It was cloudy but fine as Saturday dawned, and the temperature was rising higher than average as Super Saturday at Gore Hill got under way.
First up was Div 4 with North Shore taking on Moorebank. An evenly-contested first term saw plenty of Bomber players put their bodies on the line as the Bombers took an early lead, but with two late goals Moorebank edged in front by 10 points at the first change. The second term was a struggle, as the Bombers found themselves chasing the play as the Magpies ran to a 29-point half time lead.
The Bombers continued to work hard in the third term, but it was hard work out there in the warm conditions against a fast-running opponent; and by the last change the Bombers found themselves 43 points in arrears. And although the Bombers kept working until the end, it wasn't our day; and at the final siren the Bombers had gone down by 57 points.
Up next was the Div 1 side, taking on Macquarie Uni. It was a positive start by the Bombers, but a close and physical contest in which scores were hard to come by. The Bombers led by six points at the first change. It was an evenly contested first half, with the lead changing hands several times; and at the long break the Bombers were two points behind.
The topsy-turvy goal for goal nature of the game continued in the third term, with the lead changing hands again a few times and the Bombers three points behind at the last change. But the Bombers were unable to keep the run going in the last quarter, with the Warriors scoring six goals to one and the final margin blowing out to 29 points in a game that, for most of the afternoon, looked set to be much closer.
The Under 18s were next, taking on North. A nice crowd was building on the hill, basking in the autumn sunlight. And on the field, it was a low-scoring opening term, the defences on top as the Bombers led by eight points at the first change. And despite some missed chances in the second term, the Bombers maintained their advantage and held a 10 point lead at the long break.
The run of play started running the Bombers' way in the third term, as the Bombers had more run and found loose players everywhere. Four unanswered goals opened up a 34-point lead at the last change; and the Bombers were looking good. And the surge continued in the last term, the young Bombers high on skill and confidence as they ran another four goals through in the final term to run out convincing 54-point winners.
By now the sky had clouded over, a cool change blowing in and the light was fading as the Premier Division clash against Wests got under way. It was a quarter in which the Bombers quickly moved the ball from end to end; and although the Magpies scored two goals early, the remainder of the quarter was one-way traffic as the Bombers dominated possession to lead by 26 points at the first change.
By now the natural light had faded and the lights were taking over. But the second term saw a much more even contest around the ground, sometimes hard and physical. It was two goals apiece in the second quarter, the Bombers 23 points to the good at the long break.
The Magpies came storming back into the contest in the third term, as the Bombers dropped their guard. A run of quick goals saw the margin cut back to five points at one stage during the quarter; but the Bombers steadied with the last two goals of the term to get the margin back out to 17 at the last change.
The Bombers had the lead and the momentum, and would cruise home in the last quarter to win by 30 points. It wasn't totally convincing, but good enough to get the points and maintain our unbeaten status in 2013 - and with it, a share of the ladder leadership.
Last Modified on 04/05/2013 18:37