THE Nor-West Jets finalised their preparations for the finals with a club record display to obliterate a sadly undermanned Holroyd-Parramatta by 234 points at Bensons Lane on Saturday.
The Jets kicked a stunning 35.24 234 to nothing in their last match before the business end of the season, well above the previous club record senior score of 30.16 196.
And with the reserves equalling their club record winning margin of 243 points against Camden in round two this year, Nor-West kicked a remarkable 71.52 478 to 0.1 1 across the two matches, with only inaccurate kicking preventing a pair of bigger massacres.
The Jets were in top form from the first bounce as they piled on nine unanswered goals for a 58-point lead at quarter time with Dale Wellington and Andrew Travers controlling the ruck and midfielders Nick Milkins, Cheyne Anderson and Ed Sullivan untouchable in the middle.
They provided magnificent service out to running wingmen Casey Wenselowski and Owen Butcher, who delivered some of the best passes seen all year to key forwards Aaron Clayden, Mick Craigie, Luke Ayling and later Chris Kyle.
Nor-West lost its way a little in the second quarter when it kicked nine behinds from 10 scoring shots at one stage on its way to racking up 14.18 in the middle two quarters, but the radar was back on in the last quarter with 12.2 to set up the Jets' second shutout of the season.
When the ball did venture into the Goannas' forward line, it was quickly brought back by Jack Pascoe, Daniel Guthridge and Matthew Lloyd, pumping the ball forward for the team to finish with 14 goalkickers.
Clayden was unstoppable with nine to take the league's goalkicking award from all-season leader Casey Stephens, while Kyle and Craigie kicked four each.
But the real stuff starts now with a showdown against UNSWES at Bruce Purser Oval, Kellyville, at 12.45pm on Saturday for a spot in the grand final.
AFTER a tough month, the Jets had the luxury of an easy match heading into the finals and were able to rest quite a few players to get over some niggling injuries.
The club congratulates and thanks Holroyd-Parramatta for their spirit and pride in the guernsey that they fronted up for the match despite being badly undermanned, showing ticker that some other clubs sadly lack.
The Jets took control against the undermanned Goannas from the start with Daniel Langford, Chris Graf and Marty Ingham unstoppable in the middle as they took advantage of the ruck dominance of Greg Allen and Adam Newton.
Stewart Potts enjoyed a plethora of excellent delivery up forward to kick 10 goals, the last a brilliant bouncing snap from the boundary, while key defender Andy McDonnell enjoyed the freedom of a run up forward to kick four as the Jets had 13 goalkickers in a big win.
However, everyone was made well aware that the real stuff starts now, and this Sunday’s clash with Manly-Warringah at Henson Park represents the first of three weeks of all-or-nothing footy in pursuit of the big prize.
Brendan 'Jonty' Rhodes
Last Modified on 27/11/2010 18:11
