12:30 Game Blues v Cougars
The sun was shining and the Pollys were singing as the boys in maroon took on the boys n Blue. The equally placed Cougars and Blues battled it out at the N for the genuine second place honours. Both on 2 and 2 after 4 rounds both proud clubs were not giving anything away in the first quarter.
JAKE Edy pulled a banana from the boundary line and Jed’s elephant size boot got the Blues on the scoreboard with a 50 metre missile last seen heading over Sugarloaf. Blues showed a lot of patience chipping it around and the mis-named Angry ( more slightly annoyed these days) took a great mark in the guts to kick cleanly through the big sticks. The clash in the middle led by Jay Johnson was terrific to watch as he kept attacking the ball and driving the Blues forward. The Cougars had plenty of run with Javiers use of space, width and accuracy kept their attack flowing. The first quarter was all tied up at 2.2.14
The growing number of spectators at the N were in for a treat with the Second quarter saw some impressive skills on display. Cougar defender Burford and Blues Willy were having a great physical tussle with spoils and athletic marking from both. Emerson Baker took a diving rolling mark down low and after a good passage through the middle with James and Javier combining to deliver the ball to Leckie who was the right man in the right spot to keep the scoreboard keeper employed. Blues Chinnery was very handy down back and cut off a lot of scoring shots especially a helicopter punt that would have cut a smaller man in half. Benny took some great leaps, Jed chimed in with another 50m missile goal and Courty was playing kick to kick in the back pocket. Why the Cougars kept kicking it back to him three times was anyone’s guess. Three scoring shots went begging as the Blues pulled away 5.3 33 to 3.5 23.
The Blues tried there hardest to keep the Cougars in the game by being marched 50 metres at least three times for back chatting the umpire and losing there cool. But the Cougars couldn’t capitalise with Bowden stamping his dominance in the ruck, sometimes not even winning the tap but standing and catching the ball and pumping downtown. Willy at Full Forward was using his weight effectively and slotting goals all over the ground. Reyne tried to right the ship for the Cougars with a late goal but the Blues were pulling away 7.6 48 to 4.6 30.
Blues opened up a can of Whoop-ass in the last quarter scoring 4 goals 3 behinds to 1 goal 2 behinds. Final score read Blues 11.9 75 to 5.8 38 and cementing there spot at second on the ladder. A great game of footy with plenty of spills and thrills and The only thing missing was the club song.
Can't wait for next week top of the table clash between the Blues and Bulldogs before the AFL Grand Final Extravanaganza at the Redwood Tavern !!
2:30 game Bulldogs V Eagles
Well if retribution was on the cards for the Eagles then the first quarter was it. Spurred on by the return of mercurial Wellingtonian Stan Chung in the centre the Eagles got off to a flying start kicking the first 2 goals in quick succession. Boony and Chung combined well to move the ball swiftly to their forward line and caught the Dogs napping. Youth development players Moffatt and Ando were also in the action with some bruising tackles and high flying marks. The Bulldogs were still in sleep mode by the time the third unanswered goal went through and then they snapped. The Doggies centres Mavors, Tahu-Thomson and K Smith started getting their hands on the ball and delivering sweetly to their forwards who pegged back the score by a few goals but it was the first time the Eagles had got on top of the Doggies this year and they were flying high on adrenalin.
Quarter time score read Eagles 4.2 26 to 3.2 20
Despite Morels plea’s for sympathy from the umpires the Bulldogs unstoppable forward line of Sullivan and Stevenson proved too experienced and skilled and between them, piled on 9 goals in the second quarter. A chainsaw wouldn’t have moved Stevensons tree like thighs who held his ground countless time by holding the defender back to protect the sweet spot before diving for the ball. Just to be clear a player can hold his ground or push from the side or wrestle the opposition out of the way as long he doesn’t push in the back or hold on to the opponent, when marking the ball. If both are holding on to each other well it’s the strongest man who wins. Meanwhile Sullivan was taking impressive marks and kicking accurately from 45 out to put the Dogs way ahead by half time.
½ time Bulldogs 12.4 76 to 5.3 33
Domination around the ground by the likes of Irishman P Smith and Kieran, Gaz and Van Gruting were too much for the Eagles who tried as they might to find a way to goal like in the first quarter but couldn’t get past Burdett or Exeter or Cookie.
¾ time Bulldogs 16.10 106 to 5.5 35
Final Score read Bulldogs 19.17 131 d Eagles 6.5 41
by Steve Langridge
Last Modified on 08/12/2020 20:19