Bombers Soar to New Heights

"Today's win stamped us as a top team in this competition - anyone who doesn't believe that is kidding themselves."

Those words by a Redland coach would have been inconceivable if uttered even
one month ago, but the Bombers' gritty 15-point win over Mt Gravatt at
Victoria Point today reinforced that they are the real deal in the Velocity Sports Cup.

Coach Matty Francis certainly thinks so, judging by those fighting words.

"We were tested and tested fairly fiercely, but the players stood up and
that goes a long way towards their belief in doing it again," Francis
said of the 17.14 (116)-14.17 (101) triumph.

The team that had won five of their previous 70 matches entering this
season now have won five of their last six and head to Southport next
Saturday to fight for the right for sole possession of top spot.

The Bombers led by 31 points midway through the second term but the
Vultures brought the margin back to under a goal in the last minute of
both the second and third terms, and nine points in the last.

Each time the visitors self-destructed, with two off the ball free kicks
proving very costly in the final result, coupled with some uncharacteristic turnovers by foot.

The Bombers had a goal on the board within the opening 10 seconds of the
game, conceded the next two, then blasted four in eight minutes to gain the first quarter ascendancy.

Ruckman Jeff White was outstanding early, dominating the taps and proving a strong marking target around the ground.

Matt Davies kicked two early goals and strong full-forward Jason Eagle
booted 2.2 in the first term opposed to Tom Tarrant, who won plenty of
kicks early on his return from injury.

Eagle had 3.3 by late in the second quarter when Adam Tarrant went to him,
and did a good job in the second half with the support of a loose man across half-back.

In fact the Vultures employed the spare man with minimal effect in the first half, but used him far better in the second.

Redland gained their five-goal lead through the work of White, onballers Shaun
Huy, Phil Carse and James Charlesworth, and wingman Jaran Pantic.

However, Josh Vearing eventually took control of his battle with Charlesworth
and the lively Nathan Gilliland popped up everywhere.

Gilliland kicked three of his side's first five goals and helped his side back to
within five points, when Anthony Marguccio took a hotly contested mark to goal.

Tom Tarrant then tangled with White and the big Bomber received a free kick
in front of goal without the ball returning to the centre, and the
Bombers suddenly had a 17-point lead at the long break.

Their suffocating tackling pressure eased in the third term and the Vultures
picked up, with Daniel Savage coming into the game and Mitchell Enright
providing plenty of drive from half-back.

Gavin Grose worked his way into the game after having his hands full with
Redland defender Josh Norman early, and Todd Jamieson won some key contests.

The Vultures peppered the goals for 1.8-1.1 until Jake Furfaro kicked a
superb goal from 50m at the 27 minute mark to bring the margin back to five points.

The ball see-sawed from end to end for the next three minutes when the
Vultures won a free kick and a 50m penalty on their halfback line.

But ruckman Ryan Head inexplicably went head high on two players, including
one incident for which he was reported, and the ball was given to
Anthony Marguccio in the goalsquare.

The ball was 100m from where it would have been and took a two-goal lead into the final break.

White, who kicked three good goals in the opening three quarters, lifted
another notch through the early stages of the final term and with Carse
running amok and Jaran Pantic prolific on a wing, the Bombers scooted
29 points clear.

The Vultures refused to lay down and three goals in six minutes from the 20 minute mark brought them tantalizingly close.

On several occasions they had open men in their forward line but turned
the ball over with terrible disposal, and Justin Carey eventually
floated forward and goalled to ice the game at the 28-minute mark.

The Bombers lost some run when the impressive Tom Salter hobbled off with
an ankle problem in the third term, while ruckman Jarrod Grimm hurt his
knee in the final term.

The Vultures had gone into the game without the injured Ash Evans, and lost
terrier and leader Gareth Dosser for the second half when his wife went
into labour and he was called away.

"Mt Gravatt were terrific, they gave us a heck of a contest," Francis said.
"They had our measure at certain stages but the boys pushed hard and
responded every time."

Vultures co-coach David Lake was not so kind to his side in regards to their skill level.

"It was disgraceful, particularly in the first half," Lake said.

"We made wholesale changes this week trying to find something a bit extra
but we haven't got back on our feet properly since the Darwin game."

As for the lack of discipline at key times, he admitted: "There was no need for it."

Lake was pleased with the promising signs showed by Grose, who got better as
the game wore on at centre-half-forward, and the sheer effort of Gilliland.

"He ran himself into the ground," Lake said.

SCORE:

REDLAND: 6.3 11.6 13.8 17.14 - 116

MT GRAVATT: 3.3 8.6 10.14 14.17 - 101

GOALS: J.Eagle 4, M.Davies 3, J.White 3, A.Marguccio 2, A.Mueller, J.Pantic, J.Carey, A.Reti, T.Salter

BEST: J.White, A.Mueller, J.Myers, M.Davies, S.Huy, P.Carse

Next Game:

Southport Vs Redland

Saturday May 23rd @ Frankhauser reserve

Last Modified on 18/05/2009 09:19