Ironbank vs Bridgewater A Grade Match Report 18.05.2013
1st Quarter
1st Q
|
Score
|
Inside 50
|
Frees
|
Clearances*
|
Tackles
|
Clanger
|
Marks (I/50)
|
Ironbank
|
5-2
|
16
|
4
|
8 (3)
|
9
|
4
|
14 (5)
|
B
|
2-6
|
12
|
2
|
14 (5)
|
8
|
9
|
11(2)
|
On the back of a courageous 19 point loss to Central Division leaders Mt Barker last week, bottom side Bridgewater showed Ironbank from the outset that it had come with serious intent to claim a much needed win at Thunder Park. Right from the first bounce, the Raiders contested for possession of the ball fiercely at all points on the ground. Bridgewater opened the match with the experience of Jack Bevelander, Adam Curkpatrick and Steve Smith roving to Sam Hutten against the well proven Ironbank combination of ruck Nick Van den Berg, Will Muirden, Ryan McGahey and Andy Ladhams.
After a scrambly start from both teams that lasted many minutes, the Raiders settled more quickly and produced a number of entries deep into the forward line but could only kick points. Curkpatrick played a big part in supplying the forwards but his efforts were wasted by the inaccurate attempts on goal. Ironbank repeated this with some pressured shots taken at the other end and their supporters were relieved at the seven minute mark of the term when McGahey and Muirden combined to supply Matt Smith with a set shot and the opening goal of the match. A minute later, wingman Chris Naughton worked a ball through Simon Hulme to Damien Batson, who marked and kicked a second for Ironbank. Throughout the quarter, Smith and Batson continued to provide good targets near the goal line but Raiders full back Michael Lancaster and youngster Jonty Schulz provided great resistance in defence. With the likes of Michael Sullivan, Chris Schneider and Daniel Desengo also working hard across the half-back line for Ironbank, the Thunderers started to work the ball forwards more systematically. Desengo soon found McGahey at centre-half forward and a straight kick gave the home side a little breathing space. To step up the clearance work, Ironbank moved Geoff Munn, Brad Yeomans and Adam Shearwood into the centre square. As a fortunate but brief circuit breaker for the visitors, full forward Darren Mitchell made the most of a defensive error from Ironbank to open Bridgewater's goal tally at the 17 minute mark of the quarter. A tight end-to-end contest ensued with Ironbank taking five minutes to add another goal from the boot of McGahey. A desperate Raiders outfit fought hard to find another goal. Eventually Ben Wright worked the ball from half back through Tom Sclanders to Rhys Jordan, who kicked a remarkable goal from an acutely angled set shot on the boundary line. To round off a strong quarter, Yeomans added another for Ironbank just before the first term break to make the margin just 14 points, with the wasteful Bridgewater ball use in front of goal quite telling on the scoreboard (5.2 to 2.6)
Good players for Thunderers were McGahey and Will Muirden. We had 52 possessions at 82%. Bridgey were inefficient with their use of the ball having 9 clangers in the quarter.
2nd Quarter
2nd Q
|
Score
|
Inside 50
|
Frees
|
Clearances*
|
Tackles
|
Clanger
|
Marks (I/50)
|
Ironbank
|
5-4
|
17
|
2
|
14 (5)
|
6
|
2
|
11(3)
|
B
|
1-2
|
11
|
4
|
13 (1)
|
5
|
5
|
17 (0)
|
In a workman-like display, Ironbank shifted into a higher gear in the next quarter and outplayed Bridgewater in most positions the ground. Early on, Yeomans kicked the opening goal, marking at the end of a long run by Desengo, who carried the ball from half back with assistance from Shearwood. Another goal for the Thunderers came from Batson following a defensive intercept on the wing by Scott Walter. As in previous weeks for Ironbank, Geoff Munn began to exert noticeable control on the game when in the ruck and with help from Sullivan, Walter and Schneider, repelled most attacking moves when resting in the backlines, with outstanding overhead marking.
The Raiders finally replied with a goal, through Scandlers but this was to be their only major for the term. Throughout the quarter, Curkpatrick, Bevelander, Schulz and Haydn Smith worked tirelessly for the Raiders but had very little help. For the home side, Smith, Chris Ladhams and Naughton added a goal each before the quarter ended. For Bridgewater, full forward Mitchell unleashed his frustration for the term on an unsuspecting Nick van den Berg in a marking contest only seconds before the term ended and was appropriately red-carded and escorted from the ground, leaving his team one man short for the first 15 minutes of the next term. Having added five goals to only one, Ironbank had stretched the margin to 40 points by the main break (10.6 to 3.8).
