Saturday was the first day of winter, but it felt like spring was in the air for the opening of the finals series. A glorious warm sunny day, and Henson Park was looking a treat for our qualifying final against St George.
But from the start, the Bombers were under pressure. The Dragons had the first goal of the game on the board within the opening minute, and it didn't get any better. The Bombers found themselves chasing the game and chasing their opponents, as St George got off to a flying start with seven unanswered goals; the Bombers trailing by 40 points at the first change.
Playing catch-up footy is fraught with danger, and although the Bombers played better in the second term than the first, they were unable to make any significant impact on the scoreboard. Dale Fitzgerald burst through the 50 metre line to put a goal on the board, but it would be the only North Shore goal of the first half; the Bombers 46 points in arrears at the long break.
The Bombers were well beaten and there was no way back in the third quarter. There was some respectability salvaged on the scoreboard with Danny Roberts and Doug Hadden kicking doubles, as well as Zac Manley getting a strong mark and goal. But it didn't make a dent on the scoreboard, the Bombers still 42 points behind at the last change. And they won the last quarter, holding the Dragons goal-less for the term. But the deficit was too great to be a chance of making up; and the Bombers would go down by 35 points.
A poor first quarter cost the Bombers any realistic chance of winning this final. And so there's no more second chances. Sunday next weekend we take on the winner of the Pennant Hills v UNSW-ES elimination final.
Last Modified on 04/03/2014 13:40