Sunny skies greeted us at Gore Hill for a Super Sunday of footy, although the legacy of the recent wet week was still there with the ground still a slow track, especially at the hospital end.
The day started with a scratch game between our Under 18s against some Under 16s players from local junior clubs. It was an enjoyable game of footy, no scores were kept but it was a good hit-out for both sides and gave the Under 16s a taste of what to expect when they move up to Under 18s and then senior level. We hope that when the time comes, they'll choose to play for North Shore.
Division Four was up next, taking on Macquarie Uni. It was a quick start for the Bombers with two goals in the first five minutes, but for much of the quarter the Bombers had to fight for supremacy. But late in the quarter the Bombers pulled away to lead by 22 points at the first change. The Bombers were on top around the ground, showing their best footy for several weeks as they shut the Warriors down in the second term to power away to a 35-point lead at the long break.
As the half time siren sounded, a Macquarie Uni player went down with a serious injury, and the ambulance had to be called. There was a long delay while the player received treatment; with a long half-time break, and the remaining quarters of the game were cut short. In the third term, the Bombers kicked another goal while holding the Warriors scoreless to take an imposing 43-point lead to the last change. And as the game went on, confidence grew and the Bombers went on to kick three goals to one in the final term and win by 54 points.
Up next was the Div 1 game, taking on Penrith. The Rams made an early break with the first four goal, but the Bombers fought back late in the first term to cut the margin to 12 points at the first change. But the Bombers found the going harder in the second term, unable to score a goal as they fell 35 points at half time.
They kept working hard in the second half, but were unable to match it with the Rams, eventually going down by 69 points.
And then it was time for the Premier Division clash against Campbelltown. The sun was shining, and there was a healthy crowd on the hill and in the clubhouse. But it was a poor first quarter from the Bombers, with mistakes and turnovers proving costly as missed opportunities in front of goal also frustrated the Bomber charge. The Bombers were unable to score a goal in the first quarter, trailing by 22 points at quarter time.
The second quarter was better, as the Bombers slowly but surely worked to get themselves back into the contest. The first two goals came from free kicks, but confidence slowly grew as the Bombers gradually began to assert themselves. And then a fine double by Doug Hadden on the run saw the deficit on the scoreboard close to just a point at the long break.
The third quarter saw the Bombers take the lead for the first time after Pat Codling ran into & open goal and then a mark and goal by Evan Davis. But it was a see-sawing quarter, with the Blues regaining the lead before young Lachlan Hayres stood up to mark and goal to level the scores at the last change.
It was goal for goal during the last quarter, but although the Bombers had their chances to snatch the game, there were too many misses shots. An inaccurate return of 9.17 would cost the Bombers dearly. With moments to go, Charlie Callander was felled by friendly fire and the stretcher was brought out. But the final siren sounded seconds later, the Bombers two points behind; and a chance to go to equal top of the ladder was lost.
Last Modified on 04/03/2014 13:37