The weather had been unkind to North Shore during the week, forcing Gore Hill to be closed and our matches moved to Blacktown No 2. So an early start was in order to an overcast Blacktown.
First up were the Under 18s. Despite the wintery conditions, the young Bombers put on an opening term to warm the Bomber hearts; as they raced out of the blocks with nine unanswered goals to lead by 54 points at the first change. The one-sided nature of the contest contined in the second term. The Bombers were clearly superior to Penrith, getting all the contested possessions, finding space to run and kicking for goal with deadly accuracy. With 15 goals to none in the first half, the Bombers led by 91 points at half time.
The deadly radar of the first half deserted the Bombers in the third term, and they would kick 5.8 for the quarter. But around the ground, the Bombers were again in complete control; and by the last change the margin was out to 119 points.
The Bombers had a sniff of a percentage-boosting win, and weren't letting go. The floodgates opened in the last quarter and the Bombers ran through ten goals for the quarter, finishing just eight points short of the double-century as they recorded a convincing 174-point win.
Div 4 was next on the card. The Bombers started brightly, but Penrith fought back late in the quarter and scores were level at quarter time. The heavens opened and everyone at the ground got drenched during the second quarter. Penrith were peppering the goals, fortunately missing more than they kicked but at half time the Bombers found themselves 24 points behind.
The Bombers kept working hard, but didn't have the firepower to compete with Penrith, who had too much run for the Bombers in the third term. At three-quarter time, Penrith led by 44 points. And although the Bombers tried hard, they were unable to score in the last quarter, finally going down by 77 points.
Then it was time for the Div 1 game, another match against Penrith. The rain fell harder, and the first quarter was a low-scoring affair, with the Bombers trailing by 12 points at quarter time. It was a slog in the second term, both sides struggling to control a slippery ball. But eventually Charlie Callender let fly with a goal in the run that propelled the Bombers into action, and they fought back in the second term to level the scores at half time.
A tightly-contested third quarter saw Penrith score the only goal of the term. At the last change, the margin was six points, and the game was up for grabs. In the difficult conditions, the tackling was tight and the game was tough. But, even with a slippery ball, it was possible to mark - as Michael Voyage twice did within goal-scoring range to get the Bombers over the line by six points in a thriller.
And finally it was time for the main game, the Premier Division clash against Balmain. And it was a great start for the Bombers. Daniel Roberts, making a welcome return to the senior team, was unstoppable up forward with two first quarter goals from strong pack marks, while a goal on the run from Dale Fitzgerald further added to the Bombers' momentum. At the first change the Bombers held a 24-point lead.
The second quarter started slowly for the Bombers, and with four goals Balmain took the lead. But their lead was short-lived, as the Bombers took the ball forward for Nick Todd to weave around traffic before centering for big Sam Naismith to mark and goal. The Bombers lifted late in the quarter, but were unable to goal again and took a six-point lead into half time.
The weather was even worse in the third quarter. High desperation stakes time, and the game was closely and tightly contested. It was goal for goal, with scores level at the last change. But disaster threatened to loom as the Dockers scored two early goals in the final term.
The rain tumbled down. Players were dropping like flies, our courageous warriors becoming the walking wounded. But the Bombers didn't give in. Tackling hard, fighting all the way. But, as if propelled by magnetic force, the ball lobbed into the goal post with regularity. Finally a goal was scored, but with point after poster the score edged ever closer. In the crowd, people noted for their coolness in times of crisis were trembling like leaves. The light pierced the gloom, and the vocal crowd edged the Bomber boys to glory. A point to level the scores, another to take the lead. And we waited, the game clock ticking down as the on-field action became more intense.
But finally, sweet relief as the siren sounded. The Bombers were home by a point. It had been a slog, but a top contest between two of this competition's high-flyers; worthy of a final despite the conditions. And with the valuable premiership points, the Bombers continue their climb up the ladder, establishing themselves as genuine contenders.
Last Modified on 09/01/2013 09:24
