As April turned into May, the pleasant autumn conditions continued to provide good playing conditions as another round of Sydney football took place. And a crunch game took place at Sydney Uni, as the Students played host to North Shore on Saturday afternoon.
Since their re-admission to Premier Division in 2007, Sydney Uni had never beaten North Shore; but the Students had reason to be confident, going into the match in winning form after knocking off defending champions East Coast Eagles last week. But the Bombers were also in winning form, going into the match undefeated so far in 2010.
The Bomber players wore black armbands for the match to respect the memory of Lionel Beale, North Shore’s former timekeeper for 30 years who passed away early on Saturday morning.
North Shore had a bright start, Luke Slater swooping on the crumbs of a marking contest to kick the first goal in the opening minute and Sam Carruthers marking and goaling at the 5 minute mark. But, although the Bombers continued to dominate around the ground, some poor finishing in front of goal would prevent them getting reward for effort. The Bombers would then score 8 points in a row, many of them set shots from well within the 50 metre arc, before Ben Attwood finally got an accurate shot in at the 19 minute mark.
On the small Sydney Uni ground, 50 metre penalties are deadly, and after Attwood’s goal a free for a centre square infringement followed by a 50 metre penalty sent Russell Grigg into easy goal-scoring range. Sam Crichton got one back for the Students, but Ben Attwood’s second on the stroke of quarter time gave the Bombers a 32-point lead at the first change.
After North Shore scored the only three goals of the second term, the Bombers held a 51-point lead at the long break and the contest looked to be well and truly decided. It was more of the same in the third term, with the Bombers scoring 6 goals to 1 to lead by 80 points at three-quarter time. With the sting out of the game, the players went through the motions in the final quarter, but the Students tripled their score during the final term to at least win the quarter.
But it was North Shore’s day, the Bombers dominating all the stats; first to the ball in every contest and playing with a determination and momentum that the Students, struggling to back up after last week’s heroics, were unable to replicate.
Ben Attwood kicked 5 goals for the Bombers; while Jeremy Stiller, Zac Manley and Chris Murphy were strong contributors. The Students were well served by David Mitchell and Sam Crichton, but too many of their key players were unable to make any meaningful contribution. And adding to the Sydney Uni woes, Adam McConnochie’s match finished early with the number 3 being helped off by the trainers late in the game.
St George broke through for their first win of 2010 when the Dragons defeated Pennant Hills by 19 points at Olds Park. The first quarter was a shootout, with the Demons kicking five goals to four to lead by 4 points at the first change. But the Dragons tightened up their defence in the second term to hold the Demons goal-less while running through 4 goals to lead by 21 points at the long break. The Demons were unable to make up any headway during the premiership quarter, and with the scent of victory in their nostrils the Dragons held on for dear life to prevent any last quarter Demon resurgence.
Bryce Addison continued his strong development in 2010 with a 5-goal haul. The Dragons were well served around the ground by Rod Craig, Steven Klein and veteran Gavin Raper who was playing his first Premier Division game for the year. It was a disappointing afternoon for the Demons, their second defeat in succession. Young forward Nick Bills looks a player to watch after a 4-goal return, while Jake Trestrail and Jason Clarke were also key contributors to the Demon cause.
Rarely in the history of Sydney AFL, and not for a very long time in Premier Division, has a match been as one-sided as the game at Drummoyne Oval on Saturday. Defending champions East Coast Eagles returned to the winning list in style with a whopping 225-point win over Balmain Dockers. Every quarter was more convincing than the last – 5 unanswered goals in the first, 9 goals to 2 in the second, 10 goals to nil in the third 12 without reply in the last.
Jamie Vlatko scored 10 goals for the Eagles, Kristian Pearson contributed 6, Damian Bowles and Ben Rogers both scored 4. Mike Beardsley, Jamie Vlatko and Kristian Pearson were listed as East Coast’s best, but it was hard to find a single Eagles player who didn’t make a contribution to their resounding victory as the Eagles relentlessly stuck to their effective game plan for the full four quarters. For the Dockers, it was a dirty day when nothing was going right; Russell Gordon and Jarryd Boyd were their best, but even they were unable to make any significant impact on the game.
UNSW-ES stretched their winning streak to two games, while ensuring Wollongong are still yet to record their first win for 2010, when the Bulldogs took out a 27-point win at the Village Green on Saturday afternoon. But the Bulldogs dodged a bullet in the first half, with Wollongong having 17 scoring shots to 8; but inaccurate finishing in front of goal would cost the Lions dearly. The Lions’ half time score of 2.15 saw them trail by 11 points at the long break when the trend of play indicated they should have been well in front.
