The Inverell Saints showed true grit in trying circumstances to go down to the New England Nomads by 47 points at Bellevue Oval in Armidale on Saturday.
Playing one man short for most of the game, the Saints fought hard but could not overcome the reigning premiers to lose 14.13.97 to 7.8.50.
The visitors had half forward Lachie McDonald red carded during the first half and then had Dallas Baldwin yellow carded for an incident in the second quarter. Umpires showed Baldwin the yellow card prior to the third term commencing, resulting in Baldwin spending the first 15 minutes of the third term off the ground, resulting in the Saints playing two men down.
The first half was tight apart from a brief momentum swing to the Nomads late in the second term to give the hosts an 18 point lead into the main break.
When Saints forward Ryan Woolley kicked the first goal of the third term, many thought the visitors were pressing for an almighty upset. Unfortunately this was the only goal for the term for the Saints while the Nomads consolidated booting three goals.
The Nomads finished the better booting three goals to one in the final term to run out victors by 47 points.
Coach Hayden Chappel praised the effort of his team in tough circumstances, singling out captain Sam Kimmince, Kyle Marchant and Lachie White for their efforts.
Chappel believes the performance can be the foundation of a successful second half of the year and has pleaded for his players to bounce back in a few weeks time against the Kangaroos at Varley Oval on July 15.
This game will also celebrate the 10 year reunion of the Saints 2007 Premiership team with members of that inaugural premeirship returning to mark this momentus occasion.
Earlier in the day, the Saints ladies were victorious by 39 points with Kayla Sims and Sam Barber dominating up forward with three majors a piece while the Saints Juniors smashed their Nomads counterparts by 170 points with Cam Sparke-Gaukroger starring five goals while Josh Desborough-Graham and Lachie Martin booting four majors
Seniors
INVERELL SAINTS
Goal Kickers: H. Chappel 3, R. Woolley 2, J Desborough,, N. Hughes
Best Players: H. Chappel, T. Hill, L. Selig, K. Payne, S. Kimmince, B. Coles
Women
Goalkickers: K. Sims 3, S. Barber 3, J. Pay
Juniors
Goal Kickers: C. Sparke-Gaukroger 5, J. Desborough-Graham 4, L. Martin 4, W. Mclachlan 3, B. Cox 2, R. Pentecost 2, X. Gobbert
Best Players: S. Thomas, J. Desborough-Graham, L. Martin, R. Pentecost, C. Sparke-Gaukroger
Last Modified on 25/06/2017 20:50