Super Saturday at Gore Hill saw the ground in sunshine, although the ground was wet under foot after some overnight rain.
It was an early start for the Third Division team, taking the field for an 8:30 start against Southern Power. The first quarter was a tight, defensive struggle, with the Power kicking the only two goals of the quarter and the Bombers trailed by 11 points at the first change.
It was hard going in the second quarter, as the Power stepped up the pressure with five unanswered goals. The Bombers worked hard around the ground but found it hard up forward, unable to get a goal in the first half and trailed by 47 points at the long break. And there was no joy in the third term, the Bombers still being unable to find a score and at the last change the score was 75-1.
Although they were well beaten, the Bombers never stopped trying, and broke through to finally get a goal during the last quarter. It was hard work, and they were a long way behind on the scoreboard all day, but the effort of the team couldn't be faulted and they continued to work hard on a morning when the run of play wasn't going their way.
Next up was the Division One game, with our reserves taking on Southern Power's seniors. It was tight and tough early, an evenly-matched battle for much of the quarter. But the Power kicked two late goals and the Bombers trailed by 13 points at the first change. Early in the second term, it looked like the Power were getting on top, but the Bombers fought back from 20 points down to trail by just three at the long break.
The Bombers took the lead in the third quarter, but it would be short-lived as the Power lifted around the ground. The Bombers worked hard to keep themselves within striking distance, but late goals were again costly for the Bombers as the Power scored twice in the final few minutes of the quarter; and at three-quarter time the Bombers trailed by 17 points. And although the Bombers tried hard to get themselves back into the contest during the final quarter, the pressure of playing from behind took its toll, and the Power were able to pull away; the Bombers eventually going down by 28 points.
By now it was getting warmer, and the crowd on the hill and in the clubhouse building steadily as the Under 18s took to the field to take on St George. But it was a slow start for the Bombers, as the Dragons raced out of the blocks with three early goals, and the Bombers were 13 points behind at quarter time.
The Bombers clicked into gear in the second quarter, beginning to create chances, passes finding their targets and the tackles sticking. The Bombers kicked four goals for the quarter while keeping the Dragons scoreless, turning the deficit into a 13-point lead at half time. And the postive trend continued in the third term, the Bombers' relentless defence locking the Dragons out and refusing to concede any easy scoring. By the last change the margin had grown to 30 points, the Bombers with the momentum and looking good.
When the two sides had played at Olds Park earlier in the season, the Bombers only just got out of jail. But it was more comprehensive this time, as the Bombers continued their assault on the Dragons in the final quarter, extending the margin to a comfortable 50 points; a result that maintains the Bombers' hold on a strong ladder position, and top spot will be on the line next week at Bruce Purser when the Bombers take on East Coast.
Then it was time for the feature attraction, the Premier Division match, with North Shore up against St George. A look at the scorecards in the future would make one suspect there was a wild cross-breeze across the ground; but in reality the wind was calm. It was difficult to explain the inaccurate finishing, but both sides had the yips in front of goals. The Dragons kicked the only goal of the quarter, and the Bombers trailed by three points at the first change; despite having had more of the ball and created plenty of goal-scoring chances.
The second quarter was also scrappy, and underlined by poor finishing in front of goal. The Bombers finally broke through for a goal midway through the quarter when Rory Pryor snapped truly, and late in the quarter Danny Roberts goaled on the lead. But at the long break the Bombers were ten points behind, paying the price for some inaccurate finishing.
The Bomber inaccuracy continued early in the quarter, but the key move came midway through the quarter and saw the run of play start to go our way. Rory Pryor moved to full forward, and the youngster presented himself as a target. The Bombers took the lead late in the quarter, and the lead was one point at the last change - for the third week in a row, the senior side looking set to play in a thriller.
Scores were deadlocked midway through the quarter, when the pivotal moment came. From the pocket, Teddy Strudwick blazed away from the metre line next to the boundary. It was somewhat ironic that after some missed easier shots, such a tricky goal was converted. But that was the moment at which the Dragons' resistance crumbled, with two more goals to come before the final siren sounded to record a 20-point win. For the third week in a row it had been close, but the Bombers got over the line every time, and with each win the odds of qualifying for the finals grow shorter.
Last Modified on 09/01/2012 22:06