In a superb match of football on Saturday under lights at No.1 Sportsground the Newcastle City Blues failed to run down the undefeated Cardiff team, eventually going down by 7-points.
The Hawks had the better of the first quarter and with the aid of the strong breeze managed to kick away to a handy 32-point lead at the first break. City could have been a lot closer had they kicked straighter and capitalised on the many opportunities up forward. Cardiff were able to kick a number of easy goals in this quarter which proved particularly costly at the end of the day.
In the second quarter the Blues started to make some in-roads into the Hawks big lead with the on-ballers being well fed by Clarke Sturman in the ruck enabling them to start to win the clearances and give the dangerous City forward line ample chances to kick the Blues back into the game.
Some disappointing soft goals were again given up late in the quarter to see the Blues only peg the lead back to 26-points after a solid five goal quarter.
The Blues certainly had the job ahead of them at half-time and Coach Burns reinforced the need to play hard and tough in the third quarter if a win was to be a realistic chance with the breeze in the last quarter.
Mitchell Knight, Luke Rawnsley, Courtney Knight and Michael Kemp were really starting to warm up in the third quarter and the Blues were looking like they might just run over the Hawks in the last quarter.
Burns and Dinneen were playing some great football in defence, ably assisted by Mitch Niland and Matty Enright.
The stage was set at three quarter time with the Blues finding themselves 30-points down and unfortunately with the expected last quarter breeze behind their backs all but gone.
The Blues were as tough as old boots in the final stanza with Cleaver, Burke, Cotter and O'Bryan trying valiantly to get the ball out of the centre and into the hands of the dangerous Courtney Knight and Michael Kemp.
The rain in the last 15-minutes slowed the Blues down and with the breeze now ineffectual the boys were left wondering what might have been.
The Blues managed to kick six goals to two in the last quarter but with some fortunate goals against the tide Cardiff were able to hang on to record a tight 7-point win.
A great effort from the boys and we look forward to matching up against the Hawks come finals time with some redemption sure to be high on the agenda.
Clarke Sturman played a great game for the Blues and was well supported by young-gun Mitch Knight who kicked four goals, the ever-reliable Luke Rawnsley along with Cleaver, Cotter and Kemp in a great team effort.
In other matches Newcastle City were able to record some fine victories in both the First Division and Under 18's games with some highly skilful and memorable matches for the big crowd in attendance.
In the First Division game Newcastle City managed to scrape past Cardiff by the smallest of margins getting home by a solitary point.
It was a tight and tense battle all day with a welcome return to football for Joe Fleuchter proving the difference at the end of the day. Mark Wheeler continued his devastating form in First Division and with Cameron Mitchell, BK, Benny and Kelso playing well the Blues were happy little vegemites at the final siren.
Deedy managed to slot another three with the forward line looking a little skint without their new recruit Fitzy who got a well deserved Black Diamond Cup call up.
Stubbsy's boys now sit in 2nd place on the ladder with a ding-dong battle against Nelson Bay on the cards for next week.
The Under 18's continued their white-hot form this week against a disappointing Cardiff outfit. The boys are playing some supremely disciplined football week-in week-out and are proving a real pleasure to watch this season.
The new TRUE BLUE favourite Elliot Jay played like an old-pro on the back flank continually sending the ball into attack and tackling like a rugby front rower.
Tim Kemp again played a tough and hard game along with Tom Morey who relished some time in the middle of ground. Danny Mitchell was a class above as usual along with Kris Wozniak and the little pocket-rocket Josh Nesbitt enjoying beating the Hawks for the second time this season.
The young lads get to enjoy another week off with Nelson Bay unable to field a side in 2006 so we hope to see some good numbers at training this week to keep fitness and form up before taking on the in-form Gosford Tigers in Round 14.
Again another top day down at No.1 on Saturday with the Junior Club participating in the day's proceedings along with out proud Club Sponsors. In other news, the NCAFC have now taken the lead in the all-important Club Championships, just reward for some great work both on and off the field.
GO THE BLUES!
Last Modified on 02/11/2006 14:34