Arm wrestle contests go down to the wire
ROUND 3 REVIEW: The two Grand Final rematches both delivered outstanding games of football.
The men’s match between the New England Nomads and Tamworth Swans at Bellevue Oval was an arm wrestle that was only able to be decided late in the last quarter.
The defences of both teams were on top for the first three quarters with the margin just three points at the final break in favour of the Nomads, thanks mainly to Noah Connick who stopped most of the Swans’ attacking forays.
The final term saw the home team able to start finding ways to score and it was a five goal to one final term that sealed a 27 point victory.
Fraser Menzies kicked three last quarter goals to take his tally for the day to nine.
The women’s match saw the Nomads exert plenty of pressure on the Swans but when the ball got to the outside it was the Swans who were better able to control possession.
Sophie Ranken continued her strong start to the year for the Swans who won convincingly but might need some goalkicking practice ahead of their match against Inverell this week.
RESULTS – NEW ENGLAND NOMADS vs. TAMWORTH SWANS
Men – New England Nomads 13.11 (89) def Tamworth Swans 9.8 (62)
Women – Tamworth Swans 9.20 (74) def New England Nomads 1.3 (9)
INVERELL’S teams maintained their unbeaten starts to the year with a pair of wins over Gunnedah.
The Saints and Poochettes produced a tremendous display of women’s football that either side could’ve won.
Inverell earned a 14 point lead at the main interval but in the third term Gunnedah kicked three goals to one to reduce the margin back to a solitary behind. Meg Foster was the most damaging player in the Poochettes’ forward line with three goals of her team’s four goals next to her name.
The final term saw the ball move back and forth between the arcs with inside 50 entries hard earned. Like last year’s grand final it wasn’t until a late goal to the Saints that a victor was decided.
In the men’s match that saw Inverell celebrating Dallas Baldwin’s 100th game, the Saints broke the match open in the first half with Noah O’Neill and Ben Myler the main beneficiaries in front of goal.
The second half was a more even contest with Gunnedah’s defence improving. Callum Craigie made his debut for the Bulldogs and kicked four goals while for the Saints O’Neill finished with seven majors and Myler four.
RESULTS – INVERELL vs. GUNNEDAH
Men – Inverell 18.13 (121) def Gunnedah 8.6 (54)
Women – Inverell 5.6 (36) def Gunnedah 4.6 (30)
Round 4 – Saturday, May 13 (COMMUNITY UMPIRING ROUND)
NEW ENGLAND NOMADS vs TAMWORTH KANGAROOS at Bellevue Oval, Armidale
(Noon – Women, 2.00pm – Men)
TAMWORTH SWANS vs INVERELL at Tamworth No.1 Oval, Tamworth
Bye: GUNNEDAH
