing more desire to be down by 45 points at the last break. The final quarter was a classic game of football with the Swans struggling to hold onto their lead and the Kangaroos growing another leg and charging hard. The Kangaroos kept the Swans goal less in the last quarter and the Swans can breathe a huge sigh of relief that they got away with this one and no doubt Coach Rick Watt will spell it out to his charges that you have to play 4 quarters of football, especially if you want to win finals.
Kangaroos 12-15-87
Goal Kickers: B. Coombes 3, P. Walton 3, D. Overeem 2, A. Hawkins 2, C. Daye, M. Filosi
Best Players: P. Tapper, M. Filosi, B. Coombes, M. Douglas, B. Kennedy, P. Walton
Swans 15-12-102
Goal Kickers: T. Brown 4, G. Knee 3, D. Finlay 2, J. Molony 2, J. Atkinson 2, D. Miller, L. Rowling
Best Players: L. Rowling, G. Knee, D. Wendt, J. Molony, A. Donohue, T. Jones
In Inverell the Saints hosted the struggling Muswellbrook Cats. For the Cats to make the long trip to Inverell with only 13 players shows that they are doing everything possible to get a team on the paddock each week. Due to short numbers the Saints approved match day permits for a couple of its players and played with a reduced interchange bench. The result of this game was always going to be a Saints win it was just a matter of by how much. While they kept the Cats goal less for the game they could have won by a greater margin had they kicked straight, it took they until the last quarter to get the goal to behind ratio correct and take a win by 203 points. At the conclusion of this game the Saints players lined up and clapped the Cats off the ground with a guard of honour as a small but appreciative crowd also clapped them off. This was a great show of sportsmanship and shows that everyone is supportive of the Cats. The bad news for the Saints is that co captain Chris Whitton was stretchered off the ground late in the game with what appears to be a serious knee injury.
Saints 30-29-209
Goal Kickers: M. Viney 9, P. Heath 5, G. Hadland 4, C. Whitton 4, J.Kimmince 2, K. Te Velde , T. Retallack, J. Williams, J. Pay, J. Lawton, B. Mutimer
Best Players: J. Lawton, J. Elphick, C. Whitton, M. Viney, P. Heath, B. Ryan
Cats 0-6-6
Best Players: C. Russell, A. Griffiths, G. Ellis, M. McLaughlin, M. Barnett, N. Wilson
Down at the Kennel the Gunnedah Bulldogs had a huge first quarter against the New England Nomads keeping them scoreless. While the Bulldogs kicked a massive 9 goals 9 behinds to set up their win. The second quarter was the Nomads best outscoring the Bulldogs by 11 points and giving them some hope at half time. But that was not to be as the snarling Bulldogs kept the undermanned Nomads to just 1 point for the third quarter while kicking 3 goals 9 behinds themselves. The last quarter was again all the Bulldogs but their wayward kicking is the problem. The Bulldogs will need to work on their kicking in front of goal as kicking 27 behinds for a game will not help them against the Swans, Saints and Kangaroos. This was a huge win for the Bulldogs though as it has elevated them back into the top 4 clear by a game and just behind the Kangaroos, who are in third spot, by percentage. For the Nomads it means that for the first time this year they slip out of the top 4.
Bulldogs 16-27-123
Goal Kickers: M. Ewington 4, J. Bee-Gill 3, S. Hardy 2, S. Naismith 2, M. Nazzari, J. Hack, S. McVittie, M. Stevenson, S. Higgins
Best Players: S. Higgins, P. Brown, P. Chapman, S. Hardy, G. Briggs, S. McVittie
New England Nomads 4-10-34
Goal Kickers: B. Page, M. Maxwell, J. Wright, M. Sawyer
Best Players: C. Ballagh, N. Schultz, M. Maxwell, A. Wright, K. Clayton, T. Walsh
Last Modified on 31/05/2009 09:38