The Toronto Dingos had their three-game win streak snapped this past weekend, as the Ottawa Swans scored the final three goals of the match to take the win in a hard fought (and hot!) game.
With the Rideau Carleton field out of commision, the game was moved to a brand new field just off Highway 416 that was more a rectangle than a true oval, with a killer cross-wind that led to many throw-ins. After winning the toss and electing to go with the wind, the Dingos opened the scoring early off a great delivery to Wade Edwards and carried a 2-goals-to-1 lead throughout most of the quarter, the Red and Black backline scrambling to keep Swans at bay. Much of the play was through the mid-field and along the sideline as the wind pushed every kick towards the boundaries, which meant quite a few ball-ups and throw-ins for starting Ruckman George Craig. While the opportunities were there, the Dingos struggled to make use of the footy after grinding and battling to get possession, often leading to wayward kicks forward that the Swans backmen sweeped up and rebounded.
By the second half, the Swans had found their footing and were using a lethal combination of play off the half-back line and direct kicks to building up a 3-goal lead late into the 3rd quarter. But the Red and Black responded, and for a 10-minute stretch played some of the best footy of the day, winning the pill out of the middle and making good on the delivery forward. Some of the best play came from the likes of Rob McNaughton and captain Shaun McKay, who powered through the play and kept the pressure on the Swans, as well as Patrick Bossey whose quick kick off the deck proved crucial. But the play of the game goes to James Duggan, who took a huge hanger of a Swans kick down the wing and was rewarded with an extra 50m after a bit of scuffling by the Swans.
Unfortunately, the four-goal surge wasn't enough to put the Dingos ahead, but merely bring the game within 2 points. The Swans weathered the storm and used the wind to their advantage in the fourth quarter, hemming the Red and Black in their own end and slowly winding down the clock. Three late goals hammered the nail in deeper, and as the siren went the Red and Black were defeated.
FINAL SCORE:
DINGOS - 7.3-45
SWANS - 10.11-71
DINGO GOALS - W. Edwards 5, M. Ladd, J. Duggan
Huge thanks and congratulations go out to new Canadian rookies Adam Graham and Richard Vaughan, both of whom were playing in their first game and learning on the fly. Well done, lads!
Match details can be found here. Next up, the Dingos square off against their 2010 Grand Final rivals, the Central Blues.
Last Modified on 14/07/2015 22:46