| HARBOURSPORT |
| Sydney AFL |
| This article originally published on RedAndWhiteOnline. Reigning premiers North Shore haven't had everything go their way so far this season. An exodus of players over the off-season has forced coach Michael Hosking to play a young and inexperienced lineup; and representative and Scholarship callups of players have caused further instability in the lineup. But the performances in the early part of the season had been below expectations, with the 25-goal drubbing at the hands of UNSW-ES in round 6 being a low point for the team. But a week's break for the representative game gave the Bombers a chance to regroup before their road trip to Monarch to take on Campbelltown. The Blues had experienced an off-season talent drain of their own, but the return of Steve Bird to the club had seen the Blues cause a few surprises in the early rounds of the season; but some heavy defeats had dealt a hit to their percentage and seen them in need of a circuit-breaker to get their 2008 campaign back on track. There was an unusual moment in this match before the ball was even bounced. Umpire Brenton Hissey held the ball up in the centre and the siren sounded, but was immediately over-ruled by veteran umpire Frank Kalayzich who ordered that the game not start yet. The Campbelltown and North Shore backs and forwards were at the same end of the field, both ruckmen were on the same side of the centre circle, with both sides under the impression they were kicking to the old scoreboard end. It was North Shore who had lined up incorrectly, and after the Bomber team changed ends the match finally got under way. But the Bombers weren't fazed by their pre-match slip-up, and settled down to business quickly to get off to a flying start. Lachlan Pryor kicked the Bombers' first within a few minutes, and suddenly the run and drive that had deserted North Shore all season returned. A 5 goals to 2 opening quarter saw the Bombers take a lead they would not concede for the day. A 50 metre penalty to Campbelltown youngster Chris Kendrick gave the Blues the ideal start to the second quarter; but North Shore were playing with confidence and forward line marks to Michael Cowell and Pat Brackin cancelled out the goal and then stretched the Bomber lead forward. And when the Bombers kicked the first three goals of the third quarter to lead by 47 points, and a frustrated Chris Fretwell was sent for a 15-minute spell in the bin, it was looking like a comfortable North Shore result. |
But the big Campbelltown ground can be a test of a visiting team's stamina, and the Bombers were tiring. The
fresher Campbelltown side, more acustomed to the size of the ground, had begun to out-run the North Shore
side; and with 5 unanswered goals interrupted only by the three quarter time break, the margin had been
reduced to just 12 points. Now it was North Shore who were frustrated, a string of free kicks and a 50m
penalty to Chris Lees helping the Blues work their way back into the contest.
In the end, the miracle comeback wasn't to be. Although the Blues finished fitter and with more running, the
Bombers had built enough of a buffer to hold them out. Against the run of play, the Bombers found Ben
Attwood unmarked inside the 50m line to drill home the winner. The result saw North Shore climb off the
bottom, with enough of a percentage break to see them leap-frog Campbelltown into 7th place. Both teams
still have some work to do to get back into finals contention; but after coming off some heavy defeats in recent
weeks it was a result that gave both clubs hope they can still turn their season around.
After breaking their duck in round 6, Balmain crashed back to earth when they were given a reality check by
Pennant Hills at Ern Holmes Oval. 14 unanswered goals in the middle 2 quarters summed up the match, with
the Demons maintaining their strong position with a 110-point victory. Nick Campbell scored 7 for the
Demons and Clint Setford 4, while Aaron Crisfield and Matthew Carey were among Pennant Hills' best.
fresher Campbelltown side, more acustomed to the size of the ground, had begun to out-run the North Shore
side; and with 5 unanswered goals interrupted only by the three quarter time break, the margin had been
reduced to just 12 points. Now it was North Shore who were frustrated, a string of free kicks and a 50m
penalty to Chris Lees helping the Blues work their way back into the contest.
In the end, the miracle comeback wasn't to be. Although the Blues finished fitter and with more running, the
Bombers had built enough of a buffer to hold them out. Against the run of play, the Bombers found Ben
Attwood unmarked inside the 50m line to drill home the winner. The result saw North Shore climb off the
bottom, with enough of a percentage break to see them leap-frog Campbelltown into 7th place. Both teams
still have some work to do to get back into finals contention; but after coming off some heavy defeats in recent
weeks it was a result that gave both clubs hope they can still turn their season around.
