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SYDNEY AFL ROUND 3 - A Pride of Lions
The leadup to round 3 saw heavy rain around Sydney play havoc with the scheduling. As the closed sign went up at various ovals around Sydney, some quick changes were made to the fixtures. Particularly affected was North Shore, with the Bombers unable to use Gore Hill Oval and their match against Wollongong transferred to North Dalton Oval.
North Dalton was in good shape, with only a slightly heavy centre square showing any signs of water damage. By the time the senior match had started the rain had stopped; but a strong southerly breeze created a clear advantage towards the scoreboard end; and Wollongong struck an important early blow by winning the toss and kicking with the wind in the first term.
Both sides were looking for their first wins in 2008. Wollongong had never beaten North Shore at North Dalton; but from the start it was clear the Lions were determined to break that duck. From the moment Troy Bartlett put the Lions' first major score on the board, marking truly on a tight angle and making no mistake with the kick, the Lions were in the ascendancy. The Bombers were second to the ball all quarter, only making a handful of inside-50s and conceding a run of 50m penalties as the Lions took a 26-point lead into the first break. And although the Bombers won the second quarter when kicking with the wind, they didn't look like bridging the gap; and a late goal into the wind by Dombroski gave the Lions an extra buffer to take into the long break.
For North Shore to have any hope of getting back into the contest, they needed to contain the Lions when the home side had the wind in the third term. And the Bombers played better football in the third term, tackling tighter and making better use of the football. But the Lions had all the answers, with McConnochie and Bartlett being prominent contributors. And with a 39-point lead at the last change, the game looked safe.
But looks can be deceiving, and the last quarter started with the Bombers racing out of the blocks. Ron Wason up forward was in scintillating form as the Bombers raced through 4 goals in the opening 10 minutes of the last term. With the pace of Ben Attwood and the marking power of Michael Cowell on the half-forward line, the Bombers caused a few nervous moments as the deficit was sliced to 17 points with still plenty of time left on the clock.
But that was as close as the Bombers could get, as the Lions rallied to regain possession and work the ball forward; where a double to Graeme Batty put the issue beyond doubt and gave the Lions a much-deserved 26-point win. To claim the scalp of the reigning premier was a worthy prize for Wollongong, who had played a solid 4 quarters and held their nerve during the Bomber resurgence early in the last term. Now in their 4th season in Premier Division, and with a great facility at North Dalton, good local support and a club setup that has seen the Lions poll well in Club of the Year points; it was a result that gives hope that the missing piece in the Wollongong jigsaw, on-field success, is on its way.
Not so promising for North Shore, the reigning premiers finding themselves winless after 3 games, with only percentage keeping them off bottom spot on the ladder. And that percentage gap closed after the little-fancied Balmain gave Campbelltown a fright at Monarch. After a strong but inaccurate opening by Campbelltown, the Dockers hit back to level at half-time; and although the margin remained close for the remainder of the day, the Blues were able to stay in front when the game opened up in the last quarter and goals to both sides came more freely. Chris Lees with 3 goals, and Matthew Edwins and Shanan Kershaw with 2 apiece were strong performers for the Blues, while Balmain were well served up forward by Ryan Officer with a bag of 5 and 3 from coach Damian Hall.
It was also close at Sydney Uni, where the rain forced the earlier games to be moved; but a high-scoring and entertaining game belied the heavy conditions. East Coast Eagles looked to have the game under control when they led by 18 points at the last change, but a fast-finishing Sydney Uni were not to be denied; hitting the front late in the game and holding on for a 6-point win. Alex Lee and Brydon Coles each contributed 4 for the Students, while 4 from Ben Rogers was the top output in the scoring department for the Eagles. The result put the Students, only in their second season back in Premier Division, to outright top of the ladder.
The defence of St George was unbreakable in the first half, as the previously high-scoring UNSW-ES side were unable to score a goal in the first half. By then the Crows had jumped to a 34-point lead, a margin that the Bulldogs were unable to bridge as they suffered their first loss of 2008. The Richmond brothers and Stephen Wilsen were among St George's best, while for the Bulldogs Brad Abbott contributed 4 goals in the second half and former Magpie Jonathan Bradfield was their best.
The round of upsets was completed at Ern Holmes on Sunday, when Wests stunned the previously unbeaten Pennant Hills by 10 points. The Demons struggled for accuracy early, scoring 1.8 in the first term, and were to rue their missed opportunities as the Magpies seized the moment to score 5 goals to 1 in the third term and set up a match-winning break. Cameron French for Wests and Clint Setford for Pennant Hills each scored 4 goals in a low-scoring game.
