It was the shortest day of the year, and certainly the coldest; as three grades travelled to Olds Park on Saturday.
The clouds were circling ominously as the Under 18s got under way. And North Shore were soon in trouble as the Dragons scored three early goals. And then the heavens opened; and it was a slog for the Bombers to try to get back into the game. Trailing by 13 points at quarter time, the Bombers fought back in the second term to get back to within a kick before a late St George goal restored the 12-point margin at the long break.
The Bombers kept trying hard through the second half, looking for a way back into the contest. But the slippery ball was making ball handling difficult and there was no way to peg back the deficit; with the young Bombers going down by 22 points.
Despite the rain, the ground was in good condition as the Div 1 game got under way. The first half was evenly contested, neither side able to break away from the other as both sides put each other under pressure. The Bombers led by four points at the first change, and one at the long break; the game in the balance.
But the Bombers fell behind in the third term, unable to score a goal while conceding five to a St George side that had more run in their legs in the heavy conditions. And although the Bombers pressed on and won the last quarter, they were unable to make up much ground as the heavens opened again, going down by 25 points.
Meanwhile at Rosedale Oval, it was a tough day for the Div 4 team, unable to score a goal against a well-drilled Moorebank side that played the tricky conditions far better.
Back at Olds Park, before the Premier Division game started there was a break for the opening of the re-furbished clubhouse at Olds Park. Once the game started, it was a slow start for the Bombers; taking some time to find their bearings and getting their running game going. After conceding two early goals, the Bombers fought back to level the scores at the first change.
The rain was even heavier during the second quarter, but the Bombers spirits were being drenched by a quarter in which the bounce of the ball wasn't running their way. It was a frustrating quarter of football, with the Bombers creating chances but being unable to convert them. A return of 1.4 for the quarter meant that, although level on scoring shots with the Dragons, the Bombers were 15 points in arrears at the long break.
There are good days and bad days, and this was a shocker. Nothing was going our way, and when the Dragons kicked four goals in the first 15 minutes, the margin was out to 40 points. The Bombers got one goal back, but with a 32-point deficit at three quarter time, the Bombers were staring down the barrel of their second defeat of the season. The last quarter was largely going through the motions, with the Dragons scoring the only goal & the Bombers going down by 38 points.
It was a disappointing day, going down in all four grades. There'll be some hard work on the training track this week as we look to bounce back when we return to Gore Hill next Saturday.
Last Modified on 04/03/2014 13:36