The Lions came out firing in the third term, and with a run of 5 goals to 2 took a narrow lead into the three quarter time break. But in the final quarter, when the game was there to be won, it was the Bulldogs who lifted a gear, and with a run of 9 goals to 4 for the quarter took the points. It was a disappointing fadeout for the Lions, who are still looking for their first win for the season despite respectable performances in the last three weeks; but for the Bulldogs it was a victory that continues their momentum as they look to bounce back from a slow start to the season.
Thomas Betlehem kicked 5 goals for the Bulldogs in a best on ground performance, while Leigh Lavery also contributed 5 goals while Earl Shaw and Peter Kefalas were also prominent around the ground. For the Lions, Troy Bartlett was their best with 5 goals while Michael Toussis and Erin Franklin were among their best.
Sunday afternoon at Blacktown saw Wests maintain their unbeaten run with a 18 point victory over Campbelltown. The Magpies dominated the first half of a high-scoring contest to lead by 32 points at half time. But the Blues put in a strong performance in the third quarter, with 5 goals to 3 to cut the margin to 18 points at the last change. But although the Blues fought on gamely in the last quarter, the pressure of playing catch-up football was all too much and the Magpies hung on to take the points.
Matt Eurell’s purple patch in front of goals continued with the number 11 bagging 8 goals for the afternoon. Chris Lees scored 4 for Wests; while Medair Kassem, Chris Noordhof and Lynn Roehrig were among their best. For the Blues, Dale Chivas and Owen Love each recorded 4 goals while rising star nominee Ryan Bottin-Noonan and Jake Brazill were key contributors.
North Shore 5.11 8.14 14.15 17.17 (119)
Sydney University 1.3 1.5 2.7 6.14 (50)
Goals : North Shore – B Attwood 5, L Slater 2, L Pryor 2, L Clancy, S Carruthers, A Lord, R Meldrum, R Grigg, M Carter, C King, K Hughes.
Sydney Uni – A McConnochie 2, A Lee 2, G Stevens, S Crichton.
Best : North Shore – J Stiller, Z Manley, C Murphy, L Clancy, A Lord, B Attwood.
Sydney Uni – D Mitchell, S Crichton, M Thompson, G Stevens, J Martin, A McConnochie.
At Sydney University No 1 Oval, Saturday 1st May 2010.
St George 4.3 8.8 11.8 13.9 (87)
Pennant Hills 5.1 5.5 7.6 10.8 (68)
Goals : St George – B Addison 5, D Donohue 2, V Stevens, S Demir, R Craig, D Rixon, S Wilsen, J Shineberg.
Pennant Hills – N Bills 4, A Duncan 2, L Bilbe, A Brawn, J Schwarze, K Wright.
Best : St George – R Craig, G Raper, S Klein, B Addison, M Milner, S Wilsen.
Pennant Hills – J Trestrail, N Bills, J Clarke, D Dell’Aquila, J Mobbs, J Schwarze.
At Olds Park, Saturday 1st May 2010.
East Coast Eagles 5.7 14.12 24.16 36.25 (241)
Balmain Dockers 0.2 2.2 2.2 2.4 (16)
Goals : East Coast – Jamie Vlatko 10, K Pearson 6, B Rogers 4, D Bowles 4, S Ryan 3, D Spiteri 2, S O’Connor 2, D Charleston, Jon Vlatko, S Merkel, M Beardsley, J Dimery.
Balmain – D Shaw, N Davis.
Best : East Coast – M Beardsley, Jamie Vlatko, K Pearson, S Ryan, S Merkel, D Bowles.
Balmain – R Gordon, J Boyd, D Bourke, C Reichman, B Cann, T Young.
At Drummoyne Oval, Saturday 1st May 2010.
Uni NSW-Eastern Suburbs 3.0 6.2 8.7 17.8 (110)
Wollongong 0.8 2.15 7.15 11.17 (83)
Goals : UNSW-ES – T Betlehem 5, L Lavery 5, T Luff 2, B Abbott 2, B Haberley, A Robson, T Atallah.
Wollongong – T Bartlett 5, S Dennis 3, J McInnes, S Dowling, R Price.
Best : UNSW-ES – T Betlehem, E Shaw, P Kefalas, T Garrett, J Kiel, B Haberley.
Wollongong – T Bartlett, M Toussis, E Franklin, J Daniher, D Goodley, S Dowling.
At Village Green, Saturday 1st May 2010.
Western Suburbs 5.5 11.9 14.12 18.14 (122)
Campbelltown 2.1 7.1 12.6 16.8 (104)
Goals : Wests – M Eurell 8, C Lees 4, B Absolum 2, C McGuirk, D Clout, D Creswell, M Withers.
Campbelltown – O Love 4, D Chivas 4, R Love 2, C Fretwell 2, M Keys 2, S Kershaw, H Wells.
Best : Wests – M Kassem, C Noordhof, L Roehrig, D Linsen, B Lafferty, M Eurell.