After breaking their duck in round 6, Balmain crashed back to earth when they were given a reality check by
Pennant Hills at Ern Holmes Oval. 14 unanswered goals in the middle 2 quarters summed up the match, with
the Demons maintaining their strong position with a 110-point victory. Nick Campbell scored 7 for the
Demons and Clint Setford 4, while Aaron Crisfield and Matthew Carey were among Pennant Hills' best.
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First Division - Round 6:
Macquarie University 15.16 (106) d NorWest Jets 9.6 (60)
University Technology, Sydney 17.13 (115) d Camden 6.3 (39)
Manly-Warringah 26.17 (173) d Penrith 3.8 (26)
Southern Sharks 13.9 (87) d Holroyd-Parramatta 10.7 (67)
Reserve Grade
Macquarie Uni 15.15 (105) d NorWest Jets 4.3 (27)
UTS 31.31 (217) d Camden 1.1 (7)
Manly-Warringah 32.27 (219) d Penrith 2.3 (15)
Southern Sharks 16.10 (106) d Holroyd-Parramatta 3.4 (22)
First Division - Round 7:
Holroyd-Parramatta 14.15 (99) d Penrith 6.4 (40)
Southern Sharks 24.13 (157) d NorWest Jets 4.4 (28)
Manly-Warringah 19.15 (129) d UTS 14.9 (93)
Macquarie Uni 24.26 (170) d Camden 3.5 (23)
Reserve Grade
Holroyd-Parramatta 23.20 (158) d Penrith 2.5 (17)
Southern Sharks 17.18 (120) d NorWest Jets 9.5 (59)
Manly-Warringah 12.15 (87) d UTS 9.7 (61)
Macquarie Uni d Camden - Forfeit.
Second Division - Round 6:
Pennant Hills 27.24 (186) d Macquarie Uni 1.4 (10)
UNSW-ES Bulldogs 9.15 (69) d Manly-Warringah 10.2 (62)
Sydney Uni Red 24.16 (160) d Holroyd-Parramatta 4.3 (27)
Sydney Uni Blue 26.9 (165) d Moorebank Sports 2.1 (13)
UNSW-ES Whales 24.18 (162) d UTS 8.8 (56)
Second Division - Round 7:
Pennant Hills 22.15 (147) d Macquarie Uni 4.5 (29)
Sydney Uni Blue 16.14 (110) d UNSW-ES Whales 10.5 (65)
UTS 23.14 (152) d Manly-Warringah 5.5 (35)
UNSW-ES Bulldogs 21.22 (148) d Sydney Uni Red 4.8 (32)
Moorebank Sports 23.20 (158) d Holroyd-Parramatta 0.1 (1)
Under 18s Premier - Round 6:
North Shore Bombers 14.11 (95) d St George 4.2 (26)
Western Suburbs 12.10 (82) d Wollongong 11.11 (77)
Campbelltown 11.9 (75) d Pennant Hills 8.12 (60)
East Coast Eagles 13.9 (87) d St Ignatius Riverview 9.8 (62)
North Shore Bears d Balmain - Forfeit.
Balmain have withdrawn from Under 18s Premier Cup competition.
