The Nor-West Jets hosted Sydney Uni in Division 2 and old rivals Penrith in Division 4 in near perfect conditions at Bensons Lane on Saturday, in what shaped as a must win game for the Seniors, with the Students one spot ahead of the Jets but two wins clear.
The Jets had some added firepower in their arsenal, with Captain Casey Wenselowski, Josh Howe & Warwick Smith returning from a few weeks away, and Johno Dowl seemingly recovered from a hamstring injury, but it was the Students who took the early initiative, camping the ball in their forward fifty for most of the 1st quarter, kicking 3 goals to nil to take a handy lead. The addition of Paul Sherwood into the middle was a calculated risk, but paid off, as his silky skills and controlled aggression gave him free reign around the ground.
The 2nd quarter saw the home side take full advantage of the Hawkesbury Doctor, blowing straight down the ground as the Jets piled on 5 goals to one, with some superb defensive pressure from Makins, Bayne & Moynihan, who also chimed in with a huge 50 metre goal. The Jets led by a slender 4 points at half time, with everything to play for in the second half.
Nor-West were ruthless, and despite losing spearhead Luke Ayling with a yellow card for most of the 3rd term, they kicked 5 goals into the breeze and restricted a strong Uni team to only one. Ash Condon took several telling marks, and when Sydney Uni lost a player to a yellow card late in the third term, as he tried to dispatch key Jet on-baller Jarod Thomson into next week, the writing was on the wall for the Students, as they trailled Nor-West by 33 points at the final break.
The Jets let some soft goals in during the last quarter, but the result was all but posted, as the Jets hung on to 5th spot and within reach of the top 4.
NWJ 11.5-71 to Sydney Uni 7.12-54.
Goals- J. James 3, J. Howe 2, S. Davidson, J. Moynihan, B. Cameron, C. Wenselowski, P. Sherwood, L. Ayling.
In the early game, Nor-West took on 5th place Penrith in what always becomes a torrid affair. With some players dropping back from seniors, including 2 time Hibbins medallist Chris Collins, the Jets were engaged in an arm wrestle all day, as goal for goal rained down at either end.
Scott Braid was in scintillating form up forward after his picture appeared in last week’s paper, kicking 5 goals and assisting in a few more, while Adam Newton was playing a commanding role at Centre Half Forward, directing traffic like a veteran. The Jets led by 2 goals at half time, and with Brock Gibson and Pete Richardson in charge on their wings, things looked ominous for the Rams, who have shown great resolve in their games to date.
The Jets lost ruck Jack Wilson to a collarbone break after half time, and the club wishes Pedro all the best, but this just served as more ammunition to win for the big guy, and with Ben Cain and Hank Scorpio controlling half back, Collins untouchable in the middle until his ankle gave way, and captain Nick Milkins throwing his body and showing his union card at every opportunity, the Jets clawed their way in front for long enough to hold out the fast finishing Rams and win.
10.11-71 to 8.4-52.
Goals- S. Braid 5, S. Chase, D. Thorpe, A. Newton, B. Gibson, D. Graham.
Best- A. Newton, B. Cain, C. Collins, N. Milkins, D. Harding, H. Scorpio.
The Jets head to Trumper Park today to take on UTS in both grades.
Last Modified on 27/11/2010 17:51
