Seven goals from Stewart Walker have enabled the Inverell Saints to score a 56 point win over the Tamworth Swans at No 1 oval on Saturday. But the win has come at a huge price with rising star Joe Kimmince suffering a broken collarbone which will rule him out for at least 6 weeks.
Walker started the game well, marking everything that came his way and was well supported early by Mick Viney. The Saints, aided by a 2-3 goal wind to the pool end in the first quarter, could have led by more but inaccurate kicking at goal once again crept into their game.
The Swans came out firing in the second term and dominated play and eventually hit the front midway through the term before the visitors gained the ascendency through youngsters Joe Kimmince, Alex Dasey, Tom Retallack and Mick Corcoran leading the way to go into the main break up by 2 points.
A decisive move by Coach Dick Gleeson to relocate fullback Joe Kimmince to full forward reaped immediate benefits with Kimmince kicking 3 goals in the first ten minutes of the third term, igniting the Saints into action as they piled on 8 unanswered goals for the quarter while keeping the Swans scoreless.
Trailing by 9 goals at ¾ time, the Swans kicked the opening two goals of the quarter before the Saints steadied but worse was to come for the reigning premier when Joe Kimmince flew for a mark on the half forward line, crunched into oncoming traffic and landed awkwardly. He was promptly taken off to the field and to hospital where x-rays revealed a break in his collarbone.
The incident marred what was a workman like win by the Saints who have huge games coming up against the Nomads, Roos and Gunnedah in the lead up to the finals.
Darren Pithers and Nathan Cox also received injuries from the game and will be tested during the week
The Saints hope to get Nick Baird and Dave Kent back into the line-up for next week as the Club’s resources begin to get tested as the injury toll increases...
¼ Time ½ Time ¾ Time Final Score
Tamworth Swans 3.3.21 5.5.35 5.7.37 7.13.55
Inverell Saints 3.5.23 5.7.37 13.13.91 16.15.111
Last Modified on 09/07/2008 11:17