Campbelltown – R Bottin-Noonan, J Brazill, O Love, S Kershaw, M Keys, J Edwards.
At Blacktown Olympic Park, Sunday 2nd May 2010.
| Played
| Won
| Draw
|
Lost
| For
| Agnst
| Pts
| %age
| Strk
| North Shore
| 4
| 4
| 0
| 0
| 517
| 241
| 16
| 214.52
| W4
| Western Suburbs
| 4
| 4
| 0
| 0
| 495
| 289
| 16
| 171.28
| W4
| East Coast Eagles
| 4
| 3
| 0
| 1
| 573
| 187
| 12
| 306.42
| W1
| Pennant Hills
| 4
| 2
| 0
| 2
| 341
| 293
| 8
| 116.38
| L2
| Sydney University
| 4
| 2
| 0
| 2
| 413
| 386
| 8
| 106.99
| L1
| Campbelltown
| 4
| 2
| 0
| 2
| 329
| 397
| 8
| 82.87
| L1
| UNSW-ES
| 4
| 2
| 0
| 2
| 310
| 415
| 8
| 74.70
| W2
| St George
| 4
| 1
| 0
| 3
| 284
| 464
| 4
| 61.21
| W1
| Wollongong
| 4
| 0
| 0
| 4
| 260
| 364
| 0
| 71.43
| L4
| Balmain
| 4
| 0
| 0
| 4
| 180
| 666
| 0
| 27.03
| L4
|
|
First Division:
Sydney Uni 12.8 (80) d North Shore 9.7 (61)
Wollongong 14.3 (87) d UNSW-ES 10.10 (70)
Manly-Warringah 9.11 (65) d East Coast Eagles 7.3 (45)
Macquarie Uni 15.17 (107) d Pennant Hills 5.3 (33)
UTS 16.13 (109) d Western Suburbs 3.4 (22)
Ladder – Manly-Warringah (16, 187.50%), UTS (12, 286.76%), Sydney Uni (12, 181.12%), Macquarie Uni (12, 127.71%), North Shore (8, 164.98%),
Pennant Hills (8, 72.96%), East Coast (4, 97.49%), Wollongong (4, 50.89%), Western Suburbs (4, 36.77%), UNSW-ES (0, 45.34%).
Second Division:
Southern Power 16.10 (106) d Balmain Dockers 8.7 (55)
UTS 14.12 (96) d St George 7.4 (46)
Manly-Warringah 12.13 (85) d NorWest Jets 11.4 (70)
Holroyd-Parramatta 21.15 (141) d Camden 3.2 (20)
Sydney Uni 11.14 (80) d UNSW-ES 9.8 (62)
Ladder – Southern Power (16, 246.33%), UTS (16, 190.35%), Holroyd-Parramatta (12, 155.97%), Sydney Uni (12, 125.40%), NorWest (8, 153.85%),
Manly-Warringah (8, 80.91%), Camden (8, 68.78%), UNSW-ES (0, 68.17%), St George (0, 46.40%), Balmain (0, 31.35%).
Third Division:
Holroyd-Parramatta 11.10 (76) d Campbelltown 10.2 (62)
Sydney Uni 9.10 (64) d Pennant Hills 8.11 (59)
Macquarie Uni 13.7 (85) d Penrith 10.11 (71)
Moorebank Sports 9.19 (73) d Southern Power 4.1 (25)
East Coast 10.7 (67) d UTS 7.7 (49)
Ladder – Moorebank Sports (16, 343.75%), Penrith (12, 198.48%), Macquarie Uni (12, 142.92%), East Coast (8, 148.60%),
UTS (8, 126.34%), Southern Power (8, 84.91%), Campbelltown (8, 84.57%), Sydney Uni (4, 56.97%), Holroyd-Parramatta (4, 27.92%), Pennant Hills (0, 52.73%).
Fourth Division:
Manly-Warringah 21.18 (144) d NorWest Jets 4.0 (24)
Camden 16.17 (113) d Holroyd-Parramatta 4.4 (28)
Penrith 10.10 (70) d Mac Uni Warriors 9.12 (66)
Auburn 19.16 (130) d Saints AFC 4.3 (27)
Mac Uni Kookas v UTS – postponed
Southern Power 10.2 (62) d Moorebank Sports 5.6 (36)
Sydney Uni 13.7 (85) d UNSW-ES 8.8 (56)
Ladder - Auburn (16, 514.95%), Mac Uni Warriors (12, 335.48%), Manly-Warringah (12, 223.50%), Moorebank Sports (12, 215.43%),
Saints AFC (12, 183.26%), Penrith (12, 83.71%), UTS (8, 203.92%), Sydney Uni (8, 99.62%), Camden (4, 74.13%), Southern Power (4, 54.46%), NorWest (4, 48.84%), Mac Uni Kookas (4, 29.08%), UNSW-ES (0, 33.02%), Holroyd-Parramatta (0, 16.22%).
