It was a cold and windy Saturday at Gore Hill Oval. All four of our teams were in action, taking on UNSW-ES.
The Under 18s were up first. It's been a tough year for our young Bombers, and it's been a struggle for numbers. The first quarter saw the Bombers take the fight up to the Bulldogs, and the Bombers trailed by nine points at the first change. But the second quarter didn't go to plan, with the Bombers unable to score as the Bulldogs scored six goals; and the Bombers were 47 points behind at half time.
But the Under 18s have fighting spirit, and didn't give up during the third term. Defending grimly, they prevented the Bulldogs from scoring a goal during the third term to at least win the quarter. It had been a brave fight by the plucky young Bombers, but after a firey last quarter the scoreboard showed the Bombers going down by 72 points.
The wind was even more blustery as Div 4 got under way. The first half was evenly contested, with both sides struggling to control the ball in the windy conditions but putting on a willing contest. The Bombers trailed by six points at the first change, but helped along by some inaccurate finishing by the Bulldogs in the second term, kicked the only two goals for the quarter and led by a point at the long break.
The game see-sawed during the third term, with the Bombers eight points behind at the last change. But with the first goal of the final quarter they were within a point. But they weren't able to snatch the lead, and although the result of the game remained up for grabs until the end, the final siren saw the Bombers go down by eight points.
Up next was Division One. By now a crowd of past players had begun to assemble in the clubhouse. On the field, the reserves took control from the outset, leading by 14 points at quarter time and extending the margin to 39 points at half time. The windy conditions made ball handling difficult, and long kicking out of the question; but after a low-scoring third term, the Bombers led by 40 points and were looking good.
The heavens opened in the final quarter, but the rain failed to dampen the Bombers' spirits as they went on with the job, holding the Bulldogs to just two goals for the game to win by 52 points.
And finally it was time for the long-awaited Premier Division fixture. Top spot was on the line, as the ball was bounced to get the senior game under way. A closely-contested opening term, in which both sides defended strongly, finished with the scorres tied at 2.2 apiece. In the second term, the Bulldogs threatened to get on top before the Bombers fought back. It was low scoring, tight and tough, neither side prepared to give ground. The Bulldogs were leading the arm wrestle by eight points at the long break, the game still very much up for grabs.
The light was fading in the third term, but the Bombers burned bright. The arm wrestle began to go our way as the Bombers burst forward, attacking the ball and creating scoring chances. Not all the chances were converted, but with a 22-point lead at the last change, the Bombers were well placed; although the Bulldogs were kicking with the wind in the final quarter.
But even into the wind, the momentum had swung North Shore's way, and the last quarter was a Bomber benefit. Six goals to three, as the Bombers assumed complete control and put themselves top of the ladder. It was a display worthy of the past champions watching on, as the present-day Bombers put on a display to remember.
Last Modified on 09/01/2013 09:29
