Round 11 Match Reports
Division 2
Mac Uni 20.23.143 beat Balmain Dockers 5.6.36
The Warriors took on the Balmain Dockers away at Drummoyne in a game former Balmain boys Craig Barnes and Justin Whyte were looking forward to. Unfortunately Hamma Mangal and Jerome Farrell both could not overcome hamstring injuries and missed the game against their former club.
Under 18's Co-Captain Jordan Bell made his senior debut after some fantastic performances for the 18's in the first half of the year and his highlight surely was kicking a well deserved goal and all players getting around him for a pat on the back.
Onballers Dean Connors, Ben Akmens and Stuart Newman were getting their hands on the ball in the middle courtesy of some dominant ruck work from Troy McMurrich and Patrick Sobb.
The forward line saw plenty of footy with Brett Harland kicking 6 goals with two apiece to Craig Barnes, Jason Lyall and Sam Millard.
Tim Scoular and Donnie Ollington continue to ensure our backline is one of the best & most organised in the competition with many Docker forward movement repelled with crucial defensive 50 grabs.
The goal kicking continues to prove a challenge with another 23 behinds kicked which follows 19 and 20 in the previous two games. More work on set shot goal kicking for all at training this week.
Players player went to Stuart Newman who was playing his 3rd game for the year after coming back from a bad ankle injury.
Warriors now take on
Sydney University at home this Saturday and will be aiming to take back the JB Cup which has been sitting in the Sydney University trophy cabinet for a few years since the sides last met.
Best on Ground: D. Connors, S. Newman, B. Akmens, T. Reddin, B. Harland, D. Ollington
Division 3
Mac Uni 13.8.86 beat Moorebank Sports 6.9.45
The Div 3 boys made the trip out to Rosedale Park to take on the 5th placed Magpies side looking to keep their finals hopes alive, whilst the Warriors we looking to move more than a game clear in 4th position.
Both teams came out with an intensity that befitted such an encounter and it was the Magpies that put the first two goals on the board. Wasted opportunities up forward cost us and after 10 minutes we were down 2.0 to 0.4. Astro, who was leading well, got one through the two big sticks to finally open our account. Damo followed up shortly afterwards with another and when Goldy hit Astro laces out and he put through his second we had wrestled back the lead. Wazza got on the end of another Goldy inside 50 and kicked truly after a very strong grab and when Ricey banged one through from 50 metres we had a 16-point lead at quarter time. Mac Uni 5.4 - Moorebank 3.0.
Another strong lead and grab saw Astro kick his 3rd and then followed this shortly afterwards with his 4th as the Magpie defenders struggled to hold him. Down the other end of the ground Stapo too was leading and marking well showing his ability to read the play and showing the rewards of playing in front. On those occasions when the ball went to ground Summer was there to mop it up and we repeatedly cleared the ball from defence allowing only 2 behinds for the quarter. Hobbo ensured the backline was set, constantly calling players back into position to build a rock solid wall across the ground.
With a half time lead of 34 points the game was still within reach for the Magpies and the importance of kicking the first goal of the second half was critical to provide a little more breathing space. Astro kicked that first goal that we wanted and when Rooster got himself open in the forward pocket and kicked truly we were a handy 46 points clear. To Moorebank’s credit they didn’t let up and through continued attack on the footy were able to kick the next three goals to be within 4 goals at the final change.
The 3 quarter time address reminded the boys of the importance of winning this game if we wanted to play finals football and a lift was required as the Magpies, also with their finals hopes on the line, went into the final quarter feeling very confident. The lift that was required came immediately. Buster continued to get the ball through the midfield and with Astro often being double-teamed the decision to move Jimmy Moylan up forward paid dividends as he kicked 2 goals for the quarter.
The backline continued to repel most Moorebank attacks, which resulted in another goalless quarter for the Magpies and allowed the Warriors to run out 41-point winners on the day.
Best on Ground: C. Edwards, P. Hyndman, S. Lawrenson, J. Moylan, B. Staples, M. Rice
Division 4
Mac Uni 9.10.64 beat Moorebank Sports 7.3.45
Round eleven saw the Warriors trundle out to Rosedale Park to take on the resurgent Moorebank Sports Magpies for the first time this season. The Magpies were coming off a four game winning streak and after a disappointing loss the previous week everyone was keen to atone against one of our contenders for September action.
After some slow starts in previous weeks, the Warriors were looking for a dynamic start and they got one with a clean centre break and a pinpoint pass setting up Stumpy for his first of the afternoon in no time. The intensity and pressure shown in the rooms was clearly being taken out onto the field, however the game soon developed into an arm wrestle, and some poor field kicking ensured we did not find the big sticks again for the quarter. Moorebank managed to slot a couple of goals to take a slender lead into the first break.
The second quarter started slowly for the Warriors, and the Magpies kicked two quick goals to jump out to a handy lead. This proved to be a wake up call for our boys though, as the intensity started to lift once again. Tomi went into the Ruck with immediate results, and provided some quality ball for Jockey and Skinny, who were adding some class through the midfield, and getting us back into the contest. Slowly but surely the momentum started to turn. Stumpy kicked his second before Butch wound back the clock and slotted a gem of a goal (we lost count of the number of twists and turns) to cut the deficit further, and by the time the siren sounded for half time the margin was a manageable 4 points.
The third quarter is often called the premiership quarter, where the cream rises to the top, and this proved to be the case as the Warriors put their stamp on the game. Coops continued to run and create off the wing, and his early pass onto the chest of Butch to set up his second goal was just one of many crafty touches. Everyone lifted in the early parts and a more spacious forward line combined with some precise delivery allowed us to put some reward for effort onto the scoreboard. Docker was as solid as ever in the middle, winning a lot of the ball and Jacko (despite fighting above his weight at times) was having a big impact after returning from injury. One thing that was equally pleasing though was the backlines effort in keeping Moorebank goalless. G Stud, Mick and Eddo were all rock solid while Julz and Jism gave great run from half back. All these factors combined to give us a 21 point lead going into the last change.
Needing some early goals to kill off the game, the Warriors were alert, knowing that the game was far from over, but to everyone’s credit they kept digging in right until the final siren. Sneak pounced on a loose ball in the goal square to kick his first and then Big Tomi drifted forward to slot his first for the year, and our eighth straight goal to effectively seal the game. We did not concede again until late in the final term, with what was the first goal conceded in more than a half of football, and despite letting through a couple of soft goals right at the end we were able to hang on for a 19 point win.
Best on Ground: P. Cooper, R. McGinn, D. Ransom, N. Jackson, T. Kallio, S. Uglow
U18 Challenge Cup
Mac Uni 3.4.22 lost Moorebank Sports 10.12.72
Saturday saw us take on Moorebank at their home ground. In a game that we eventually lost by 50 points we can take plenty from it as we really put in and improved in many aspects of our game which was very pleasing to see as the boys develop and improve their football as the year rolls on.
Pooley had his best game for the year playing out of the centre and Noney played another good game and is backing this up week in week out. Frosty and Luke after slow starts worked into the game well with Diesel and Bish being solid down back.
With Bish making a change to the fwd line in the 2nd half and giving us a good target, to which in the last qtr we started to crumb off well and create some good passages of play.
Best on Ground: C. Poole, J. Noney, M. Bishop, P. Frost, L. Woodman, T. Morris
Last Modified on 01/07/2009 10:42