Article by Michael Shillito
UNSW-ES kept their mathematical finals hopes alive, and ended North Shore’s, after the Bulldogs prevailed by 11 points at the Village Green on Saturday afternoon. In what was probably the most entertaining contest of the season, it was a high-scoring shootout with a display of accurate finishing, numerous lead changes and a finish that would go down to the wire.
After an even opening to the game, North Shore got on top late in the first term to complete a quarter of five goals to three and lead by ten points at quarter time. But it was in the second quarter that the free-flowing and high-scoring nature of the game became apparent. The forward lines of both sides were having the better of their defensive counterparts, and the scoreboard operator was kept busy through a quarter of non-stop scoring action. The Bulldogs won the quarter but only just, with seven goals to six, cutting the Bombers’ lead back to three points at half time.
The see-sawing nature of the game continued in the third quarter, as the lead changed hands numerous times. After not kicking a behind through the first half, the Bombers had their first scoreboard blemish early in the third quarter; but both sides were creating plenty of goal-scoring opportunities and converting most of them. Four goals apiece were scored in the third term, and the teams went into the three quarter time huddles with the Bombers leading by two points.
When North Shore kicked the first two goals of the final term, they looked to finally have shaken off the Bulldogs. But the Bulldogs had the fresh legs and dug deep in the final stages of the game when the match was there to be won. With five of the last six goals, the Bulldogs turned the deficit into a lead and hung on grimly in the final stages of the match to take a hard-earned 11-point victory.
Jeremy Kiel and Troy Luff kicked four goals each, and along with Peter Kefalas were among the Bulldogs’ best. Doug Hadden bagged six goals for the Bombers and Daniel Roberts 5; with Hadden, Jake Veale and Zac Fyffe getting plenty of the ball around the ground for the Bombers.
The Bulldogs have a challenge to make the finals. Their remaining two games are against Wests and Sydney Hills; the Magpies game in particular being a tough matchup for them. They will need to win both of those games and hope the Students drop both of theirs to be a part of the playoff action.
Last Modified on 13/08/2014 22:26