Click Here Photos from Sally Kiel >>
Click Here for a replay on YouTube >>
UNSW-ES AFC on Facebook
UNSW-ES Stingrays on Facebook
UNSW-ES AFC on Twitter
The UNSW-ES Bulldogs have been beaten by St George in this years ANZAC Clash at the Village Green but have lost no admirers in keeping last years preliminary finalists working for their victory right to the very end. The final score 14.16 (100) - 12.8 (80) was a fair indication of the game on the day as the Bulldogs threw everything at the Dragons but were unable to bridge the gap.
Saints dominated the early preceedings in the first quarter but rugged tackling and deseperate defending limited the damage and when Ryan Farrelly finished off a great rebounding backline move with a mark and goal from the boundary 40 metres out, the 8-6 scoreline meant the dogs were well and truly in the game. But weight of possession shone through as the Dragons would take a 23-8 lead into quarter time to set the scene for the rest of the day as the margin floated between 10 and 28 points for the remainder of the afternoon.
The second term saw St George continue to do most of the attacking but outside of former Sydney Swan Jason Saddington kicking truly 3 minutes into the quarter were unable to trouble the scorers in the first 10 minutes. They didn't help their cause missing 3 set shots in the next 5 minutes as the scored crept along to 32-10. Soon after the Dragons scored their second goal from a 50 metre penalty and the dogs were well behind the 8-ball at 38-10.
Just as the dogs were desperate for a spark they got one when David Batten made a great tackle in the goal square, the ball spilling free to Michael Dickson who - despite a couple of desperate smother attempts - was able to drill it home from just a few metres out. Minutes later Cameron McKinlay marked and goaled neatly from 40 metres out and the dogs had some momentum. Both teams were to kick one more for the term. The half time score was 44-29 but the for the first time in the match it was the dogs who had all the running.
The second half didn't start the way the home team wanted at all, conceding two goals within the first three minutes; the first to another 50m penalty and the second to a turn over in the middle of the ground. But just as St George were threatening to pull away again the dogs bounced back. A goal to Troy Luff was followed up by a tackle on the wing and 50m penalty to Batten who would also kick truly. When captain Joel Robbie kicked truly from a tight angle playing on from a free kick the score was 58-47 and the dogs were right in it.
A dragons goal was cancelled out when Ryan Plant was fouled after sending the ball into the forward line, the resultant downfield free giving Luff his second for the term after he was good from a very tight angle. With the clock ticking past the 27-minute mark it looked like 66-54 would be the score at the final break. Unfortunately the dogs were to concede just 90 seconds later right on the bell to see the margin out to 18 points.
The final term was much more of the same with tough contested footy and both teams going toe to toe and trading goals. Luff was able to put home his fifth when he was the recipient of great work from Farrelly who recieved a free thirty out on the boundary and spotted Luff in the goal square from advantage. A great comeback was on the cards at 85-73 with 15 minutes on the clock. But the Dragons struck back almost immediately and as time continued to run out the dogs comeback was extinguished. Luff would put home his sixth as consolation but the Dragons were the better team on the day and deserved 20 point winners.
The dogs have slipped to 2-2 after winning the first two games and will face their toughest assignment yet next weekend when the defending champions and undefeated Manly Warringah Giants will head across the harbour to the Village Green as the main event of the UNSW-ES Bulldogs and Stingrays Suttons City Hyundai Ladies Day.
In other game last Saturday the Division One guys got their first victory of the year defeating St George 16.8 (104) to 7.14 (56). UNSW-ES got the jump on the Dragons and had effectively killed the game as a contest by half time taking a 65-22 lead into the main break. For the bulldogs the best players on the day where Michael Archibald, Mark Haebich (4 goals) and Taylor Preece (3 goals).
Saturday's triple header with St George kicked off with the under 19's who were to suffer their first defeat going down 9.10 (64) to 4.6 (30). After trailing 14-10 during a tense first quarter, the dogs let the dragons get away from them during the second with Saints up 34-11 at the main break.
With the teams trading goals during the second half the dogs couldn't reel in the margin and the dragons would eventually finished 34 point winners. Timothy Coenon and Tom Dickson were once again great for the dogs, with Dickson picking up another couple of goals to move to 9 for season and top of the Under 19's goalkicking ladder.
Last Modified on 28/04/2014 22:25