NOR-WEST bounced back from its round one debacle to bank its first victory of the AFL Sydney Division Two season when it scored a tough 39-point win over Holroyd-Parramatta at Bensons Lane on Saturday.
Having beaten the Goannas for the first time since before the club changed its name from Hawkesbury in last year’s first semi final, the Jets repeated the dose despite having a combined 18 players missing across both grades through injury and unavailability, running away in the second half to win 13.10 88 to 7.7 49.
There was nothing in the contest in the first half as the two teams traded goals, and the Goannas would be disappointed they weren’t able to build an early lead after kicking three goals from seven scoring shots, with the Jets booting four from five for a three-point advantage at quarter time.
The match tightened up even further in the second term as Holroyd-Parramatta desperately tried to gain advantage, but they couldn’t shrug the home team, with ruckman Paul Webster, defender Ben Cain and birthday boy Josh Howe proving important.
The warm conditions started to take their toll on the Goannas after the main break as the Jets’ runners stepped up the pressure, none more so than Casey Wenselowski, who was in outstanding touch and kicked five match-winning goals, while wingman Owen Butcher and midfielder Grant Hoffman were unstoppable and repeatedly drove the ball inside 50.
Nor-West kicked three goals to one in the third term for an 18-point lead and finally broke the visitors’ resistance in the last term, adding another four to one for a confidence building victory ahead of this Sunday’s showdown with ladder leader Balmain at Drummoyne Oval from 12pm.
NOR-WEST 4.1 6.4 9.7 13.10 88
H-PARRAMATTA 3.4 5.6 6.7 7.7 49
NWJ Goals: C Wenselowski 5, C Kyle, J James, J Howe 2, W Smith, J Thomson.
NWJ Best: O Butcher, G Hoffman, C Wenselowski, P Webster, J Howe, B Cain.
THE number shortage took its toll on the reserves team as Holroyd-Parramatta overran the Jets to win by 10 points in the early match.
Nor-West led for most of the game, but couldn’t sustain the run against a committed opposition chasing its first victory in more than a season after being relegated as last year’s Division Three wooden spooner.
The Jets held advantages of 12, 10 and six points at the three breaks, having built a lead in each quarter only to see the Goannas pull them back each time, and the effort took its toll as the visitors kicked four goals to one in the last quarter for a 13.11 89 to 11.13 79 win.
Senior coach Garry Bull turned back the clock and set an example for his players in the main game with three goals up forward, while Scott Braid was outstanding, also kicking three majors despite being plagued by inaccuracy in front of the sticks.
Matt Davidson completed a trio of three-goal kickers, while the running brigade led by Michael Yee, Stephen Chase, Peter Richardson, Matt Laurence and Michael Gray did everything they could to hold their rivals at bay.
The reserves are also on the road this week, playing at 10am on Saturday against UTS at historic Trumper Park.
NOR-WEST 5.2 8.5 10.9 11.13 79
H-PARRAMATTA 3.2 6.7 9.9 13.11 89
NWJ Goals: G Bull, S Braid, M Davidson 3, J Bray, S Potts.
NWJ Best: S Braid, M Yee, S Chase, P Richardson, M Laurence, M Gray.
Last Modified on 16/05/2011 14:02
