Ladies day at Gore Hill, our last home game for the season. Overnight rain had made part of the ground heavy, but it was a sunny day with blue skies for a super Saturday of footy, with four games to be played.
First up was the Third Division game. The effort of the Bombers couldn't be faulted, but with no interchange bench it was a battle to stay in the contest against a well-drilled Eagles side. The match was highly competitive at times, but then the Eagles would score a few quick goals in a row to blow the scores out. The final margin of 131 points didn't do our thirds justice, but they fought hard all day and became more competitive as the match continued.
The Under 18s were up next, and the first quarter was evenly contested. Both sides created chances, but Sydney Uni made better use of theirs, and the Bombers trailed by 10 points at quarter time. And although the Bombers tried to gain the initiative in the second quarter, they were unable to do so; and two late goals to the Students just before half time extended the deficit to 16 points at the long break.
The game tightened up in the third quarter, and the Bombers were unable to score a goal. The defence was on the job, and held the Students to only one goal; but the forwards were unable to capitalise, and the Bombers were 23 points in arrears at the last change. But if the Bombers were supposed to be dead and buried, someone forgot to tell them; as they came storming back into the contest in the last quarter. Within a few minutes of the restart, there was only a kick in it, and the contest was alive. The Bombers pressed, but were unable to find the goal that would put them in front. Sydney Uni kicked a steadying goal, but the Bombers replied and kept the ball camped in their forward line for much of the last five minutes. But the Bombers were unable to find the match-winner, and the Students hung on; the Bombers going down by a kick.
Next up was the reserves, also playing Sydney Uni. It was a low-scoring opening quarter, but the Bombers were unable to score a goal as the Students scored three; and the Bombers trailed by 21 at quarter time. The Bombers had their moments in the second term, and broke their goal drought, but it wasn't enough against a finals-bound Sydney Uni as the margin was extended to 33 points at half time.
The third quarter was hard and sometimes spiteful, a battle of the hard men. The Bombers won the quarter by a point, but still trailed by 32 points at the last change. And the floodgates opened in the final term, as the Students scored four unanswered goals; the final losing margin being 62 points.
And then it was time for the main event, the Premier Division match. A healthy crowd had built up, with the canteen and the Ladies Day stall doing a brisk trade. But in the blink of an eye, the Students had three goals and the fourth was to come soon after. The Students were on top, but the Bombers fought back. It was high scoring, and the Bombers took the initiative late in the quarter. Highlighted by a strong pack mark by Pat Brackin and a sensational goal on the run from the pocket by Lachy Pryor, the Bombers cut the margin back to three points at quarter time.
The momentum shifts continued in the second quarter, and the Bombers took the lead. It was a closely-contested shootout. Again there were plenty of highlights to keep the fans entertained, a super goal by Dale Fitzgerald on the run one of the big moments. At the long break, the Bombers led by 10 points after what had been an exciting half of footy.
The enthralling contest contined in the third term, as the Students tied up the scores before the Bombers threatened to get on top. A run of three goals in a row saw the Bombers go 19 points clear at one stage in the quarter, but the twisted tale continued as the Students scored a few late goals and at the last change the Bombers held a three-point lead.
It was tight, it was tough, it was close. Not one for anyone with a heart condition, as the tension built. And there was still only a kick in it deep into the quarter. But when the going got tough, the tough got going - and it was the Bombers who stood up and were counted. In a stirring finale to the contest, the Bombers kicked the last four goals of the game; sending the vocal Ladies Day crowd into raptures. Dale Fitzgerald was in the thick of the action with two of those goals. It was a thrilling game, of a very high standard, and with a climax that sends a message to the Sydney football world - that we won't just be in the finals to make up the numbers, we are good enough to compete with the best of them.
Last Modified on 21/01/2012 10:41