Nor-West headed down to the beautiful Drummoyne Oval in Round 14 action. The Jets hammered the Dockers at Bensons Lane earlier in the year, but were wary of Balmain on their home soil.
With the late withdrawal of Josh James, Matt Lloyd was drafted into the Senior team and immediately made an impact, playing solid football around the back 50 and setting up the likes of Paul Sherwood, with 4 goals in a best on ground display, Owen Butcher and Brendan Cameron, returning to torment his old club. The Jets kicked 5 goals to 2 in the 1st term, but Balmain tightened up their defence in the 2nd quarter, restricting the visitors to only 2 and managing two themselves. Paul Webster was in dominant form in the ruck, with great back up by Andrew Travers, who is returning to his form of 2005/6. With only a 21 point lead at the long break, and needing a win to stay in 4th spot, Coach Garth Bull revved his players up for a stronger second half.
With Jacobi Berry in untouchable form up forward, being fed quality delivery by local heart throb Chris Ahearn, the Jets turned it on in the 3rd quarter, with a 6 goal to nil display to put the game out of Balmain’s reach. The Jets are playing an exciting brand of footy, and will need to maintain good form to keep their spot in top 4. 5 more goals in the last, while keeping the Dockers to two, saw the Jets travel back to Bensons with a strong 71 point victory, 18.10-118 to 6.11-47.
Goals- J. Berry 5, P. Sherwood 4, S. Makins 2, P. Webster 2, C. Graf 2, S. Tibben 1, L. Eldridge 1, A. Travers 1, T. Hurst 1.
Best- P. Sherwood, M. Lloyd, P. Webster, J. Berry, B. Cameron, A. Travers.
In Division 4, the Jets needed to continue their great recent form, which included 7 wins from 8 games, and travelled to Rosedale Oval to face rivals Moorebank Sports. The Magpies got up by 30 points in the previous meeting on ANZAC Day, and sitting 2nd on the ladder, were clear favourites on their unusually dry home deck.
The home side started faster, with 3 early goals that caught the Jets on the back foot, but Nor-West rallied with some smart footy, to claim back two of their own. Ryan Bowen, in his rookie year, playing a tight game on one of the Pies dangerous forwards, and created running opportunities for Dan Button, Daniel Harding on the wing and Chris Collins. Nick Milkins and Steve Chase are turning back the clock week after week, playing fierce football and teaching the young blokes how it’s done.
It was a similar style in the 2nd quarter, with the Jets appearing slow against their youthful opponents, but had the experience to keep touch at half time, trailling by only 15 points.
After a slow start to the season, this shaped as the most critical 2nd half the Jets had faced all year, with their faint finals hope on the line. However, Moorebank wanted it more, and if not for the great defensive effort of Matt Brophy and Matt Laurence, the third quarter may have been worse, as the home side kicked 3 more and left the Jets to only a solitary behind. Steve Davidson was in a class of his own in the middle, and will be pushing for re-selection in the Seniors for this week’s important clash. The Jets got a sniff in the last kicking 2 early goals, but could only manage one more as Moorebank proved their credentials with a deserved 33 point win, 11.14-80 to 7.5-47.
Goals- M. Davidson , S. Braid , M. Laurence , D. Graham , C. Hall , B. Goodwin , C. Collins 1 each.
Best Players: S. Chase, R. Bowen, N. Milkins, M. Davidson, M. Laurence, C. Collins.
The Jets face their toughest test this week at Bensons Lane, with the Seniors keen to knock off 2nd place UTS, while the ressies face the all-conquering Auburn at midday.
Last Modified on 27/11/2010 17:15
