A SERIOUS arm injury to UTS Green stalwart Julian Clark put a dampener on the Nor-West Jets impressive 101-point shutout of the Bats at Paddington's iconic Trumper Park on Saturday.
Clark landed awkwardly in a tackle from returning Jet Justin Craker and Chris Grey just before quarter time, breaking his arm below the shoulder in a sickening incident that resulted in play being held up for more than half an hour while an ambulance was called to tend to him on the field.
He was eventually clapped off the field in the ambulance and taken to hospital, with the remaining three quarters being shortened by seven minutes each in a bid to make up time.
The match was virtually over as a contest by the time the injury occurred, with the undefeated Jets leading the winless Bats by 40 points, 6.5 to 0.1.
And while they were unable to reproduce that form, they dominated the contest as UTS was held goalless in a 15.15 105 to 0.4 4 result, making it seven quarters of football since Nor-West has conceded a goal.
Scoring was tough in tricky condition after overnight rain and with a swirling breeze causing havoc, Nor-West struggled for consistency with a large contingent of first-choice players remaining on the sidelines.
Casey Wenselowski was one who returned to the team and he was brilliant, running all over the ground and often picking up more than one possession in a single passage of play, while Don Waterston dominated on his wing and Dave Vance and Andrew Travers marked everything that came their way in a confident marking display.
Adrian Wagner was another to shine in his first match in a month, controlling the half back line alongside Greg Jenkins, while up forward Luke Ayling was a constant with another six goals.
Captain Chris Kyle and co-coach Nick Milkins provided the targets across half forward, with Kyle in everything, Milkins marking strongly, reigning best and fairest winner Gerard Smits turning in a typically strong display in the middle and Craker playing outstanding football in his first match for two years.
The Jets have a week off this week, with the second division enjoying a general bye for the Queen's Birthday weekend, and will return to Bensons Lane at midday on Saturday, June 17, to take on Macquarie University in the first of five consecutive home matches for the Jets.
Last Modified on 27/11/2010 15:13