Under 18s Premier:
North Shore 11.8 (74) d Sydney Uni 11.5 (71)
East Coast 24.6 (150) d Balmain Dockers 4.2 (26)
Pennant Hills 14.11 (95) d St George 11.2 (68)
St Ignatius Riverview 16.15 (111) d UNSW-ES 11.7 (73)
Western Suburbs 16.15 (111) d Campbelltown 3.5 (23)
Ladder (Match Ratio) – Wollongong (100, 285.90%), North Shore (100, 170.91%), Pennant Hills (75, 214.83%), Sydney Uni (50, 259.66%), East Coast (50, 208.12%),
St George (50, 107.46%), Wests (50, 105.77%), St Ignatius Riverview (50, 97.26%), UNSW-ES (25, 52.09%), Balmain (0, 32.81%), Campbelltown (0, 10.10%).
Under 18s Challenge:
Holroyd-Parramatta 11.9 (75) d East Coast 6.2 (38)
Southern Power 11.9 (75) d Moorebank Sports 7.9 (51)
Macquarie Uni v Penrith – postponed.
Ladder (Match Ratio) – Holroyd-Parramatta (75, 203.09%), Penrith (66.67, 1215.79%), Manly-Warringah (50, 127.05%), Southern Power (50, 110.81%),
Macquarie Uni (33.33, 38.49%), East Coast (25, 45.35%), Moorebank Sports (0, 55.56%).
NEXT WEEK’S FIXTURES (Lurker’s Kiss of Death in bold)
Saturday 8th May
Ern Holmes Oval –
Pennant Hills v Sydney University (2:10pm)
Gore Hill Oval –
North Shore v Balmain Dockers (2:30pm)
Sunday 9th May
Blacktown Olympic Park – East Coast Eagles v
Western Suburbs (2:10pm)
Monarch Oval – Campbelltown v
UNSW-ES (2:10pm)
North Dalton Oval –
Wollongong v St George (2:10pm)
First Division:
Saturday 8th May
Ern Holmes Oval – Pennant Hills v Sydney Uni (12pm)
Gore Hill Oval – North Shore v Manly-Warringah (12:30pm)
Trumper Park – UTS v UNSW-ES (2:10pm)
Sunday 9th May
Blacktown Olympic Park – East Coast Eagles v Western Suburbs (12pm)
North Dalton Oval – Wollongong v Macquarie Uni (12pm)
Second Division:
Saturday 8th May
Gore Hill Oval – Balmain Dockers v Manly-Warringah (8:30am)
Trumper Park – UTS v UNSW-ES (12pm)
Harrington Park – Camden v Sydney Uni (2:10pm)
Gipps Rd Oval – Holroyd-Parramatta v St George (2:30pm)
Gwawley Oval – Southern Power v NorWest Jets (2:30pm)
Third Division:
Saturday 8th May
Trumper Park – UTS v Penrith (10am)
Gipps Rd Oval – Holroyd-Parramatta v Macquarie Uni (12:30am)
Rosedale Oval – Moorebank Sports v East Coast (6:30pm)
Sunday 9th May
Gwawley Oval – Southern Power v Pennant Hills (12pm)
Monarch Oval – Campbelltown v Sydney Uni (12pm)
Fourth Division:
Saturday 8th May
Gipps Rd Oval – Holroyd-Parramatta v Mac Uni Warriors (10:30am)
Harrington Park – Camden v Sydney Uni (12pm)
Mona Park – Auburn v UTS (12pm)
Gwawley Oval – Southern Power v NorWest (12:30pm)
Greygums Oval – Penrith v Mac Uni Kookas (2:10pm)
Pioneers Park – Saints AFC v Manly-Warringah (2:10pm)
Rosedale Oval – Moorebank Sports v UNSW-ES (4pm)
Under 18s Premier:
Saturday 8th May
Ern Holmes Oval – Pennant Hills v Sydney Uni (10am)
Gore Hill Oval – North Shore v Balmain Dockers (10:30am)
Sunday 9th May
Monarch Oval – Campbelltown v UNSW-ES (10am)
North Dalton Oval – Wollongong v St George (10am)
Riverview First Oval – St Ignatius Riverview v Western Suburbs (10am)
East Coast Eagles has the bye.
Under 18s Challenge:
Saturday 8th May
Gipps Rd Oval – Holroyd-Parramatta v Macquarie Uni (8:30am)
Greygums Oval – Penrith v Manly-Warringah (12pm)
Sunday 9th May
Gwawley Oval – Southern Power v East Coast Eagles (10am)
Moorebank Sports has the bye.