Under 18s Premier - Round 7:
North Shore Bombers 8.7 (55) d Campbelltown 8.5 (53)
Western Suburbs 13.7 (85) d St George 9.8 (62)
East Coast Eagles 8.10 (58) d Wollongong 4.8 (32)
North Shore Bears 11.6 (72) d St Ignatius Riverview 8.9 (57)
Under 18s Challenge - Round 6:
Manly-Warringah 6.6 (42) d Penrith 4.16 (40)
Southern Sharks 13.16 (94) d East Coast Eagles 5.10 (40)
Moorebank Sports 16.9 (105) d Pennant Hills 2.5 (17)
UNSW-ES 12.13 (85) d Macquarie Uni 9.4 (58)
Under 18s Challenge - Round 7:
Manly-Warringah 6.6 (42) d Pennant Hills 4.9 (33)
UNSW-ES 13.19 (97) d Southern Sharks 14.5 (89)
Macquarie Uni 8.15 (63) d East Coast Eagles 3.4 (22)
Moorebank Sports 14.13 (97) d Penrith 3.5 (23)
NEXT WEEK'S FIXTURES (Lurker's Kiss of Death in bold):
Saturday 31st May
Charles McLaughlin Oval - East Coast Eagles v Balmain (Seniors 2:10pm, Reserves 12pm)
Monarch Oval - Campbelltown v Wollongong (Seniors 2:10pm, Reserves 12pm)
Ern Holmes Oval - Pennant Hills v UNSW-ES (Seniors 2:15pm, Reserves 12pm)
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval - Sydney University v St George (Seniors 2:30pm, Reserves
11:30am)
Henson Park - Western Suburbs v North Shore (Seniors 6:40pm, Reserves 4:30pm)
First Division:
Saturday 31st May (Seniors 2:10pm, Reserves 12pm)
Bensons Lane - NorWest Jets v UTS
Fairfax Reserve - Camden v Penrith
Gipps Rd Oval - Holroyd-Parramatta v Macquarie Uni
Weldon Oval - Manly-Warringah v Southern Sharks
Second Division:
Saturday 31st May
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval - Sydney Uni Red v UTS (9:30am)
Gipps Rd Oval - Holroyd-Parramatta v Macquarie Uni (10am)
Pittwater No 5 Oval - Manly-Warringah v Sydney Uni Blue (10am)
Village Green - UNSW-ES Bulldogs v Moorebank Sports (10am)
Sunday 1st June
Ern Holmes Oval - Pennant Hills v UNSW-ES Whales (9am)
Under 18s Premier:
Saturday 31st May
Gore Hill Oval - North Shore Bears v St George (10am)
Monarch Oval - Campbelltown v Wollongong (10am)
Ern Holmes Oval - Pennant Hills v St Ignatius Riverview (10:15am)
Henson Park - Western Suburbs v North Shore (2:30pm)
East Coast Eagles has the bye.
Under 18s Challenge:
Saturday 31st May
Ern Holmes Oval - Pennant Hills v UNSW-ES (8:15am)
Charles McLaughlin Oval - East Coast Eagles v Penrith (10am)
Weldon Oval - Manly-Warringah v Southern Sharks (10am)
Rosedale Oval - Moorebank Sports v Macquarie Uni (2pm)
Macquarie University 15.16 (106) d NorWest Jets 9.6 (60)
University Technology, Sydney 17.13 (115) d Camden 6.3 (39)
Manly-Warringah 26.17 (173) d Penrith 3.8 (26)
Southern Sharks 13.9 (87) d Holroyd-Parramatta 10.7 (67)
Reserve Grade
Macquarie Uni 15.15 (105) d NorWest Jets 4.3 (27)
UTS 31.31 (217) d Camden 1.1 (7)
Manly-Warringah 32.27 (219) d Penrith 2.3 (15)
Southern Sharks 16.10 (106) d Holroyd-Parramatta 3.4 (22)
First Division - Round 7:
Holroyd-Parramatta 14.15 (99) d Penrith 6.4 (40)
Southern Sharks 24.13 (157) d NorWest Jets 4.4 (28)
Manly-Warringah 19.15 (129) d UTS 14.9 (93)
Macquarie Uni 24.26 (170) d Camden 3.5 (23)
Reserve Grade
Holroyd-Parramatta 23.20 (158) d Penrith 2.5 (17)
Southern Sharks 17.18 (120) d NorWest Jets 9.5 (59)
Manly-Warringah 12.15 (87) d UTS 9.7 (61)
Macquarie Uni d Camden - Forfeit.
Second Division - Round 6:
Pennant Hills 27.24 (186) d Macquarie Uni 1.4 (10)
UNSW-ES Bulldogs 9.15 (69) d Manly-Warringah 10.2 (62)
Sydney Uni Red 24.16 (160) d Holroyd-Parramatta 4.3 (27)
Sydney Uni Blue 26.9 (165) d Moorebank Sports 2.1 (13)
UNSW-ES Whales 24.18 (162) d UTS 8.8 (56)
Second Division - Round 7:
Pennant Hills 22.15 (147) d Macquarie Uni 4.5 (29)
Sydney Uni Blue 16.14 (110) d UNSW-ES Whales 10.5 (65)
UTS 23.14 (152) d Manly-Warringah 5.5 (35)
UNSW-ES Bulldogs 21.22 (148) d Sydney Uni Red 4.8 (32)
Moorebank Sports 23.20 (158) d Holroyd-Parramatta 0.1 (1)
Under 18s Premier - Round 6:
North Shore Bombers 14.11 (95) d St George 4.2 (26)
Western Suburbs 12.10 (82) d Wollongong 11.11 (77)
Campbelltown 11.9 (75) d Pennant Hills 8.12 (60)
East Coast Eagles 13.9 (87) d St Ignatius Riverview 9.8 (62)
North Shore Bears d Balmain - Forfeit.
