Top teams show hot early season form

Action from Varley Oval where Inverell was too strong for Moree Services Suns/Narrabri Eagles FCs. Photo: Inverell Facebook

THE Tamworth Kangaroos are off to a perfect start to the 2022 with both their men’s and women’s teams undefeated after two rounds.

On Saturday the Roos were at Tamworth No.1 Oval against the New England Nomads and both matches were tight affairs.

The men’s match was a battle between a pair of opening round winners and at half time there was only a goal the difference between the pair.

After the break the Kangaroos showed fresher legs to gain enough breathing space to earn a hard-fought 20 point win.

Three goals from rising teenager Ruby Spark helped the Kangaroos women turn a 7-point deficit at the long break into 20 point lead at three-quarter time.

The Nomads fought hard to the end but couldn’t quite close the gap.

Inverell’s women are also unbeaten after two rounds.

The Saints played at home against a Moree team that didn’t have the minimum numbers required but because Inverell were able to loan the Suns enough players for them to reach the minimum, a match for competition points was able to be played.

Carissa Baldwin kicked five goals for the Saints in the 97 point victory while Kate McCosker and April Lindsay were among the best players.

An individual bag of 11 goals from Angus Croft was the individual highlight of the round as Inverell’s men were too strong for an undermanned Moree/Narrabri.

The Tamworth Swans travelled to Gunnedah and the men’s team was able to make it two wins from two matches.

The large margin the Swans won by has seen them move to the top of the ladder.

Having already built up a healthy lead at half time, the Swans kicked nine goals to one in the third term to set up the big win.

Gunnedah got the win in the women’s match to maintain their grip on top spot on the ladder.

The margin against the Swans was just 25 points at the final break before the Poochettes kicked four unanswered goals in the final term. Alice Mitchell kicked a couple of those majors to take her tally for the day to six goals.

SENIOR MEN

TAMWORTH KANGAROOS 2.4  8.5  12.8  15.11 (101)

NEW ENGLAND NOMADS 1.2  7.5  9.7  12.9 (81)

Goals – Kang: J.Vallender 4, N.Vaisey 3, P.Tapper 2, H.Hagon 2, M.Buckley, K.Hagon, M.Hall, J.Jeffries-Tapper. N.Eng: F.Menzies 4, C.Barker 2, N.Connick 2, D.Richards2, W.Hall, C.Paine.

Best – Kang: J.Dadd, D.Hagon, H.Hagon, N.Vaisey, C.Frazier, P.Tapper. N.Eng: C.Barker, F.Menzies, Q.Tomasoni, C.Paine, D.Richards.

TAMWORTH SWANS  5.4  9.9  18.12  23.16 (154)

GUNNEDAH BULLDOGS 1.1  1.1  2.2  2.2 (14)

Goals – Swans: M.Small 5, J.Jones 4, N.Keam 3, J.Cosgrove 3, L.Allan 3, S.Schirmer 2, J.Talbot, D.Beasley, J.Richards. Gunn: H.Baker, M.Ewington.

Best – Swans: J.Jones, S.Schirmer, J.Verdouw, C.Beresford, M.Small, M.Dunn.Gunn: J.Mack, J.Woolastan, A.Curgenven, D.Hill, R.Smith, A.Hillard.

INVERELL SAINTS 5.2  12.6  21.12  25.18 (168)

MOREE SUNS/NARRABRI EAGLES 2.2  3.3  4.3  4.8 (32)

Goals – Inv: A.Croft 11, R.Thom 3, B.Myler 2, P.Antonio, D.Baldwin, H.Chappel, W.Crane, S.Gilligan, R.Lewis, L.Martin, B.Newman, J.Ramsay. MS/NE: D.Brown, E.Montgomery, W.Roberts, C.Baker.

Best – Inv: P.Antonio, A.Croft, R.Newton, N.Tome, R.Thom, H.Chappel. MS/NE: W.Roberts, D.Brown, B.Barker, S.Le Milliere, E.Montgomery, C.Williams.

 

SENIOR WOMEN

TAMWORTH KANGAROOS 1.3  1.4  5.7  6.8 (44)

NEW ENGLAND NOMADS 1.3  2.5  2.5  4.5 (29)

Goals – Kang: R.Spark 3, E.Goldfinch 2, B.Wallace. N.Eng: L.Nest, M.Davidson, A.Greenland, A.Fox.

Best – Kang: R.Spark, P.McMullen, K.Ireland, E.Goldfinch, E.Skewes, K.Spence. N.Eng: M.Davidson, A.Fox, L.Nest, N.Patmore, A.Greenland, K.O’Hara.

GUNNEDAH BULLDOGS 2.3  4.3  5.7  9.8 (62)

TAMWORTH SWANS 0.2  1.3  1.6  1.6 (12)

Goals – Gunn: A.Mitchell 6, M.Foster 2, K.Rekunow. Swans: B.Saxby.

Best – Gunn: A.Ottery, K.Rekunow, G.Tibbs, A.Mitchell, M.Foster, K.Ewington. Swans: K.Voon, E.Hand, T.Pettit, Z.Constable, M.Sharp, J.O’Brien.

INVERELL SAINTS 3.3  8.7  10.8  15.13 (103)

MOREE SUNS 1.0  1.0  1.0  1.0 (6)

Goals – Inv: C.Baldwin 5, M.Ball 3, A.Lindsay 3, G.Mooney 2, A.Sims, K.Sims. Mor: J.Maher.

Best – Inv: K.McCosker, A.Lindsay, C.Baldwin, M.Ball, T.Mair, J.Pay. Mor: A.Hadley, T.Ryan, L.Appleby.

 

ROUND 3 – SATURDAY, MAY 14

TAMWORTH SWANS vs NEW ENGLAND NOMADS at Tamworth No.1 Oval

MOREE SERVICES SUNS vs GUNNEDAH BULLDOGS at Moree Showground

INVERELL SAINTS vs TAMWORTH KANGAROOS at Varley Oval

Women’s matches at noon. Men’s matches at 2pm.