First Division saw Penrith maintain their unbeaten start to the season with a 34-point win over NorWest Jets; while Macquarie Uni are also unbeaten after demolishing Camden by 133 points in the first game at Fairfax since Camden returned to the Sydney AFL. Southern Sharks turned the tables in the grand final rematch with a 33-point win over Manly, while UTS took a comfortable 82-point win over Holroyd-Parramatta.
Wollongong 4.4 6.8 9.15 12.17 (89)
North Shore 0.2 3.3 4.6 9.9 (63)
Goals : Wollongong - A McConnochie 2, M Dombroski 2, G Batty 2, T Bartlett 2, D Posch, S Dowling, M Toussis, R Neels. North Shore - R Wason 4, J O'Dell, A Sutton, N Egan, A Kerr, T Bajcic.
Reserves - North Shore 14.8 (92) d Wollongong 11.4 (70)
At North Dalton Oval, Saturday 19th April.
Campbelltown 3.9 4.10 5.13 11.15 (81)
Balmain 1.2 5.4 6.6 11.9 (75)
Goals : Campbelltown - C Lees 3, M Edwins 2, S Kershaw 2, D Fraser, M Skuse, B Reid, C Fretwell. Balmain - R Officer 5, D Hall 3, N Darvill 2, T Parker.
Reserves - Balmain 5.13 (43) d Campbelltown 3.6 (24)
At Monarch Oval, Saturday 19th April.
Sydney University 5.3 9.10 12.13 18.20 (128)
East Coast Eagles 8.1 13.4 16.7 19.8 (122)
Goals : Sydney Uni - A Lee 4, B Coles 4, B Mankarious 2, J Lawson, J Champion de Crespign, M Egan, C McLachlan, M Healy, T Air, A Everett, F Punch. East Coast - B Rogers 4, M Maher 3, A Floyd 3, G Seebeck 3, R Smyth 3, G Garner 2, S Ryan.
Reserves - East Coast 11.7 (73) d Sydney Uni 7.8 (50)
At Sydney Uni No 1, Saturday 19th April.
St George 4.2 6.2 11.5 15.5 (95)
Uni NSW-Eastern Suburbs 0.1 0.4 4.5nbsp; 7.8 (50)
Goals : St George - P Dugmore 4, S Wilsen 3, J Shineberg 2, D Ryan, D Richmond, J Horder, P McBride, C Windle, S Demir. UNSW-ES - B Abbott 4, T Luff 2, M Carey.
Reserves - UNSW-ES 12.8 (80) d St George 4.7 (31)
At Olds Park, Saturday 19th April.
Western Suburbs 2.0 5.3 10.4 12.7 (79)
Pennant Hills 1.8 5.10 6.12 9.15 (69)
Goals : Wests - C French 4, M Withers 3, M Eurell 2, N Scarfo, T O'Neil, M Kassem. Pennant Hills - C Setford 4, N Wright 2, D De Looze, J Gaggin, B Jack.
Reserves - Pennant Hills 15.15 (105) d Wests 4.2 (26)
At Ern Holmes Oval, Sunday 20th April.
| Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | Pts | %age | Streak | |
| Sydney University | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 357 | 274 | 12 | 130.29 | W3 |
| Pennant Hills | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 345 | 242 | 8 | 142.56 | L1 |
| Uni NSW-Eastern Suburbs | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 306 | 242 | 8 | 126.45 | L1 |
| Western Suburbs | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 269 | 223 | 8 | 120.63 | W1 |
| St George | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 230 | 211 | 8 | 109.00 | W1 |
| Campbelltown | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 240 | 265 | 8 | 90.57 | W2 |
| East Coast Eagles | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 295 | 290 | 4 | 101.72 | L1 |
| Wollongong | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 245 | 271 | 4 | 90.41 | W1 |
| North Shore | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 206 | 319 | 0 | 64.58 | L3 |
| Balmain | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 221 | 377 | 0 | 58.62 | L3 |
First Division:
Penrith 15.10 (100) d NorWest Jets 10.8 (68)
Macquarie University 20.21 (141) d Camden 1.3 (9)
Uni Technologiy, Sydney 15.21 (111) d Holroyd-Parramatta 4.5 (29)
Southern Sharks 14.15 (99) d Manly-Warringah 12.4 (76)
Reserve Grade
NorWest Jets 18.12 (120) d Penrith 4.7 (31)
Macquarie Uni 29.11 (185) d Camden 3.1 (19)
UTS 15.7 (97) d Holroyd-Parramatta 8.6 (54)
Manly-Warringah 9.15 (69) d Southern Sharks 6.5 (41)
Second Division:
UTS 19.18 (132) d Holroyd-Parramatta 1.4 (10)
Manly-Warringah v UNSW-ES Whales - Postponed.