Balmain have withdrawn from Under 18s Premier Cup competition.
Under 18s Premier - Round 7:
North Shore Bombers 8.7 (55) d Campbelltown 8.5 (53)
Western Suburbs 13.7 (85) d St George 9.8 (62)
East Coast Eagles 8.10 (58) d Wollongong 4.8 (32)
North Shore Bears 11.6 (72) d St Ignatius Riverview 8.9 (57)
Under 18s Challenge - Round 6:
Manly-Warringah 6.6 (42) d Penrith 4.16 (40)
Southern Sharks 13.16 (94) d East Coast Eagles 5.10 (40)
Moorebank Sports 16.9 (105) d Pennant Hills 2.5 (17)
UNSW-ES 12.13 (85) d Macquarie Uni 9.4 (58)
Under 18s Challenge - Round 7:
Manly-Warringah 6.6 (42) d Pennant Hills 4.9 (33)
UNSW-ES 13.19 (97) d Southern Sharks 14.5 (89)
Macquarie Uni 8.15 (63) d East Coast Eagles 3.4 (22)
Moorebank Sports 14.13 (97) d Penrith 3.5 (23)
NEXT WEEK'S FIXTURES (Lurker's Kiss of Death in bold):
Saturday 31st May
Charles McLaughlin Oval - East Coast Eagles v Balmain (Seniors 2:10pm, Reserves 12pm)
Monarch Oval - Campbelltown v Wollongong (Seniors 2:10pm, Reserves 12pm)
Ern Holmes Oval - Pennant Hills v UNSW-ES (Seniors 2:15pm, Reserves 12pm)
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval - Sydney University v St George (Seniors 2:30pm, Reserves
11:30am)
Henson Park - Western Suburbs v North Shore (Seniors 6:40pm, Reserves 4:30pm)
First Division:
Saturday 31st May (Seniors 2:10pm, Reserves 12pm)
Bensons Lane - NorWest Jets v UTS
Fairfax Reserve - Camden v Penrith
Gipps Rd Oval - Holroyd-Parramatta v Macquarie Uni
Weldon Oval - Manly-Warringah v Southern Sharks
Second Division:
Saturday 31st May
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval - Sydney Uni Red v UTS (9:30am)
Gipps Rd Oval - Holroyd-Parramatta v Macquarie Uni (10am)
Pittwater No 5 Oval - Manly-Warringah v Sydney Uni Blue (10am)
Village Green - UNSW-ES Bulldogs v Moorebank Sports (10am)
Sunday 1st June
Ern Holmes Oval - Pennant Hills v UNSW-ES Whales (9am)
Under 18s Premier:
Saturday 31st May
Gore Hill Oval - North Shore Bears v St George (10am)
Monarch Oval - Campbelltown v Wollongong (10am)
Ern Holmes Oval - Pennant Hills v St Ignatius Riverview (10:15am)
Henson Park - Western Suburbs v North Shore (2:30pm)
East Coast Eagles has the bye.
Under 18s Challenge:
Saturday 31st May
Ern Holmes Oval - Pennant Hills v UNSW-ES (8:15am)
Charles McLaughlin Oval - East Coast Eagles v Penrith (10am)
Weldon Oval - Manly-Warringah v Southern Sharks (10am)
Rosedale Oval - Moorebank Sports v Macquarie Uni (2pm)
A 7-goal opening quarter gave St George the momentum to build up a big lead and cruise to a 45-point win
over Wests at Olds Park. The Crows extended their lead in every quarter, denying Wests any opportunities to
work their way back into the contest. Peter Dugmore was in good form for St George with a bag of 5 goals,
while Tim Addison and Declan Donohue were among their best. For Wests, Thomas O'Neil scored 3 and had
plenty of possessions in a strong game.
