It was a marathon day of footy at Gore Hill, an early start for our Under 18s as they took on Wests.
All games started with the players from both sides shaking hands with the umpires, a recognition of the work the officials do to make our games happen; and we thank them for their efforts.
The Under 18s started slowly, it taking some time for the young Bombers to hit their straps. They soon found themselves two goals down, but started to find their cohesion late in the quarter as the deficit was reduced to seven points at quarter time. The Bombers again found themselves taking a while to get their running game going in the second term, but fought back late in the quarter. Some inaccurate finishing let them down, but with persistence the Bombers took the lead with a couple of minutes to go; but a snap by Wests in the last second of the quarter gave Wests the lead back by 5 points at the long break.
The Bombers struggled again with accuracy in the third term, preventing them from making the best use of their opportunities. But they again regained the lead only to lose it with the last kick of the third term, trailing by 3 points at the last change.
The last quarter saw controversy and confusion reign. With both sides low on numbers, it was agreed to play 14 a side. One goal apiece had been kicked in the final term, the Magpies leading by three points, when a Wests player went down injured in a collision with the boundary fence and was stretchered off. In the resultant confusion, an extra North Shore player somehow ended up on the field. With two minutes to go, a count was called. North Shore were a player over, the clock continuing to run as the count took place. North Shore's score was reset to zero, the siren sounded, and the game finished amid confusing and chaotic scenes.
And while North Shore heads were still shaking in disbelief at what had just unfolded, the Div 4 game got under way; our opponents for this match being Gosford. And it was a disastrous opening term for the Bombers, as the Tigers got the jump with a 10 goal opening term to lead by 57 points at quarter time. It wasn't North Shore's day in this division, as Gosford again held the upper hand throughout the second term to add another 9 goals; North Shore trailing by 109 points at half time.
There was no relief in the third term, as Gosford scored another eight goals to one, extending the margin to 153 points. Gosford brought up the double-century midway through the last quarter, and shortly afterwards Ollie Shawyer went down with a leg injury that required on-field treatment. With the game already won and lost, Gosford agreed to declare the game early and the final margin was 181 points.
Div 1 started as an evenly-contested affair, tight and tough. The Magpies kicked the first two goals, but the Bombers quickly fought back to snatch the lead; holding a 4-point advantage at the first change. The Bombers took the upper hand in the second term, getting a coherent running game going and shutting down the Magpie forward line. Four goals to one for the quarter opened up a 23-point half time lead.
North Shore were on top in this game, and didn't let up on the pressure in the third term a they kicked three goals to one to extend the margin to 36 points at three-quarter time. By then the game was safely won, and the Bombers cruised to victory in the final term, four goals to one stretching the final winning margin to 52 points.
Finally it was time for the senior clash against Wests. After conceding the first goal, the Bombers soon hit their straps to kick the next five, looking good. But the Magpies fought back late in the first term to reduce the margin to 15 points at quarter time.
The Bombers were doing it easiy in the second term. With the defence looking rock-solid, and plenty of drive through the midfield to the forward line, the Bombers scored five goals to one for the second term, and held a comfortable 42-point lead at the long break.
The floodgates opened in the third term, a seven goal quarter for the Bombers in which attacking options were presenting themselves with regularity. Holding a 79-point lead at three quarter time, the Bombers were in complete control. By then the game was safe, and the sting had largely gone out of the game; but the Bombers put in a four quarter effort to take out a 93-point win and maintain their grip on a spot in the top five.
Last Modified on 08/01/2013 13:56