Sheary, Lads and McGahey had good quarters. We had 63 possessions at a good 84% efficiency Bridgey did not take one inside 50 mark.
3rd Quarter
3rd Q
|
Score
|
Inside 50
|
Frees
|
Clearances*
|
Tackles
|
Clanger
|
Marks (I/50)
|
Ironbank
|
1-5
|
13
|
2
|
12 (2)
|
4
|
5
|
8(2)
|
B
|
6-3
|
14
|
0
|
10 (5)
|
8
|
2
|
16 (4)
|
Despite the disadvantage of playing with one less man, Bridgewater commenced the third quarter playing like a totally different side. Led manfully by Curkpatrick and Bevelander, over the first 10 minutes, they managed five unanswered goals in a brilliant and skilful display.
In the first two quarters, flashes of this same skill were seen but produced few results on the scoreboard. In this period, the Raiders showed they were able to move the ball quickly and cleanly from one end to the other and to great advantage. The first goal was worked from the full back line by Wright, Stuart Bown and Ben Odonnell and kicked by Bown himself in an inspirational run from one end to the other. Wright instigated another goal through Schulz, finishing with a difficult running goal from Josh Fielding, kicked from the half forward boundary line. Goals to Jordan, Sam Foutoulis and Ben Kernahan followed, leaving the Thunderers and their supporters stunned and concerned. Frustrated by Bown and Schulz, who marshalled the Raiders backmen and provided great rebound from defence, over the same period, Ironbank kicked five points. With only four minutes to play, the Thunderers posted a solitary goal, given to Muirden by Yeomans. This was quickly countered by another to Jordan, to bring the Raiders tally to nine goals and leave a margin of only two straight goals for the much improved Raiders to make up after the break (11.11 to 9.11).
Will , Yeoy and Munny were our best. We had only 33 possessions at a poor 55% efficiency and we only laid 4 effective tackles. Bridgey were well on top in all statistics except clearances.
4th Quarter
4th Q
|
Score
|
Inside 50
|
Frees
|
Clearances*
|
Tackles
|
Clanger
|
Marks (I/50)
|
Ironbank
|
2-6
|
23
|
2
|
6 (1)
|
12
|
7
|
23(1)
|
B
|
0-5
|
18
|
2
|
10 (2)
|
7
|
6
|
11 (4)
|
The final term unfolded as a dour struggle, with both sides not giving an inch in their defensive zones. The spectators were kept on edge for a full 10 minutes, while the flow of play continued to go both ways, with neither side gaining advantage. Minor scores were kicked but no majors until Andy Ladhams kicked a team-lifting goal for Ironbank at the 11 minute mark.
In a battle of defences that continued throughout the quarter, Shulz and Bown maintained the pressure for Bridgewater while Schneider, Sullivan and Munn took charge for Ironbank. Around the ground, Curkpatrick continued to lead the Raiders attack with help from Bevalander and Steve Smith, while Yeomans, Muirden and the Ladhams brothers did the job for the Thunderers. After another long stretch featuring countless strong contests all over the ground, one more goal to Ironbank from Shearwood at the 17 minute mark was highly celebrated by a relieved Thunderers unit and was the only other for the game.
A desperate and timely tackle late in the game by Muirden on Bevalander epitomised the on-field actions that were needed by Ironbank in the final quarter to ensure the win, after a third quarter devoid of such intensity had nearly cost them the game. With only five points to the visitors all term, the home team finished with a 25 point victory (13.17 to 9.16) but one thing clear from the day's play and that of recent weeks is that the Raiders are not too far away from some wins. Also clear from the soul searching walk from the ground by the Raiders players was that this was truly an opportunity they had let slip from their grasp.
Good quarters from munny, Yeoy, Muirden, A Ladhams and McGahey.
Leading possessions – Munny 11/12 (90%), Yeoy 20/0 (75%), McGahey 11/11 (95%), Muirden 16/4 (85%), Sheary 10/7 (95%)
Marks – Munny 11 (5 inside defensive 50), Batson 5
Clearances - McGahey 8, Sheary 8, Yeomans 5, A Ladhams 5
Goals – Batson 2, Yeomans 2, Nappies 2, McGahey 2
Best – Munn, McGahey, Yeomans, Desengo, Walter
Supercoach Points – Munn 140, McGahey 122, Yeomans 112, Muirden 107, Sheary 92, A Ladhams 91, Scotty Walter 88, A ladhams 73.
Simon Bawden 18.05.2013
Last Modified on 21/05/2013 09:34