Newcastle City put together a superb second half performance to outshine the Killarney Vale Bombers by 48 points in wet conditions at the Adelaide Street Oval on Saturday.
The Blues started the match well but couldn't convert the many opportunities up forward with two goals and five behinds keeping the Bombers in the match in the first quarter.
By half-time the game was all square with some loose checking allowing the Bombers mid-field to run amok and with a goal after the siren the momentum was swinging towards the home side.
Coach Burns blasted the side at half time and asked for some tight checking man-on-man football and he most certainly got what he asked for with a resurgent Blues outfit blitzing the second half.
It all started with Big Clarkey who was dominating in the ruck and allowing the mid-field runners in Mitch Knight, Tim Cotter and Jayson Cleaver to gain the ascendancy at the clearances and continually drive the ball into attack.
Michael Kemp was again proving a great target up forward and with Danny Mitchell and Nathan Stewart crumbing the packs the forward line started to fire with a five goal to nil third quarter.
John Burns turned back the clock in a great second half effort with Dave Munro, Ryan Wilmott and Shannon Burke all playing high quality accountable football.
The last quarter was a dire struggle with City kicking three goals to Killarney Vale's one to run out 48 point victors. A most pleasing performance for the Newcastle City Blues who now find themselves a game clear in second position on the ladder with an all important clash against a resurgent Warners Bay this weekend.
Over at Rogers Oval the First Division top of the table clash was a cracker of a game with the previously undefeated Blues going down by 31 points to the Woy Woy Peninsula Swans.
Star under 18's player Kris Wozniak put in a great game across the half back line taking marks at will and driving the ball forward time and time again.
Woy Woy had a big lead up at half-time but Stubbsy put it on his players to respond with a nine goal to five second half effort a pleasing effort.
Deedy kicked five goals and took a great specky and Aaron Holmquest saluted the goal umpy five times to continue his fantastic 2006 season.
McCormack, Gilbertson, Cameron Mitchell, Ben Cornwall and Captain Deedy were all solid contributors for the Blues who now look forward to reuniting with the Black Diamond Cup team at No.1 this Saturday for a hitout with the Warners Bay Bulldogs.
Last Modified on 02/11/2006 14:32