Bulldogs
shoot down Jets in last half thriller
The Third Division UNSW-ES Bulldogs pulled off one of the
most thrilling comeback wins seen for years when they narrowly toppled the
second-placed Norwest Jets at Richmond at the weekend.
The Doggies got off to a reasonable start but struggled
to acclimatise to the water-logged conditions at Bensons Lane.
The visitors had five hurried shots on goal in the first
term but failed to convert, while the home team managed two goals one against
the wind to lead at quarter time.
Things looked ominous when the Jets dominated play in the
second quarter.
The Dogs were once again plagued with poor disposal
issues and sub-standard decision-making, allowing Norwest to capitalise on
numerous turnovers .
By the half, the home side led four-goals-five to
one-goal-five, the Bulldogs ignoring pre-game instructions to go long and
direct.
The Dogs regularly rushed into the forward 50 only to be
caught out by rebound after rebound as the opposition’s unmanned midfielders
ran unchecked.
At halftime, the challenge was issued and the boys
responded brilliantly.
There was a new found determination, the first half
lethargy disappeared and with “Handy Andy” Boehm moved to fullback, at the
behest of his footy-mad parents Geoff and Judy, to silence Norwest coach and
full-forward, Peter “Pekay” Kyle, the Jets found themselves starved of scoring
opportunities.
Dan “David Lee” Roth, Robbie “Doc” Crocket, David “Father
Time” Backler and Mark “Dicko” Dixon led by example, throwing themselves into
contest after contest to destroy the Norwest momentum.
The manning up problems disappeared and a lack of options
and instant pressure on the local ball carriers saw the tables turned and the
Jets began to cough up the football.
At the end of the premiership quarter, scores were locked
at four-goals-seven apiece and both sides knew the tide was turning rapidly.
Midfielders, Sammy Laughlin and Anthony “Spaghetti-Head”
Tomasiello joined defenders, Niall “Denial” O’Leanachain, Dean “Hardman” Hughey
and Michael “The Pacman” Paxman in a desperate last quarter battle.
Both sides slogged it out in a punishing puddle-smashing
affair.
The Jets were quickly running out of fuel, the first half
had taken its toll on the undefeated, second-placed home side while the Dogs
seemed to just be warming up.
Norwest kicked a solitary goal in the last term while the
visitors piled on two.
Roth and Crocket played smart football, winding down the
clock by consisting looking for the boundary.
Repeated ball-ups also worked in our favour as the
pressure wore down the Jets.
The Doggies were ecstatic to end up eight point victors
in what will be remembered as a “battle of the ages.”
“Best team performance in five years,” declared veteran
Bulldogs skipper, David Backler.
Another former first grader, Mark Dixon, commented, “Best
win of my career as a player...so much courage, great to be part of.”
The coach, Shaun “The Gull” Fewings, was equally as proud
of his charges.
“This was clearly the best win I’ve had as a coach,
pipping last year’s semi win over Moorebank.
“This was the toughest challenge we’ve had all year and I
think we learnt a few lessons.”
“The courage, desperation and ferocity at the ball in
that second half was unbelievable...a complete turnaround...and a match the
boys should be forever proud of.
“We rolled the dice a bit, bringing off all our talls and
replacing the entire forward line with runners near the end, but it paid off.”
The win leaves the Dogs undefeated in outright first spot
on the Division Three ladder after six wins, boasting a percentage of 369.27.
The Div.3 Dogs have kicked over 700 points in six games
and conceded just 192.
The side has also won 22 of its last 26 games.
Final scores:
UNSW-ES: 0.5 1.5
4.7 6.9 (45)
NORWEST: 2.1 4.5
4.7 5.7 (37)
Goals: Peters 2, Roth, Crocket, Stephens, Dixon
Best: Boehm, Crocket, Dixon, Backler, Roth, Laughlin.
Thanks to Ian Dixon for doing the goals, Timber for
running, Jess for the physio stuff, Mick for umpiring and Nicole for videoing.
Last Modified on 27/05/2009 16:35