THE Nor-West Jets kept themselves in touch with the AFL Sydney Division Two top five with a gutsy 46-point victory over Manly-Warringah at Bensons Lane on Saturday.
In front of a good crowd bolstered by the club’s Ladies and Sponsors Day and six junior teams playing at home, the Jets had to contend with a committed Wolves’ line-up and a howling Bensons Doctor that made skilful football almost impossible to play.
Neither team was able to gain an ascendancy in the first half, with Manly managing just one goal with the wind in the first term and the Jets doing likewise in the second to set up a half time scoreline of only 1.4 10 apiece.
However, it was Nor-West, who made seven changes from the team that lost to St George the previous week, that got its structures right at the main break and the home team set up the win with four goals to one against the wind in the third quarter for a 21-point lead at the final change before kicking another four in the last to win 9.9 63 to 2.5 17.
It was a low-scoring tussle that was more about guts, determination and heart than skill, and the four points lifted the Jets to seventh ahead of a tough run of three consecutive away matches.
Teen star Josh Cass stepped up in his best performance of the year to be best on ground, and he received good support from wingman Josh Howe and on-baller Brendan Cameron, but it was in the backline that the match was won, with the defence led by co-coach Don Ollington, Ben Cain and Paul Sherwood magnificent in conceding just two majors.
At the other end, Casey Wenselowski was again damaging, kicking three goals in his final match for the club before being transferred by the RAAF to Townsville after being a key cog in the Jets’ wheel for more than six seasons.
NOR-WEST 0.2 1.4 5.7 9.9 63
MANLY-WARRINGAH 1.3 1.4 2.4 2.5 17
NWJ Goals: C Wenselowski 3, P Webster, P Sherwood, J Howe, J Cass, S Davidson.
NWJ Best:: J Cass, J Howe, D Ollington, B Cain, P Sherwood, B Cameron.
HAVING not played since April 9, a wait of 35 days, the reserves were desperate to get on the park and let off some pent-up energy, and they did just that in the first term, with only wasteful finishing stopping the Jets from leading by more than the 20-point advantage they had at quarter time.
It was a lead built on the back of a dominant midfield led by Damien Brown, Adam Fox and Mitch Billingham, who got first use of the ball time and again from rookie ruckman Luke Allan, while Peter Richardson was outstanding on his wing and Scott Longman also made his presence felt.
The Wolves lifted on their first turn with the wind in the second term and leveled the scores before a late goal from big man Luke Bell from a 50m penalty set up a five-point half time advantage.
Nor-West kicked three unanswered goals with the strengthening wind in the third quarter and then, despite being unable to add to its score, withstood a strong final quarter challenge to win by 10 points, 7.8 50 to 5.10 40.
NOR-WEST 3.4 4.5 7.8 7.8 50
MANLY-WARRINGAH 0.2 3.6 3.8 5.10 40
NWJ Goals: L Bell, J Bray, J James 2, J Moynihan.
NWJ Best:: D Brown, S Longman, P Richardson, L Allan, A Fox, M Billingham.
The Jets now begin a challenging stretch of road trips, starting with this Saturday’s journey to Warwick Farm’s Rosedale Oval to take on reigning Division Three premiers Moorebank Sports, with the Magpies set to start favourites in both matches after big wins last week.
*** Less than 40 tickets remain for the Hawkesbury AFC-Richmond Club corporate raceday at the Hawkesbury Racecourse on Monday, June 13 – visit www.nwjets.sydneyafl.com.au for more information.
Last Modified on 16/05/2011 14:05