The north-west of Sydney was bathed in sunshine as the Bombers hit the road to Bruce Purser Reserve to take on Sydney Hills Eagles.
First up were the under 18s. The young Bombers were jumped early, with the Eagles scoring two goals in the first five minutes; and although the Bombers steadied, they were uable to make any impact on the deficit and were 16 points down at quarter time. The second quarter was tight and physical, but despite the Bombers' best efforts they conceded two goals to one for the quarter and were 23 points behind at half time.
North Shore's numbers were depleted this week with several players called up into the Swans Academy squad. With 16 players and no bench, our players were visibly tiring against an Eagles side with plenty of interchange options; and although they continued to apply themselves and managed two goals, they were unable to stop the Eagles scoring five and extending the margin to 42 points at the last change. The effort of the Bombers couldn't be faulted, but the tiring legs didn't have the firepower to match it with the Eagles, and the scoreboard blew out in the last quarter; with the Bombers going down by 67 points.
The wind had picked up before the Div 1 game, a stiff southerly buster, and North Shore found themselves kicking into it in the first quarter. But it wasn't a good opening term for the Bombers, stuggling to assert any authority as they gave away five unanswered goals and trailed by 29 points at the first change. The Bombers conceded an early goal in the second term to increase the deficit. They played better in the second term, but in the swirling breeze they couldn't buy a goal. Some poor finishing saw the Bombers on 0.7 at half time, trailing by 33 points.
It was just one of those days for our Div 1 team where nothing was going right; and the trend continued in the third term, the Bombers remaining goal-less with nine behinds and trailing by 47 points at three quarter time.
Finally the final quarter saw the Bombers turn on the style of football they're capable of, and the goals began to flow. Four goals to one restored some respectability on the scoreboard, the final margin cut back to 28 points; but the margin at three quarter time had been too great for the Bombers to be a chance of catching up.
But it was a more encouraging start in Premier Division. Despite conceding an early goal, the Bombers soon fought back to equalise. It was a tough and tight opening term, but the Bombers were there at the bottom of every pack; and a long-range goal by Dale Fitzgerald propelled the Bombers into action. Three goals to one saw the Bombers 15 points ahead at quarter time, and it could have been more had the Bombers converted two posters within a minute.
The second half was an arm-wrestle, in which both sides attempted to gain supremacy but neither succeeded. The Bombers were inaccurate in front of goals, with 2.4 for the quarter; and a late fightback by the Eagles reduced the North Shore lead to five points at the long break.
The Bombers took the upper hand in the third quarter, gaining a stranglehold on the game. Six straight goals opened up a handy lead. Pat Codling was sensational, scoring two goals and setting up a superb running effort by Sam Carruthers. The six unanswered goals for the term saw the Bombers leading by 40 points at the last change.
By now the sting had largely gone out of the contest, but the Bombers went on with the job in the last quarter, controlling the ball around the ground to record a 53-point win, breaking the Bruce Purser hoodoo and getting set for a clinb further up the ladder.
Last Modified on 08/01/2013 13:56