Round 17 is Ladies Day at Gore Hill, our final home game for the season, and the weather has been kind to us. Glorious sunshine, blue skies and the oval in good condition for three games of football.
The under 18s were first in action, taking on St George. The Bombers had the better of play early, but inaccurate finishing was holding them back. The Bombers had 5 points on the board before their first goal, and midway through the quarter the Dragons had the lead despite the Bombers having had the better of play. But the floodgates opened during the latter stages of the quarter, and the Bombers took a 25 point lead into the first change.
The second quarter was similar, the Bombers having the better of play but squandering opportunities. The Dragons, with a few late goals, won the quarter but the Bombers still held a 17 point lead at half time. The third quarter was lower scoring, but the Bombers re-asserted their superiority on the scoreboard to lead by 25 points at the last change.
The last quarter saw the Bombers display their class, with a dominant display around the ground. Five unanswered goals was a reward for effort, and the comfortable 55-point win consolidates the Bombers' hold on top spot with just one more game to go before the finals.
Final Score - North Shore 13.15 (93) def St George 5.8 (38)
The first quarter of the First Division match was an arm wrestle, as both sides battled for supremacy in an even contest. If was low scoring, the ball travelling from end to end with neither side able to get on top. But an all-important goal after the siren gave the Bombers the edge and an 8-point quarter time lead.
The pendulum swung Pennant Hills' way in the second term, and the Bombers were unable to score a goal. It was not for a lack of effort or opportunities, but a combination of wasteful finishing and a tight Pennant Hills defence held the Bombers out. The Demons kicked the only three goals for the quarter, and the Bombers trailed by 8 points at the long break.
The Demons came out stronger after the break, and with the run of play it looked like the Bombers were in trouble. Some early goals extended Pennant Hills' advantage. The Bombers desperately needed a spark, and it came when Kade Tangney converted a free kick from 50 metres next to the boundary line. But despite some late heroics by the Bombers, they still trailed by 24 points at the last change.
The Demons had a sniff, and despite North Shore's best efforts, they weren't letting go. The final margin blew out to 46 points; a disappointing result so close to the finals, and next week's clash against UTS at Trumper will be a key chance to re-discover the best form before the playoffs.
Final Score - Pennant Hills 13.11 (89) def North Shore 5.13 (43)
The Premier Division game was a shootout in the first quarter, both sides looking to attack early. The Bombers made the early front-running, with Kerryn Hughes looking dangerous up forward and Chris Murphy enjoying a rare excursion to the forward line to get on the scoreboard. The Demons fought back late in the quarter, but it was an 11 point lead to North Shore at quarter time.
After indifferent form in recent weeks, the second quarter marked a pleasing return to form. Hughes was a dominant force up forward with 5 first half goals, and there were Bombers coming from left right and centre to play a part in the action. By half time the lead had extended to 49 points; and the blowout continued early in the third term. Chris Murphy continued his re-invention as a forward, bringing his return up to 4 goals as the lead stretched at one stage beyond 10 goals, and despite five goals being leaked during the high scoring third term the margin remained at 51 points at the last change.
By now the game was safe, and the last quarter was a high-scoring process of going through the goalkicking motions. Debutant Charlie Callendar enjoyed his first run at the top level, weighing in with some final quarter goals. The final winning margin was 46 points, a good psychological boost for the Bombers; as our Premier Division side will take on Pennant Hills again in the first final on Sunday 29th August.
Final Score - North Shore 22.14 (146) lead Pennant Hills 15.10 (100)
Last Modified on 24/02/2011 20:15