Reserves
The Nor-West Jets Div 4 team had their season on the line when they met 7th placed North Shore at Bensons Lane in prefect conditions on Saturday. The Jets welcomed back defensive stalwarts Matt Brophy and Scott Allan, who was playing in his 100th senior grade game for the club. ‘Scallan’ is a Junior Life Member and dual premiership player in 05/06, and a fine servant of the blue and white for many years. The Jets were also blessed to have a touch of class added to their squad, with regular Senior players Tom Roberts and Mick Gray lining up in the middle, complemented by Under 18s guns Ethan Coombs, Harry Stever and man mountain Sunday Achiek, however, with North Shore being a Premier Division club, they knew they would have a fight on their hands.
And a fight they got, as the Bombers slammed on the first 2 goals of the game before the Jets could pull their socks up. The 2 man forward pairing of Pete and Chris Kyle snapped into action after this, and slammed on 6 goals between them in the quarter, finishing off the great work further upfield by Adam Newton at Centre Half Back, and some creative movement by James Moynihan at Centre Half Forward, who drew the play away from the Bombers’ loose man in defence. The Jets held a 13 point lead at the first break, and were slowly finding their feet.
The second quarter saw Shore grab the initiative, as they put the listless Jets defence to the sword, adding 4 goals of their own with some smart run-and-carry that the unaccountable Jets didn’t bother to counter. Even when a Bomber player was red carded for umpire abuse, the Jets failed to capitalise on this, with poor disposal and a lack of tackling effort allowing the high flying Bombers to take a 5 point lead to the long break. The home sheds wasn’t a place to be, as the coaching pair of Kyle’s tore panels of the Jets in an attempt to rouse some passion for the second half. Being 2 wins out of the 5 meant a loss would end their season.
The Jets allowed the visitors the first goal of the quarter but could only manage one of their own in a classic arm wrestle through the middle. Michael Morgan was providing great link work on the wing, but the highest praise was reserved for the diminutive Brett Carroll, who owned the entire field in a best on ground performance, his finest effort to date in the famous blue and white. Carroll kept the Jets in the game, and with a 5 point deficit going into the last quarter, it would take a massive effort from the home side to take the points.
And a massive effort was produced, as the Jets stood up to the challenge and destroyed the tiring North Shore, and they added 5 goals in a fantastic performance, despite being down to players after Allan and Rod Bayne were injured and unable to continue. New recruits Brent Moncrieff and Mitch Watkins were absorbing the experience on the back flanks, while Joe Pajeska and Achiek dominated in an aerial display fitting for a Jets v Bombers clash. Moynihan sealed the win with a fine goal from a ridiculous angle, and the Kyle brothers finished with 13 goals between them, and the Jets had breathed enough life into their season to finish 23 point winners, 15.11-101 to 12.6-78.
The Jets hit the F3 next week to take on 2nd placed Gosford Wildcats in a game that will test the mettle of the boys from Bensons.
Nor-West 15.11.101 def
North Shore 12.6.78
Goal Kickers: P. Kyle 8, C. Kyle 5, J. Moynihan , M. Gray
Best Players: B. Carroll, J. Moynihan, P. Kyle, M. Gray, M. Morgan, C. Kyle
Seniors
The Jets seniors welcomed the Illawarra Lions to Bensons Lane last Saturday in perfect football conditions and the home side took full advantage to record their biggest win of the season.
Kicking away to a 4 goal lead at qtr time the Jets backline strangled the life out of the Lions in the first half lead by Jebal Williams that saw the visitors only kick 3 goals and the home side 41 points up at the main break.
It would have been easy for the Jets to cruise along in the 2nd half but they up’d their work rate and with numerous smothers and 1%ers continued to pile on goals and enjoy being able to go into a final qtr and not have the game in the balance. Ash Condon goaled in the last to take his tally to 5 for the game and Matthew Smith & Johno Dowl continued to create plenty of forward thrust from the midfield which saw the Jets run out 83 point winners and for the time being see them sit in 4th spot on the Ladder.
Nor-West 17.13.115 def
Illawarra 5.2.32
Goal Kickers: A. Condon 5, D. Ollington 2, G. Hoffmann 2, R. Johnston , L. Allan , D. Graham , B. Johnston , P. Sherwood , J. Howe , D. Linnett , S. Tibben
Best Players: R. Johnston, J. Howe, J. Dowl, J. Williams, M. Smith, A. Condon
Last Modified on 09/09/2012 15:49
