Don't forget your Gum Boots !
The rain eventually had to come – we had been blessed with perfect spring conditions for 6 rounds so eventually we had to have a wet weather day which can do some strange things to players who finally get their chance to relish the slow soggy play. With their first close win on the board last week the Eagles were looking to shake up the ladder with a determined effort against the Blues. With a large bench to run the opposition ragged and the Blues showing up with 14 eventually 16 as some surprise players pulled on boots to help them out; the Eagles came out firing. The massive height of the Eagles bean pole ruckman Barts at 7 foot 10 or something overwhelming like that meant the rucking contest was only going one way-which the Blues quickly adapted to try to make the most of the ruck contest.
For the first two halves it was a slug fest from end to end running, slip sliding away, not many clean marks taken but soccering to try to keep the ball moving forward. The Blues defence of Chinnery, Irish and mark-a-minute-man Bowden did a courageous job as the ball was played in the Eagles forward 50 for most of the game however the Eagles were unable fully punish the scoreboard. On the few occasions the Blues centres of Benny, Johnson and new Aussie recruit Justin Howlett pushed the ball forward the forwards were able to maximise the use of the ball with a sausage roll most times. Young Joe kicked a bag - on the run, off the ground or from some great marking near the fifty. For the Eagles Adrian dominated the backline with his floating defence cutting off a lot of attacks. Surely he deserved B.O.G. with his ground work, turning over the ball, laying tackles and swallowing every pill. At fullback the Eagles Nikau kept the Blues surprise recruit Langers fairly quiet with solid aerial work and read of the ball. But cleaning up the crumbs was Joe or Angry who both scored consistently, Joe with goals and Angry with the behinds finishing with 6. The one straight goal he kicked was touched.. Time to train kicking 100 goals this week. !
Scores were fairly even at half time
Third quarter saw the Eagles dissolve in the wet with The Blues kicking 4 goals 1 to zero. The Blues defence really standing up and Buzz reading the ball well as last man in defence cutting off any scoring shots. Last quarter the Eagles crept closer with the fitness and natural skill of the young Eaglettes Moff, Ando, Preston and Evans pushing them into attack. However the fading and cramping Blues did enough work to keep themselves ahead till the end.
The Terry Anderson Shield
The third encounter for the Tezza for 2017 was a soggy affair with the drizzle really settling in, the balls getting waterlogged and centre circle getting chopped up.
Bulldogs running out easy winners to retain the shield.
Cougars best – Henry McManus, Kobi Halsall, Nick Rhodes, David Hume, Emerson Baker
Bulldogs best – Jason Beck, Nathan Hayes, Stephen Van Gruting, Adam Clarke, Paddy Smith
Best Dummy spit – Paddy Smith for a 100m penalty
by Steve Langridge
Last Modified on 08/12/2020 20:18