SENIORS MATCH REPORT v UNSW/ES BULLDOGS
"I was walking down to Bensons Lane, when a copper said to me...." These words rang out as the sun set on a terrific top-of-the-table contest between the UNSW/ES Bulldogs and the Nor-West Jets on a perfect sunday afternoon at the picturesque Villlage Green. These two teams have had a healthy rivalry since the old Second Division days of 2005/06, with those games always nailbiters, and this was no different. The Dogs won the first encounter earlier in the season on a miserable day at Bensons Lane, and both team have improved since that day, culminating in a mouth watering encounter befitting a grand final. The Jets went into the game without captain Casey Boft Wenselowski, but had their defence bolstered with the return of Matt Oyster Brophy, Josh Howie Howe and 2006 Premiership playe Matt Velvet Sledgehammer Lloyd at centre half back. With a strong 22 man squad, the Jets had every confidence going into this match. The game started at a frenetic game, and the visitors registered their first goal through goal sneak Chris Disco Kyle, who marked and goalled in the first few minutes. Disco had another chance to slot his 21st major in 4 games, but missed to the left, but with Paul Spider Webster playing a blinder on an unusually taller opponent, Spider won almost every tap in the centre and around the ground, delivering quality ball to midfielders Ed Hollywood Sullivan, Aaron Snowy Clayden, No 10 Gerard Boris Smits and the wing combination of Chayne Oxford Anderson and Owen Dildo Butcher, who found themselves in plenty of space through the game, sending the ball from defence to attack in an instant. Dale Boots Wellington up forward kicked truly for another to give the Jets breathing space, with Stephen Stavros Davidson adding another from a huge 50 metre effort from a solid contested grab. The Jets defence was being peppered by the Dogs, but with Jack Sparrow Pascoe playing his preferred floating role in the backline, taking down numerous contested marks and feeding his half back line of Paul Wanga Sherwood and Aaron Macoft Bayne, who shared the massive responsibilty of curbing the influence of Dogs mastermind Dave Backler, completing that job and then some, implementing the attacking half back role that was nullified by the conditions of the first meeting this year. The Jets took a slender lead into the first break, and were threatening to take this game by the scruff of the neck. With slick ball movement and great accountability, the Jets took control of the game, dictating the pace of the play with their ball security, adding three majors and keeping the Dogs to a pair. This was shaping as a quality game worthy of the hype, and a two goal buffer to the Jets seemed to be the flavour of the day, but with UNSW/ES always threatening, the Jets knew that a huge 2nd half was required against the deserved ladder leaders. Coach Peter Pekay Kyle asked his troops to remember the pain of losing the first loss to the Dogs, and the pact the players made to each other in the clubhouse after that game, and the Jets repsonded in the second half, with only wayward kicking preventing a bigger margin. The Dogs kept throwing everything at the Jets, but with composure under pressure, particularly from Co-Captain Nick General Milkins in the middle, who showed his class in the centre with some excellent link play to the runners, and back pocket Howe, who gave away at least a foot to his opponent and put on a clinic. The Jets couldn't deliver the knockout punch in the last quarter, adding 6 telling behinds, while the fast finishing Doggies added two late goals, and with the ball camped in their forward fifty for the last 90 minutes, the Jets scrambled, pressured, tackled and fought their way to a hard earned 9 point victory. This was a battle that had finals pressure for both teams, and if form is any guideline, will be repeated in September at least once.
UNSW/ES 9.8.62 def by Nor-West 9.17.71
Goals: A.Clayden 4, D.Wellington 2, C.Kyle, G.Smits, S.Davidson
Best: J.Pascoe, A.Clayden, J.Howe, O.Butcher, P.Webster, N.Milkins
RESERVES MATCH REPORT vs SYDNEY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
The Nor-West Jets Reserves travelled down Parramatta Road to the postcard like (size and appearance) St Pauls Oval to take on competition favourites, Sydney Uni on Saturday. In their last meeting, the Jets went down by 7 points in horrible conditions at Bensons Lane, and with an incredible 13 changes from that day for this top-of-the-table clash, the Jets went in confident of reversing the score. Nor-West were without their key on-baller, former Sturt player Marty The Denim Dreamboat Ingham, who has provided plenty of drive around the ground, and Scott Scooter Roberts, who, along with Sam Shark Makins, have steadied the Nor-West defence in recent weeks, but welcomed back Daniel Guffo Guthridge, Senior Coach Pete Pekay Kyle, and key forward Nathan Duttas Dutschke. The Jets started off slowly on the tiny ground, but managed the first goal of the day through the second efforts of Rod Rocket Bayne, who was playing his combined 150th game for the Hawkesbury/Nor-West Jets. However, Sydney Uni were too sharp on our turnovers, and ran the ball in numbers, showing the Jets how to play their ground. The Jets Defence of Guffo, Norm Guns Hanley, Mat Lozza Laurance held firm on their oponents, but slick ball movement from the Students saw them go to the first break with a 2 goal lead. Coaches for the day, Dom Domma Shipley & Pekay, pleaded for a bigger effort from their players in the second, emphasising on shepherding their players and a short kicking game, and it paid dividends, with the Jets piling on 6 straight goals to 2 goals 3 for the home team. The midfield of Mark Big Q Quemard, Brett Bertie Carroll who has played some of the best footy of his long career, Steve China Chase turning on his typically vicious attack on the ball, and ruckman Adam Elmo Newton who rucked all day against the Uni's massive nudenut, were getting on top and setting up numerous raids for the forward line of Matt Mavros Davidson, Mick Huey Lewis and Duttas up front. The Jets went into half time with a slender 9 point lead, with everything to play for in the second half. Sydney Uni regained the ascendancy in the all important third term, as their handball game caused many headaches for the Jets, resulting in too many loose players around the ground. The Students kicked 4.2 to Nor-West's 1.2, and with defender Pekay coming off with a rib injury, and Big Q injuring his groin on the ice-like centre pitch, things were looking grim for the visitors. It was goal for goal in the last in a tug-of-war battle, with Pekay moved to a forward flank and setting up a goal square mark for Lewis, the Jets had the game in their grasp, but the Students knew how to finish better on their deck, scoring 4 straight to Nor-West's 3.1 to finish 14 point winners, in a preview of what may be a sensational finals series.
Sydney Uni 13.6.84 def Nor-West 11.4.70
Goals: N.Dutschke 4, M.Lewis 3, R.Bayne 2, M.Davidson, B.Goodwin
Best: S.Chase, B.Carroll, R.Bayne, A.Newton, D.Guthridge, M.Quemard
The magoos welcome back some very strong players in the coming weeks, including Don Duck Waterston, Chris Grafy Graf, Ben Willo Willson, Marty Dreamboat Ingham, Scott Scooter Roberts, Greg Stretch Allen, Mark Hibbo Hibbins, Sam Mako Makins and a few more from seniors, but must win their remaining games against Moorebank, Mac Uni, UTS (both away) and Holroyd-Parramatta to solidify their top four spot, and push for the second chance.
Last Modified on 27/11/2010 18:16