Moorebank Sports 13.23 (101) d Macquarie Uni 3.3 (21)
Pennant Hills 4.6 (30) d UNSW-ES Bulldogs 2.10 (22)
Sydney Uni Blue 16.19 (115) d Sydney Uni Red 1.3 (9)
Under 18s Premier:
Campbelltown 14.14 (98) d Balmain 5.1 (31)
North Shore Bombers 10.8 (68) d Wollongong 10.7 (67)
Pennant Hills 17.11 (113) d Wests 5.6 (36)
East Coast Eagles 13.14 (92) d North Shore Bears 5.6 (36)
Under 18s Challenge:
UNSW-ES d Pennant Hills - Forfeit
Penrith 8.15 (63) d East Coast Eagles 9.5 (59)
Manly-Warringah 18.11 (119) d Southern Sharks 3.6 (24)
Macquarie Uni 12.8 (80) d Moorebank Sports 4.12 (36)
NEXT WEEK'S FIXTURES (Lurker's Kiss of Death in bold)
Friday 25th April (ANZAC Day)
Drummoyne Oval - Balmain v Western Suburbs (1:00pm, Reserves Sat 2pm)
Saturday 26th April (Seniors 2:10pm, Reserves 12pm)
Monarch Oval - Campbelltown v Sydney Uni
Village Green - UNSW-ES v Wollongong
Ern Holmes Oval - Pennant Hills v St George
Sunday 27th April (Seniors 2:40pm, Reserves 12:30pm)
Henson Park - East Coast Eagles v North Shore
First Division:
Saturday 26th April
Bensons Lane - NorWest Jets v Camden (Seniors 2:10pm, Reserves 12pm)
Gipps Rd Oval - Holroyd-Parramatta v Manly-Warringah (Seniors 2:10pm, Reserves 12pm)
Greygums Oval - Penrith v UTS (Seniors 2:10pm, Reserves 12pm)
Macquarie University Oval - Macquarie Uni v Southern Sharks (Seniors 6:10pm, Reserves 4pm)
Second Division:
Saturday 26th April
Ern Holmes Oval - Pennant Hills v Moorebank Sports (8:15am)
Gipps Rd Oval - Holroyd-Parramatta v Manly-Warringah (10am)
Trumper Park - UTS v Sydney Uni Blue (10am)
Village Green - UNSW-ES Whales v Sydney Uni Red (10am)
Macquarie Uni Oval - Macquarie Uni v UNSW-ES Bulldogs (12pm)
Under 18s Premier:
Saturday 26th April
Monarch Oval - Campbelltown v North Shore Bears (10am)
Ern Holmes Oval - Pennant Hills v St George (10:15am)
Drummoyne Oval - Balmain v Western Suburbs (12pm)
Sunday 27th April
Riverview Fourth - St Ignatius Riverview v Wollongong (10am)
Henson Park - East Coast Eagles v North Shore Bombers (10:30am)
Under 18s Challenge:
Saturday 26th April
Greygums Oval - Penrith v Pennant Hills (10am)
University Oval - Macquarie Uni v Southern Sharks (2pm)
Sunday 27th April
Henson Park - East Coast Eagles v Manly-Warringah (8:30am)
Village Green - UNSW-ES v Moorebank Sports (10am)
RWO MATCH OF THE ROUND:
Pennant Hills and St George were top 2 after the home & away series last year, but neither were able to capture the premiership. And the new season hasn't been easy for either club, having to fight for hard-earned wins on opening day and having dropped a game since then. In a season that's shaping as one of the most even and unpredictable in the history of Sydney football, a victory here will propel one of these teams into a powerful position while the loser risks falling back into a congested pack mid-table.
So the stakes will be high for this match, which promises to be an even contest. It's a Saturday afternoon match at Ern Holmes Oval, with the reserves starting at 12 noon and the seniors at 2:10pm.