Round 8 action in the TAC Cup saw the North Ballarat Rebels host the Northern Knights at the Eastern Oval on Saturday. In windy conditions, the Rebels drew first blood after 7 minutes of play when Lucas Cook, returning after Vic Country duties, led well to mark and goal.
However, despite 17 forays into the forward 50 metre area, this was the Rebels’ only major for the quarter. The Knights were hard at the ball winning contests and their second goal resulted from a spill, after two Rebels defenders flew for the same ball. Andre Slabbert, also returning after Vic Country selection, collided with a team mate and had to be taken from the ground as the Knights took a 13 point lead into the first change.
Kevin Bourke was prominent in the first quarter and continued his good form with hard running and desperate second and third efforts to force stoppages. Sam Cowling and Oliver Tate were strong in defence and Ben Peters marked strongly around the ground, as the game opened up. The Rebels were winning more of the contested ball and, despite errors, particularly in vying for the same ball in the air, outscored the Knights to hold a one point lead at the main change.
The struggle continued in the third quarter and Kevin Bourke maintained his strong running, delivering to Lucas Cook who again led well to mark and goal. Dean Gavin’s snap shot at the 18 minute mark of the quarter and Dylan Parish’s goal a minute later, again from terrific running and evasion from Bourke, provided slight breathing space. Disposal errors with foot and hand were giving the Knights opportunities however, and they continued to drop players back in defence to further frustrate Rebels’ attacks.
A six point lead at the last change was cancelled with a Knights’ goal after 5 minutes, the result of some loose coverage of the opposition’s small forwards. The contest was close all over the ground, but the Rebels defence played composed football when it mattered most. Parish’s running goal at the 12 minute mark wrestled back the lead to the Rebels’ but the Knights responded with good crumbing and a snap goal to edge in front again. Marcus Darmody was moved forward in an attempt to snatch a goal, but it was Kevin Bourke who typified the Rebels’ fighting spirit and ran inside fifty to goal at the 23 minute mark of an epic last quarter.
The five point lead was reduced to four as the Knights threw everything into attack. Rebels defenders stayed calm under enormous pressure and managed to win a vital stoppage 30 metres in front of the Knights’ goal. The siren sounded to give the Rebels the “four points” by a margin of four points, in a character building victory.
Last Modified on 25/05/2009 11:13