Sunny skies greeted the players, officials and coaches as Picken Oval, and Round 2 was played in perfect autumn conditions; as our three senior teams played together for the first time.
Third Division was first up, and for 12 scoreless minutes it was a tight, defensive affair. The ball was camped on the North Shore forward line for much of the early exchanges, but the Bombers were unable to manage a goal from their early chances. And when, against the run of play, the Magpies achieved the opening goal, the floodgates threatened to open as Wests led by 16 points at quarter time.
Wests again looked too good early, but the Bombers fought back late in the quarter. A run of three straight goals got the margin back to within single figures and the Bombers back into the contest before a goal on the half time siren broke the momentum. But the Bombers had won the quarter.
But after half time, the rising temperatures and lack of interchange options began to take their toll. The Bombers had only one on the bench, and when the inevitable injury kicked in there were no changes able to be made, while Wests were able to swing fresh legs into the game. The fresh legs enabled the Magpies to run away to a 52-point win; but it was a vastly improved performance by the Bomber thirds. For many of them, it was only their second competitive game of footy, and a valuable learning experience from which they can only improve.
Western Suburbs 3.4 6.6 10.8 14.11 (95)
North Shore 1.3 4.3 5.5 6.7 (43)
Goal Kickers: H. Cashmore 2, O. Burke , T. Roebuck , D. Miller , L. Chell
Best Players: S. Youlten, D. Miller, A. Henson, H. Cashmore, T. Roebuck, L. Chell
The First Division match was a battle of the defences early. Wests kicked the only two goals of the first quarter, and with the first in the second term, the Bombers were having to come from behnd. But the Bombers lifted their intensity late in the quarter, and with a few late goals got back to within a kick at the long break.
The Bombers hit the front in the first term, and looked to have the momentum. But the Magpies hit back, taking the lead back shortly before three-quarter time. And it was closely contested in the last term, ; but Wests hung on to take the game by 12 points.
Western Suburbs 2.1 4.4 6.5 10.6 (66)
North Shore 0.3 4.4 7.8 7.12 (54)
Goal Kickers: J. Watters , B. Oliver , B. Hatton , T. Aynsley , J. Harry , B. Hackett , L. Somerville
Best Players: D. Orr, P. Bourne, B. Oliver, A. Naylor, J. Watters, S. Jackson
North Shore started the Premier Division game brightly enough. Goals playing on to Daniel Roberts and Pat Codling gave the Bombers the lead early. But too often the Bombers were second in the race to the ball, kicking to contests. The Bombers trailed by 15 points at quarter time, and were unable to score a goal in the second term as the Magpies piled on more pressre than the Bombers could handle, and the Bombers trailed by 39 points at the long break.
Tempers flared in a firey third quarter, with Daniel Roberts being somewhat controversially given 15 in the bin at the start of the quarter, and later an all-in mellee in front of the bench. The Bombers lifted early in the quarter, getting back to within four goals before the Magpies got on top at the end of the quarter. And it was one-way traffic in the last term, as Bomber heads dropped and the final margin blew out to 60 points.
Western Suburbs 4.2 8.6 11.7 16.11 (107)
North Shore 2.1 2.3 6.4 7.5 (47)
Goal Kickers: S. Paynter 2, D. Roberts , Z. Metcalfe , P. Codling , L. Clancy , B. Holmes
Best Players: S. Paynter, A. Harry, Z. Manley, L. Clancy, D. Fitzgerald, P. Codling
A disappointing afternoon for the Bombers, but we'll be looking to bounce back next week when we return home to Gore Hill to take on defending champions East Coast.
Sunday saw the Under 18s travel to Dukes Oval, a postage-stamp sized but picturesque venue, to take on Penrith. It was goal for goal early, but a late surge by the Bombers saw a 24-point lead in place at quarter time. The small ground, and with both sides playing an open, attacking brad of football, saw the ball travel from end to end. It was attractive football, the scoreboard frequently ticking over; but the Bombers' superiority saw them edge ahead by 37 points at the long break.
The Bombers lifted their intensity in the third term - running harder, tackling stronger, reading the play and finding players in position. And Penrith were unable to keep up. Seven unanswered goals for the quarter before Penrith amanged a late one saw the lead blow out to 73 points at the last change. By now the game was safely won, but the Bombers maintained their intensity, running out a full 4-quarter effort to record a 94-point win and maintain their place at the top of the table.
Last Modified on 16/12/2011 20:14