NOR-WEST JETS vs MANLY-WARRINGAH WOLVES- ROUND 4
The Jets made the long trip to the peninsula last Saturday to take on old foes Manly at Pittwater.
With limited numbers available in the reserves, the Jets called on the ‘spirit of the game’ by-law and played a minimum 16 a side, with thanks to Manly for agreeing to this, as they had more than a dozen players missing out on the day.
With Travis Close and Sam Carlson playing their first games of football, and Dan Graham & Dan Beck playing their first games for the season, the visitors didn’t bother the scoreboard in the first quarter, as the Wolves put 4 goals through themselves, if not for the tight defence of Dean Thorpe, Norm Hanley & Scott Allan, the score may have looked a lot worse early.
The 2nd quarter was much the same, however the Jets began to chip the ball around and hold possession a bit more, however, without a full bench, the boys started to grow tired as Manly went to the sheds with a comfortable 52 point lead.
The third quarter saw the Jets become more creative, using their pace & experience in the midfield, with Dave Marscham and Scott Braid stepping up to the plate, with assistance from Daniel Harding, Ryan Bowen & new ruckman Chris Lowe, and a great display from Dee Gee up forward, kicking 3 goals including a great effort under pressure 40 out on an angle, as the Jets kept with the home team, kicking 3 goals to the Wolves 5, but the tired legs couldn’t hold up the Jets, as manly slammed on 7 goals to nil in the last to run out convincing winners.
21.18-144 to 4.0-24.
Goals- D. Graham 3, C. Lowe 1.
Best- C.Lowe, S.Braid, D. Harding, D. Marscham, D. Graham, R. Bowen.
The Seniors took to the field with 7 changes from the previous week, and looking to cement a top four spot against a tenacious Manly outfit, and from the outset, this game was going to be a tight arm wrestle. Goal for goal as the pill went to all corners of the unlevel surface, with the Wolves taking a slender lead into the first break, and the Jets losing centre John Dowl minutes into the 2nd quarter didn’t help things at all.
The game turned spiteful as Manly tried to outmuscle leading goalkicker Luke Ayling, but the Jets kept their cool, kicking 4 goals, including a massive effort from outside the 50m arc to Stu Tibben, to trail the home side by 3 points at the long break.
With the game in the balance, it became a brutal affair, with no quarter given by either side, Paul Webster was playing a terrific game in the ruck, Aaron Bayne (proudly sponsored by Stackhat) in his 50th game for the club providing great attack off half back, and Trent Hurst playing a Milne-esque game in the forward pocket, both teams scored 3 each as Manly held a single goal advantage at 3 quarter time.
The last showed some fantastic football from both sides, and when captain Casey Wenselowski slotted a goal from an impossible angle, the Jets looked home, however, the Wolves refused to lie down, kicking 4 goals to Nor-West’s 3 to win by 15 points. Best on Ground was Mick Yee, after helping out in reserve grade, came up to Seniors and created many opportunities from various positions.
Nor-West 11.4-70 to Manly 12.13-85.
Goals- L. Ayling, C. Wenselowski, T. Hurst, S. Tibben 2 each, M.Gray, P. Webster, C. Collins 1 each.
Best- M. Yee, P. Webster, A. Bayne, T. Hurst, S. Tibben, A. Newton.
The Jets travel to Cronulla to take on ladder leader Southern Power in a must win game to stay in touch with the top 4.
