With the weather playing havoc across Sydney during the week, the Nor-West Jets were blessed to have their all-weather ground in great condition, with thanks to Dave, Anne and the team at Hawkesbury Sports Council for their assistance. Bensons Lane continues to be one of the best all weather surfaces on both grounds, and it’s a credit to the local Sports Council and grounds staff for their tireless efforts.
Saturday saw the young Jets notch up 130 point win over the Maroubra Saints who had defeated them in the previous meeting between the 2 teams. Once again the Jets shared the goal scoring around this week with 9 individual goal scorers with one of these being promising youngster Liam Veigel who was playing up from the u16’s. Another to have a day out was Billy McCracken who controlled the backline and the game from centre half back. All in all it was a great team effort to kick 20 goals in the conditions and the young Jets can now enjoy the week off with the bye.
U 18’s
Nor-West 20.17.137 def
Maroubra 2.1.7
Goal Kickers: B. Johnston 4, S. Goldrick 4, H. Barlow 4, J. Cass 2, N. Edwards 2, J. Coull , J. Smith , S. Achiek , L. Veigel
Best Players: J. Bennett, H. Stever, B. McCracken, L. Veigel, J. Coull
The game started as a typical wet weather slog, something foreign these days to most players. With bodies flying everywhere and the inevitable late hits, the game was there for the taking to the team with the most desire. Adam Newton continued his outstanding form at Centre Half Back, seemingly bringing his own football to the game such was his dominance, as he set up attack after attack, ably supported by Jesse Cass & Brent Moncrieff, who in his second game in the blue & white stood tall against the experienced Dogs. Chase was containing the dangerous UNSW forward wizard Dave Backler, as the Jets held their fancied opponent to 2.1 and adding only 3 behinds.
The Jets started to read the play better in the second term, and took the Dogs loose man out of the contest by employing a run-and-carry approach to the forward 50. Coach Pete Kyle marked on the 50 and goaled from a distance, and Daniel Harding was awarded a rare 100m penalty to make it two for the term, and a step closer to matching the Dogs, while Mat Laurence led the defensive 6 in a merry dance in his best game in years. Allan was dominating in the ruck, and Rod Bayne, almost 50 years of age, relishing the tough conditions in a terrific display at Centre Half Forward. Nor-West trailed by 16 at the long break, and with the Kyle brothers knowing the conditions, made some unorthodox changes that paid dividends in the third.
Mick Morgan stepped up to the plate on the forward flank, setting up another long range goal to Kyle, and young gun Cass chimed in with one of his own, while the backline tightened the screws and kept the classy Dogs to one, and with Steve Steaszek, Pete Richardson, Kev Conroy and Brett Carroll all lifting in inspired performances, the Jets knew they were in a dogfight coming into the final term trailing by just 10 points.
In a classic final term, with both teams tiring, the ball went from goal to goal in a flash, with Laurence bobbing up for an incredible goal through heavy traffic to get within 3 points, but the Dogs added one of their own and ground the clock down to win by 10 points in a heartbreaking end, and take the spoils back to Randwick. The Jets lost Scott Braid through a season ending injury, but gained a massive amount of respect and belief, and will take this form into next week’s encounter with North Shore at Bensons Lane.
Reserves
Nor-West 5.7.37 def by
UNSW/ES 7.5.47
Goal Kickers: P. Kyle 2, Jesse Cass , D. Harding , R. Bayne
Best Players: A. Newton, R. Bayne, B. Moncrieff, M. Laurence, L. Allan, Jesse Cass
Nor-West 9.9.63 def
UNSW/ES 7.6.48
In the Seniors the top of the ladder UNSW/ES Bulldogs ventured to Bensons Lane. The conditions meant it would be a day for hard contested football and the Jets were up for the challenge from the first bounce. Paul Sherwood and Ryan Johnston lead from the front and set up many forward thrusts with applied body work and precision skills by Sherwood. A tight first half saw the Jets up by 3 points at the main break but with David Clinch leading the backline the 3rd qtr saw the Jets break away to a slender lead at the last break but would it be enough to see off the top of the ladder Bulldogs?
Troy Clent was working tirelessly in the ruck and up forward in good combination with Ash Condon and the Bulldogs threw all they had at the Jets and clawed it back to under 2 goals but having played out several close games lately the Jets drew on that experience and remained calm and calculated and ended running out 15 point winners.
Seniors
Goal Kickers: J. Howe 2, A. Condon 2, S. Tibben , P. Sherwood , D. Graham , G. Hoffmann , R. Johnston
Best Players: P. Sherwood, D. Clinch, R. Johnston, T. Clent, S. Tibben, B. Johnston
Last Modified on 09/09/2012 15:25
