EVEN though it was played on home soil, Camden Haven’s win over Sawtell/Toormina is still considered a big upset.
The benefit of the Bombers managing to edge their nose in front just before the final siren is this win may see the competition’s newest senior outfit qualify for the finals in its debut season.
The win sees Camden Haven jump two games ahead of local rival Port Macquarie.
The Saints sent an undermanned outfit to Laurieton but Camden Haven coach Peter Gallagher said the result wasn’t about the standard of the opposition rather it was a pat on the back for the improvement within the Bombers’ playing group.
“We have been trying to instil a competitiveness in to the boys and the boys are adjusting to the rise in intensity to first grade, we are really starting to see the improvement in the players newer to the game in their understanding and match awareness,” Gallagher said.
“We played a full four quarters and maintained composure and intensity throughout the whole game.”
Photo courtesy of Rob Wright/Coffs Coast Advocate
Tigers simply get the job done
FOR Grafton the 55 point win in slippery conditions at Ellem Oval was simply a matter of getting the job done, collecting the four points and moving on to the next challenge.
Restricting the Kangaroos to only goal up to the final break, Grafton simply had too much manpower at the fall of the ball and managed to push the forward more often than North Coffs.
Grafton president Rod Sheather said the overnight rain on Friday reduced the match to a wet weather slog with few highlights.
“It was just one of those days you couldn’t do too much,” Sheather said.
“In that weather it was never going to be a good quality game.
“It really just brings us down to their level.”
GRAFTON
3.0 5.2 9.4 11.6 (72)
NORTH COFFS
1.1 1.2 1.5 2.5 (17)
Goals - Graf: L Anderson 3, C Holder 2, S Morrison 2, R Sheather, D McGregor, B Holder, S Purton. N.Coffs: J Parnell, J Coad.
Another win on the road for the Swans
IN A couple of weeks time the Coffs Swans have the chance to notch up a rare AFL North Coast achievement.
Thanks to the win on enemy territory against Port Macquarie, the Swans are on the verge of recording a win at all away venues when they play North Coffs on June 21.
Already this season the Swans had won at Laurieton, Grafton and Swatell’s Richardson Park but the weekend’s clash at Port Macquarie provided the stiffest challenge to earning the the tag of being a well travelled team.
Considering the scores were level at half time, Port Macquarie was throwing everything possible at the ladder leaders but the wans kicked up a gear in the premiership quarter kicking five goals to one to set up a handy break.
Magpies’ playing coach Scott Abercrombie ended up rueing some missed opportunities when the final siren sounded to signal a Swans win.
“If you'd have said to me on Thursday that we'd only lose by 22 points I would have said 'you beauty, but you're kidding yourself,” Abercrombie said.
“But after the game, I was thinking if we could have done a few things differently, we would have won it.”
COFFS SWANS
4.2 6.5 11.5 13.8 (86)
PORT MACQUARIE
2.3 6.5 7.8 9.10 (64)
Goals - Swans: N Von Schill 3, P Curtain 2, M Cannan 2, J Guthrie, L O'Halloran, J Goding, J Brown, J Lyon, K Bellemore. Port: K Lynch 2, S Todd 2, T Bauer, J King, J Cullen, B Eastwell, S Abercrombie.
Best - Swans: C Waldron, P Curtain, D Bear, L O'Halloran, T Snow, M Jones. Port: J Smith, J Cullen, J Schmidt, L Long, I Brambley, K Lynch.
Reserves: Port Macquarie 10.6 (66) def Coffs Swans 1.1 (7)
Under-18s: Port Macquarie 25.15 (165) def Coffs SWans 1.1 (7)
Last Modified on 03/06/2014 10:54