As promised in the pre-match preview Saturday down at the No.1 Sportsground was an awesome day of football, friends and fun as Clarkey celebrated his 200th game for the Newcastle City AFC.
The games were all played in the right spirit with some great skill and determination from both sides with the Blues getting up in both the senior games and the Tigers just scraping over the line in the Under 18's.
Off the field the Annual Newcastle City Cup Race Night was an absolute doozy with the triumphant Hammer Time Syndicate making it two wins in a row to take the handsome booty on hand.
The day started in style with the Under 18's putting in an impressive performance against the Top of the Table Gosford Tigers.
The Junior Blues ended up going down by 12-points with Danny Mitchell, Mick Atkinson and Tim Kemp getting the best players nod from the Coach in a great team effort.
This marks a turn around from Round 1 of some 131 points which just goes to show how much the team have been improving as the season progresses and more players become available.
Don't worry boy's we didn't get them this time - but remember they don't hand out Cups in July (except the Newcastle City Cup!)
In the First Division match it was a sluggish start for the Blues which saw the lead stand at only two goals at half time but a Harro-inspired second half of 8-goals to nil had the Blues run out comfortable 68-point winners.
Joe Fleuchter continued his dominant return to the park nabbing another B.O.G and was well supported by Leaping Al Boland, Harro, Captain Peanut and Fitzy who kicked four.
The side now claims top spot on the ladder and are looking safe to hold onto a Top-2 position as we get down to the business end of the season.
Master tactician Graham "Stubbsy" Stephens was most pleased after the match although was quick to quell the rumours of his Blue Heelers and Socceroos Coach look-a-likes plans to attend a game in the foreseeable future.
Apparently True Blue should be running scared - editorial rights, ahh isn't it nice!
So with one win and one loss on the board the day's football action had been an even encounter for the Blues and the Tigers. That was very quickly going to change with the pumped up Blues Black Diamond Cup team ready to walk over hot coals for their man "Clarkey" and didn't they produce for the home supporters.
Lead out through the banner by Clarkey in his 200th appearance the super-sized Blues line-up came out firing in the first quarter.
The combination of Kemp, Knights x 2, Buckets, Burke and Clarkey was proving un-stoppable in the forward line as the Blues piled on nine goals in the first quarter to give the Tiger a real headache at quarter time.
It was more of the same in the second stanza with the on-ball brigade of Kelso, Munroe, Stewart and Cleaver wining the ball out of the middle time and time again to supply the hungry forwards with more than enough opportunities.
At half time the Blues had opened up a handy 10-goal buffer and the game looked gone. Gosford as expected continued to battle it out in a workman like gritty fashion but had no answer for the six x 6 5' combination the Blues were able to take into the match for the first time this season.
Simon Page was rewarded by the Coach with the B.O.G (no mean feat considering he played in the backline and Kempy kicked 10, Courtney 9 and Munro was everywhere) but it looked ok to True Blue as he played a fantastic game across half back.
So with our full compliment of players available (sorry Dinneen) and everyone allowed to be on the playing arena this time around the Blues can be well pleased with their effort in snapping the mid season three game losing streak.
It's now onto the Warners Bay vs. Newcastle City every two weeks spectacle for the remained of the year so some awesome football still to come in 2006.
Keep an eye on the Photo Gallery for some great shots of the Race night and the day's football matches.
GO THE BLUES!
Last Modified on 02/11/2006 14:36