UNSW-ES maintained a share of the competition lead when the Bulldogs prevailed over Sydney Uni by 21
points in an entertaining university derby at the Village Green. In a see-sawing match featuring multiple lead
changes, and where scores were level at half-time, both sides were well served by their key forwards; with
Brad Abbott for the Bulldogs and Alex Lee for the Students each scoring 5.
North Dalton Oval lit up for Wollongong's match against East Coast Eagles on Saturday night, and when the
Lions held a shock 24-point lead at the long break hopes were high among the locals of a remarkable upset
win. But it wasn't to be as the Eagles fought back in the second half, taking the lead late in the third term on
their way to a 21-point win. With a 6-goal haul, Ben Rogers provided the forward spark to get the Eagles back
into the contest, while Adam McConnochie continued his strong form for the Lions, again being among
Wollongong's best.
North Shore 5.3 8.7 11.9 12.10 (82)
Campbelltown 2.5 4.5 6.8 9.10 (64)
Goals : North Shore - D Kulk 2, L Pryor 2, P Brackin 2, S Carruthers, B Attwood, T Strudwick, M Cowell, M
Thompson, A Lowes. Campbelltown - C Lees 4, D Fraser 2, M Morey, C Kendrick, S Kershaw.
Reserves - North Shore 26.15 (171) d Campbelltown 0.2 (2)
At Monarch Oval, Saturday 24th May 2008.
Pennant Hills 5.2 11.9 19.10 24.12 (156)
Balmain 4.1 4.2 4.3 7.4 (46)
Goals : Pennant Hills - N Campbell 7, C Setford 4, J Duncan 3, M Carey 2, P Carey 2, B Jack 2, A Crisfield, S
Reed, B Beaston, K Wright. Balmain - J Dickens 2, E Davis 2, D Napper, D Shaw, R Officer.
Reserves - Pennant Hills 29.27 (201) d Balmain 0.2 (2)
At Ern Holmes Oval, Saturday 24th May 2008.
St George 7.4 11.5 15.8 19.10 (124)
Western Suburbs 3.1 5.4 6.8 10.9 (69)
Goals : St George - P Dugmore 5, D Ryan 3, M Goolagong 2, C MacDougal 2, M Cers 2, D Watkins 2, S
Richmond, D Donohue, S Wilsen. Wests - T O'Neil 3, M Frail 2, C McGuirk, M Withers, M Eurell, B Bray, L
Roehrig.
Reserves - St George 15.7 (97) d Wests 9.8 (62)
At Olds Park, Saturday 24th May 2008.
Uni NSW-Eastern Suburbs 2.4 6.11 10.18 15.22 (112)
Sydney University 3.2 7.5 12.7 13.13 (91)
Goals : UNSW-ES - B Abbott 5, M Collett 2, T Luff 2, D Rampe, A Heffernan, E Carroll, B Sutton, A Darling, L
Jarjoura. Sydney Uni - A Lee 5, A Wilson 3, M Egan, B Mankarious, C McLachlan, M Healy, A Kraefft.
Reserves - UNSW-ES 9.14 (68) d Sydney Uni 5.10 (40)
At Village Green, Saturday 24th May 2008.
East Coast Eagles 2.2 4.5 9.10 13.13 (91)
Wollongong 4.0 8.5 8.7 10.10 (70)
Goals : East Coast - B Rogers 6, A Floyd 2, G Seebeck 2, M Maher, M Sankey, R Smyth. Wollongong - A
McConnochie 3, J Philp 2, C Stanton, M Adamson, S Dennis, G Batty, T Bartlett.
Reserves - East Coast 13.14 (92) d Wollongong 1.11 (17)
At North Dalton Oval, Saturday 24th May 2008.
Reserve Grade - Round 6:
St George 13.9 (87) d North Shore 8.7 (55)
Wollongong 16.11 (107) d Western Suburbs 9.7 (61)
Sydney Uni 30.12 (192) d Balmain 1.1 (7)
UNSW-ES 12.10 (82) d East Coast Eagles 8.8 (56)
Pennant Hills 32.18 (210) d Campbelltown 0.5 (5)