It's a showery day and a heavy track at Gore Hill, with all three grades in action against East Coast Eagles.
The under 18s were first on, and an absorbing contest against the Eagles was in prospect. The first quarter was closely contested, with the Bombers leading by a point at the first change. But the second quarter didn't go to plan, with the Eagles scoring two early goals and the Bombers unable to manage a goal for the quarter and trailing by 9 points at half time.
With 2 early goals in the third term, the Eagles looked in danger of running away with the contest, but the Bombers lifted. Peppering the goals and landing two goals and plenty of points, the margin was cut to just 5 points before an Eagle goal on the three-quarter time siren against the run of play restored the half-time deficit of 2 goals.
The Eagles led by 18 points with 10 minutes to play, and looked headed for victory. But the Bombers are made of tougher stuff than that, and ha the fitness to run out 4 quarters even in heavy conditions. 4 goals in the final 10 minutes saw the Bombers take the lead and complete a thrilling 7-point triumph to keep the unbeaten record for 2010 intact.
Final Score - North Shore 8.12 (60) defeated East Coast 8.5 (53).
The reserves game started strongly for the Bombers. The Eagles have a strong second team, who have participated in the last 5 Reserves/First Division grand finals. But storming out of the blocks, the Bombers took early control to set up a 25-point lead at the first change. And the strong football continued by the Bombers in the second term, with the Bombers adding a further 3 goals to 1 and leading by 36 points at the long break.
The floodgates opened in the third quarter, a quarter in which the Bombers dominated around the ground and on the scoreboard where the Bombers added 7 goals to 1; and at the last change the margin had extended to 66 points. By now the rain had turned to sunshine and a healthy crowd was building on the hill. With the points now safe, the last quarter was largely going through the motions, with the Bombers taking out a 61-point victory.
Final Score - North Shore 15.7 (97) defeated East Coast 5.6 (36).
It was a bright start in the Premier Division game with the Bombers scoring a goal in the opening minute, but it would be tough going. Much of the quarter was a low-scoring arm-wrestle, but the Eagles got on top during time-on with a run of 4 goals in the final 6 minutes of the quarter and the Bombers trailed by 17 points at quarter time. The second term saw twists and turns, as the Bombers fought back to get within a kick before a run of 4 goals in a row to the Eagles saw them threaten to run away with the contest. But the Bombers again lifted in the latter stages of the quarter to trail by 12 points at the long break
The fortunes ebbed and flowed again in the third. Early on the Eagles again looked in danger of running away with the contest, but a run of 4 in a row in the closing stages of the quarter cut the margin to just 2 points at three-quarter time.
By now the sun had gone and the rain was back, with a bright rainbow visible over the eastern side of the ground. But there was no pot of gold at the end, as the Bombers' momentum was unable to carry them over the line and the Eagles won by 9 points. It had been a gallant fight against the defending champions, but again fell agonisingly short.
Final Score - East Coast 14.7 (91) defeated North Shore 12.10 (82)
Last Modified on 28/11/2010 16:54
