"Small Steps"
Norwood travelled to Pat Wright Snr Oval to take on Noble Park last Saturday. After a tight first half, Noble got away in the 3rd quarter, and after a rally in the last saw us close to within 16pts, Noble kicked the last 2 goals to see us go down by 29pts
Noble Park is not the side you want to play - in an ideal world - when you've dropped to 0-2 in your season. They're not a side accustomed to losing at home, so this was going to be a tough ask. It got even tougher when talisman skipper John Holmes was sighted in civvies - out with a leg strain. We started well enough, our intensity around the ball was up and our movement by hand and foot much slicker than last week. We pressured Noble at every contest, not allowing them free escape with their trademark switch and flow from half-back. A goal to Tibby was our only major for the quarter, but it was enough to see us lead at QT 1.3 - 1.1.
The 2nd quarter saw both sides play some good quality footy, Leroy snagged a couple despite looking hampered by a leg injury, and Tibby also nailed a 2nd.. But Noble also hit the scoreboard as their running half backs and mids came into the game. By half-time we trailed by 3pts 4.6 - 5.3 but the match was up for grabs.. Big Blake "the lumberjack" Charles was controlling centre bounce and round the ground stoppages, giving our mids fair supply.
In the 3rd stanza nobles quality players surfaced to cause us headaches, and this would prove ultimately costly. As games do, the ground opened up after Half-time, both sides finding more space to run into, but this benefitted Noble more than us. Goals to Darin Stewart and Leroys 3rd were not enough to match Nobles 4 goals and by 3/4T we trailed by 19. 9.8 - 6.7
We were up against it at 3/4T but coach Denis Knight felt we could still win it if we rolled the dice and moved the ball quickly. Noble started the last qtr well and looked winnerers but we hung on. Leroy kicked his 4th and we had a couple of other gettable chances but missed. At the 19 minute mark Patrick Weardon swung onto his trusty left boot and nailed a classy 35m goal to bring us back to within 16 and there was a pulse... It was not to be however as Noble closed the game with the last 2 goals to run out winners by 28, 13.11.89 - 8.13.61
So another loss but a far more meritorious display than the first two weeks as we took some small steps towards finding the sort of firm that will win us games at this level. Best on the day were Gibbo and "gui"-Ceppi across half-back ably supported as always by Stuey Hill. Gouldy found some form and Tibby was a live wire across half-forward. Pat Weardon had his best game in Norwood colours and the big lumberjack showed more than enough in just his 2nd game to suggest that - at just 20 years of age - he could have a long career at Norwood.
We host North Ringwood next week and simply have to get the "W".
Go Wooders
Last Modified on 27/04/2016 14:46