SENIORS MATCH REPORT vs UNSW/ES BULLDOGS
Heavy rain in the Hawkesbury all week saw training on Thursday night cancelled, and the much anticipated top-of-the table clash between the two undefeated teams, Nor-West Jets and UNSW/ES Bulldogs may have been postponed to the wet weather round. Finally, common sense prevailed, and we were moved to our wet-weather ground, Bensons Lane No 3, many thanks go to Hawkesbury Sports Council for their assistance.
The Jets named a string team on Thursday night, but late withdrawals of Michael Cranky Craigie (finger) and Chris Disco Kyle (back) saw the call ups of coach Peter Fatso Kyle, returning from a back injury, and club stalwart Steve China Chase, who was playing his 50th Senior game for the Jets. This, coupled with the timely return of ruckman Dale Boots Wellington, and onballer Gerard Gezbie Smits playing his 100th game, only the third player in Nor-West history, gave the Jets plenty of incentive to win this one and take top spot outright.
The Jets lost the toss and were forced to kick into a decent breeze in the first, and made the most of their opportunities, with the Dogs peppering the back 6 with regularity, Matt Oyster Brophy playing a tight game on leading goalkicker Casey Stephens, keeping him to one goal for the day. The Jets were unable to use their effective rebound game off half back with the heavy conditions, but still had the ball in their forward 50 for half the first term, with Aaron Snowy Clayden crumbing off Kyle for a goal before Kyle added one of his own, to take a narrow 8 point advantage into the first break. The home team were attacking the ball with tenacity, and running in numbers, and continued the hard ball in the second, adding two more with the wind, and keeping the Dogs to a single scoring shot for a goal. Nick Homegrown Milkins was in vintage form, turning his Guernsey into mud seconds into the game, working hard on the base of the packs, while Aaron Twisty Fingers Bayne was in everything, his forward flank opponent dragging himself up the ground, bringing 'Macoft' closer to the action. New recruit Ed Hollywood Sullivan showed great skill with a wet pill, ably assisted by centre half back Jack I will complete my thesis soon Pascoe, forward flank Owen Dildo Butcher and ruck Paul Spider Webster, who supplied the midfield with plenty of chances. The Jets took a handy 3 goal buffer into half time, but were wary of the Dogs, who have plenty of depth and are known for their fight backs.
The Jets again came out flat in the third, a worrying trend that needs addressing, as the Dogs added 3 goals and kept the Jets to none for the term, wrapping scores up at 4.7 apiece going into the final quarter. With the ground chewed up and all players legs heavy, it was going to be an arm wrestle of epic proportions for these two rivals.
The Jets had their fair share of chances in front of goal in the last half, and will rue missed opportunities, as UNSW/ES added two more in the last quarter to one for the home team, and the Dogs ran out deserved winners of this battle by 8 points, 6.9.45 to 5.7.37. The game was there for the taking for the Jets, and this loss will serve as ammunition for the rest of the year, and with 10 first choice players still to return, the second leg of this rivalry will be a cracker, especially on a dry track.
Nor-West 5.7.37 def by UNSW/ES 6.9.45
Goals: P.Kyle 2, P.Webster, A.Clayden, G.Smits
Best: A.Bayne, N.Milkins, J.Pascoe, P.Webster, O.Butcher, E.Sullivan.
RESERVES MATCH REPORT vs SYDNEY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
This week the Jets met top of the ladder Sydney Uni at Bensons Lane. The wet conditions were going to provide a challenge to the Jets and it was always going to be a hard slog in the mud. The game started very evenly while both teams found their way in the rain and heavy ground but it was the students who adapted better and set up several attacks into their scoring zone. Poor kicking with the heavy ball kept the Jets in the game but Sydney Uni had kicked away to a 12 point lead at the first break. The second term saw the Jets once again having to chase down consistent attacks from Sydney Uni, who appeared to have overcome the poor conditions. Outstanding efforts from Rod Rocket Bayne and Mat Lozza Laurence restricted Uni to 2 goals 3 for the quarter while the Jets managed to post a single goal for the term. The Students enjoyed a 21 point lead at the main break and looked like they were going to run away with the points. In the past two rounds the Jets have lost their way in the second half of the game and allowed the opposition to dictate the play. They were determined to turn the tables this week. In what turned out to be a masterful move a suggestion by Gerard Smits meant that Daniel DeeGee Graham was moved to the centre to provide some drive. DeeGee continually blocked the students attacks and turned the ball over. The Jets rallied with new found enthusiasm and reduced the Uni’s lead to just 7 points at the last break. The final term was always going to be an arm wrestle with both teams starting to tire from the hard going. In a very even last term both sides posted 1 goal 1 giving the game to the students by 7 points. The Jets should be justifiably proud of their efforts this week and are looking forward to another home game against Macquarie Uni at Bensons Lane next Saturday.
Nor-West 6.4.40 def by Syd Uni 6.11.47
Goals: B.Willson 4, J.Bray, M.Davidson
Best: A.Fox, R.Bayne, M.Laurence, C.Collins, D.Graham, A.McDonell
The Jets will regroup and take on the always competitive Macquarie Uni Warriors at Bensons Lane before a much needed break over the long weekend.
Last Modified on 27/11/2010 18:37
