The Nor-West Jets sent an ominous message across the Sydney AFL Division 3 competition when they defeated the first placed Randwick City Saints by a resounding 70 points at Bensons Lane on Saturday.
It was the first time the Jets had ever beat the Saints, and with last year’s Preliminary Final defeat still on the minds of the Nor-West players, the home side started the game with a bang, with some vicious attack on the football scaring the visitors off. With 7 changes from their previous round win over Balmain, the Jets called up Josh Patterson, Stuart Tibben and 17 year old gun Connor Moore for their Senior debuts, showcasing the depth of talent at Bensons Lane.
The defensive unit of Smith, Bayne, Clinch and Guthridge were miserly against Randwick, as they nullified the Saints potent forward line, and set up plenty of run through wingers Louis Butler and Jarryd Smith. With a 16 point lead at quarter time, the Jets could sense the Saints tiring, and slammed on 4 goals to 2 in the second quarter, while maintaining their relentless pressure on the Randwick ball runners. Patterson and Ethon Coombs were in everything across the centre, while Mick Gray was providing great options across half forward, and Co-Captain Owen Butcher turned on a best on ground performance in his midfield role. With a 28 point lead at half time, Coach Mark Johnston implored his team to step it up a notch in the all important third term, and despite conceding the first goal of the term, opened up the ground and put 5 goals on the board to all but crush Randwick’s slim hopes of a comeback.
The Jets were instructed to run the Saints off their feet, and proceeded to toy with their fancied opponents, who had no answers as the Jets romped to their biggest win of the season, and sewed up second position on the ladder with a 70 point win, 16.11-107 to 5.7-37.
Nor-West Jets
Goal Kickers: S. Tibben 3, M. Gray 3, C. Moore 3, A. Newton 2, S. Quirk 2, P. Kyle , O. Butcher , R. Johnston
Best Players: O. Butcher, J. Patterson, A. Bayne, W. Smith, M. Gray, S. Tibben
| # | Player | G | BST |
|---|
| 9 |
|
3 |
6 |
| 17 |
Michael Gray
|
3 |
5 |
| 35 |
Connor Moore
|
3 |
0 |
| 27 |
Steve Quirk
|
2 |
0 |
| 6 |
Adam Newton
|
2 |
0 |
| 70 |
Owen Butcher
|
1 |
1 |
| 2 |
Peter Kyle
|
1 |
0 |
| 5 |
Ryan Johnston
|
1 |
0 |
| 25 |
Warwick Smith
|
0 |
4 |
| 14 |
Aaron Bayne
|
0 |
3 |
| 26 |
Joshua Patterson
|
0 |
2 |
| 8 |
Ethon Coombs
|
0 |
0 |
| 18 |
Troy Clent
|
0 |
0 |
| 3 |
Peter Richardson
|
0 |
0 |
| 61 |
Jarryd Smith
|
0 |
0 |
| 4 |
Harry Stever
|
0 |
0 |
| 47 |
Matthew Schwager
|
0 |
0 |
| 28 |
Peter Martinoli
|
0 |
0 |
| 10 |
Daniel Guthridge
|
0 |
0 |
| 15 |
David Clinch
|
0 |
0 |
| 23 |
Louis Butler
|
0 |
0 |
| 33 |
Michael Morgan
|
0 |
0 |
In Reserve Grade, the Jets held onto the ladder lead with an 11 point win over arch rivals Penrith, despite leading by 40 points at the final break.
The Jets started out well in the first quarter holding a seven point lead at the first break. Alex Lorenzelli, Nick Bradshaw and James Moynihan leading the way for the Jets out of the back line and across the middle of the ground.
The home side had a wayward second quarter kicking 5 behinds but straightened up at the end of the quarter to kick 17 points ahead at the main break.
After a slow start to the 3rd quarter the Jets kicked five goals straight. With the momentum on the Jets side they looked to finish the game of strong however that was not to be with Penrith storming home with the wind in their sails. Coming from 40 points down at the final turn to fall short by 11 points, 12.10-82 to 11.5-71. Scott Braid was a stand out for the home side kicking 5 goals, with Liam Veigel, Zane Priest and Bennett Idstein having very strong games through the middle of the ground.
Nor-West Jets
Goal Kickers: S. Braid 5, J. Moynihan 2, B. Idstein 2, L. Sharpe , C. Moore , Z. Priest
Best Players: A. Lorenzelli, N. Bradshaw, B. Idstein, J. Moynihan, S. Braid, L. Veigel
| # | Player | G | BST |
|---|
| 29 |
|
5 |
5 |
| 32 |
James Moynihan
|
2 |
4 |
| 52 |
Bennett Idstein
|
2 |
3 |
| 20 |
Leigh Sharpe
|
1 |
0 |
| 43 |
Calum Moore
|
1 |
0 |
| 74 |
Zane Priest
|
1 |
0 |
| 34 |
Liam Veigel
|
0 |
6 |
| 37 |
Nicholas Bradshaw
|
0 |
2 |
| 66 |
Alex Lorenzelli
|
0 |
1 |
| 49 |
Blake Heggie
|
0 |
0 |
| 30 |
Luke Judd
|
0 |
0 |
| 63 |
Musa Bakan
|
0 |
0 |
| 59 |
Daniel Soderman
|
0 |
0 |
| 73 |
Ajang Duot
|
0 |
0 |
| 1 |
Stephen Chase
|
0 |
0 |
| 77 |
Matthew Brophy
|
0 |
0 |
| 65 |
Michael Guthridge
|
0 |
0 |
| 53 |
Jack Bennett
|
0 |
0 |
| 68 |
Ashley Light
|
0 |
0 |
| 60 |
David Draper
|
0 |
0 |
| 76 |
Richard Boucher
|
0 |
0 |
| 39 |
Joshua Edwards
|
0 |
0 |
The Jets Senior Grade host Macquarie University at Bensons Lane in Division 3, while the Reserves head to Blacktown Olympic Park to face the Blacktown Magic in Round 5 action.
Last Modified on 14/05/2014 14:30
