The Jets made the long journey across the city to Gwawley Park for the second time in six weeks to take on the Southern Sharks. Always a hard task at the best of times, the Jets were missing nearly a dozen of their first choice players for this game, and knew they’d be in for a tough day at the office.
RESERVES MATCH REPORT v SOUTHERN SHARKS
The Reserve Grade, led by Chris Disco Kyle in his 50th Club Game for Nor-West, started with a bang in the first quarter, matched the more skilled Sharks in the opening term with 3 goals to the home side’s six. Solid defensive work by Nick Nickstar Bennett at full-back kept the Sharks full forward to minimal touches, while the returning Sam Sammy Tanuku, Chris Buckets Hall and Jesse Bruza Bray nullified the Sharks midfield domination. The Jets played a similar style of hard, uncompromising football in the second quarter, adding two more goals to go to the half-time break down by an attainable 34 points.
The second half was played at much the same tempo, but the Sharks fitness and team work ensured they kept the four premiership points. Dan Seymour Button, returning from injury, played himself into form with some terrific backline work, to push his case for inclusion back in the Senior team, while game highlights included the great use of handball from the backline all the way up the canteen side wing, with Kev Kevy Conroy displaying his incredible sidestep, eluding 4 players on the way to setting up a 40 metre goal to Tanuku.
Southern Sharks 17.18.120 def Nor-West 9.5.59
Goals: J.Bray 3, C.Collins 2, S.Tanuku, C.Kyle, D.Shipley, M.Davidson
Best: N.Bennett, C.Collins, S.Tanuku, D.Button, K.Conroy, B.Weatherhead.
SENIORS MATCH REPORT v SOUTHERN SHARKS
The Seniors took to the field with three players on loan from Premier Division Partner Club East Coast, to take on the hard running Sharks, with the 30 goal touch-up from Round 1 pushed to the back of their minds, but the Sharks, who were pushed to the final siren by Holroyd-Parramatta, had other ideas, piling on 6 goals and keeping the Jets to a solitary behind. Further scoreboard damage was saved by great defending by Peter Pekay Kyle, returning to full-back in the absence of regulars Matt Velvet Lloyd and Matt Oyster Brophy, Jack Sparrow Pascoe in his usual inspirational effort, the young pairing of Matt Scholz and Ben Hynes, Adam Micallef and Martin Duncan, who showed excellent skills and a level head in his first Senior Grade game. Southern Sharks turned it on again in the second, with awesome midfield and half back running creating another 7 goals while keeping the Jets working hard, but still goalless. An 85 point half time deficit to the home team had the Jets coaching staff on their toes, moving rookie Aaron Whilesy Whiles onto the Sharks dangerous Centre Half Forward, and shuffling Paul Wanga Sherwood, Owen Dildo Butcher, Casey Boft Wenselowski, Stephen Stav Davidson and Julian Kasby, on loan from Partner Club East Coast Eagles, through the middle, but Nor-West struggled to find answers to the running game of the home team.
An impassioned half time plea from Coach Richard Potts to play simple, accountable footy for the second half bore fruit, as the Jets added the first two goals of the third quarter before the Sharks opened up again, with another six goals, but the Jets refused to throw in the towel, banging in another two in the final to the Sharks five, but made the home team work harder for their possessions in a much improved second half.
A 56 point turnaround from the Jets-Sharks first clash, but not enough, as the Sharks prevailed.
Southern Sharks 24.13.157 def Nor-West 4.4.28
Goals: P.Brown, P.Coote, C.Wenselowski, S.Davidson
Best: J.Pascoe, P.Sherwood, Julian Kasby (ECE), O.Butcher, P.Kyle, Matt Scholz (ECE)
This game will be best remembered for Browny beating the Sharks best player in the Can Skull by about half a can, generic Kit-Kats by the kilo, and a ball-tearing road trip home, with renditions of “Easy”, “Bestiality’s Best” and “Moonshadow”.
The Jets return home this week to take on perennial competiton heavyweight University of Technology at Bensons Lane this Saturday, with Reserve Grade starting the day at midday.
Last Modified on 04/08/2009 21:01
