The Grand View Hotel Bayside Bombers were no match for a pumped up Northern stars in their round 5 clash at Alexandra Hills on Saturday.
After winning the toss, the Bombers kicking to the Rathbone Engineering end of the ground were left star struck as the Northerners direct line to their forwards was as open as the galaxy above and with six first quarter goals on the board before the home side could muster a score, the Bombers were in all sorts of trouble at the first break 33 point in arrears.
Coach Russel Crowe was not happy and with a cast of 8 interchange, the rotations had even the strong home crown dizzy not knowing who was on or off. The home side began to use the ball and tightening up in defence led by Gomez Buckley and with Teale Weller, Darren Parsons and Pat Casey getting more of the footy the Bombers held sway during the second quarter to outscore the Stars, but for accuracy could have drawn a tad closer, Bombers down by 29 points at the long break.
The match committee met at the long break and the magnets landed in different spots with Clive Taylor sent to full back to keep pace with the Stars full forward, Ada Roberts into a tagging role and Pigeon Graves sent into the ruck and Scotty Houston to full forward, these move produced instant results with Houston (3 goals), Pigeon giving onballers Casey and Neilson first use of the ball and a superb blanketing role from Taylor starved the Stars up forward, Bombers with the momentum going into three quarter time trailing by 22 points.
The last quarter saw a see sawing scoreboard as the Bombers controlled the footy early pushing forward at every chance, but the Stars defence held firm and with weight of numbers and a chip and run game rebounded all advances, but the Bombers set up across centre wing to control the play back into Jason March and Houston but as the time ticked by the Bombers hopes began to fade and with a lapse in concentration and failure to man up saw the visitors post the last three goals to run out 41 point victors.
“Apart from the first quarter snooze we had, we were in with a chance, but could not maintain pressure”, coach Russell Crowe said after the game, “We blew it early, and had the chance late but failed, I’m disappointed as we had their measure but lacked intensity late in the game”
Scores Bayside 7-6-48 to Northern Stars 13-11-89 Goals Houston – 3 Rennie – 2 Weller – 1 Rickards – 1, Best Parsons, Neilson, Houston, Pigeon, Taylor, Aker
Last Modified on 09/06/2013 22:15