The Nor-West Jets scrapped home in a one point thriller in Sunday's do or die Elimination Final against Sydney Uni at Gipps Road Oval on Sunday afternoon.
Coming off a disappointing finals series the year before, the Jets were determined to not let their opportunity slip this time around. In hot dry conditions and with a smokey haze drifting across the ground, players of both teams knew the game would be played in difficult conditions.
In what was be a see sawing game where neither side could gain a clear strangle hold, it was Sydney Uni who would take the early ascendency. The opening quarter, as predicted was hard and tough with both sides not taking long to settle down. With a solid opening term by the Jets backline led by veterans Daniel Guthridge and Aaron Bayne the Jets were doing their best to stem the early tide. Whilst Sydney Uni were were able to get out into some space and by quarter time they held a six point advantage.
In the second quarter things started opening up for Nor-West. The Jets on-ball brigade of Coombs, Roberts and Davidson began to dominate and get on top of their respective opponents, running hard and bringing others into the game such as Jesse Bray who had started extremely well gathering plenty of the ball across half forward. By half time the Jets had managed to take the lead by kicking five goals straight to Uni's two goals and 3 behinds. They went into the rooms at half time buzzing and full of confidence as their opponents looked to re-group.
It was more of an arm wrestle in the third quarter with both teams coming to grips with the difficult hot conditions. The Jets managing to kick the only goal to extend their half time lead to 15 points.
In a heart stopping final term Sydney Uni threw everything at the Jets. After kicking the first 2 goals their confidence and tails were up. With gun playmaker Julian Goonan injured and unable to take further part in the game, the Jets were now left one short. Sensing the danger the Nor-West men started to get a grip on things. Paul Webster who had worked tirelessly all day stood tall and wingmen Stuart Tibben and Michael Morgan Kept the Jets in it with their run and carry. But Uni kept coming, hitting the front in the dying minutes with some good attacking play. Nor-West kept peppering the goals in the dying stages finally hitting the front with a series of behinds, before Dylan Cruz finally snapped the winning goal from a tight angle. Sydney Uni kicked a goal just before the final siren but, it wasn't enough. Jets came out winners 10.12.72 - 10.11.71.
Goal Kickers: E. Coombs 2, S. Tibben 2, P. Kyle , M. Morgan , M. Gray , J. Goonan , P. Webster , D. Cruz
Best Players: D. Guthridge, A. Bayne, J. Bray, S. Tibben, M. Morgan, E. Coombs
Last Modified on 28/08/2013 12:43
