Game reports from games 4 and 5 of the School Sport Australia National Championships.
Match Report Game 4
Commencement of the cross over pool games
N T 8.9. 57 defeated A.C.T. 8.5. 53
After three very tough games behind them and playing to regain the Duck Oil Trophy the NT started the game with a renewed confidence and a belief that they could experience their first win of the championship.
The game started with a high level of intensity with both sides trying to assert a dominant presence to take control of the game. With both teams working hard the first quarter was a see sawing affair and at the quarter time break the NT had established a slight lead over a tenacious opponent
In an entertaining second quarter players from both teams were intense with their tackling and commitment to getting the ball, turnovers were high and both teams’ backlines were feeling the pressure of having to work hard to repel forward thrusts. At the half time break the NT was able to maintain their slight lead but was being challenged by an ever pressing ACT team.
With the ball being hotly contested from the centre square both teams lifted intensity and the game became a fast paced encounter with players putting their bodies on the line to get the contested ball. Fatigue was staring to show on the NT running players and by the end of the third quarter the ACT had taken the lead.
The NT players started the final quarter with a ferocious intensity kicking two quick goals in the first minutes to regain the lead. The quarter continues to be a torrid affair with alternate goals being scored at each end. A great passage of play which began with the NT on bailers getting the ball inside 50 and a quick snap at goal from an NT goal sneak saw the NT hit the front with only I minute to go.With a great sense of urgency NT players attacked the ball and applied persistent pressure on opposition ball carriers s to hold them out of any scoring opportunities until the final siren.
A well deserved hard fought win. The team commitment and the support shown to each other were instrumental in gaining this result.
GOAL KICKERS W. Rioli 1 K. Fejo 1 S. Wanambi 1 N. Erse-Woodley 1 T. Lawton 1 R. Tiparui 1 J. Anderson 1
BEST S. Wanambi T. Lawton J. Neade J. Anderson J. Lolias
Game 5
N T 10.6. 66 defeated W A 2 9.5. 45
This was final game of the championship and the NT was keen to complete the carnival with another win. The game started slowly with the Territory team dominating the play kicking 5 unanswered goals. Seemingly with the game under control the NT’s lack of drive to take possession of the ball allowed WA2 to kick two quick goals in the final minutes of the quarter, keeping the game alive.
As the second quarter progressed, the early start and weary legs of the players were taking its toll, both teams displaying a lack of intensity and commitment to gaining possession of the ball. At the half time break the NT had managed to maintained it’s three goal lead.
An added enthusiasm by WA2 took the NT players by surprise and with two unanswered WA2 goals the NT team was forced to regroup and regain the tenacity it had displayed in previous games. With new sense of urgency both teams began to attack the ball. At the final break the NT had managed to keep control of the game but a pressing WA2 was setting the stage for an entertaining last quarter.
The final quarter began with a ferocity that had not been present previously in the game. With the game being played out in the centre of the ground the ferocious tackling by both teams was causing the ball to turnover quickly , both backlines battling hard to restrict scoring opportunities. The NT running players took control of the game and in the final minutes forced the ball into the forward line and a timely conversion with seconds to go sealed the victory for the NT over a hard pressing WA2 team.
This result placed the NT in 6th position on the ladder. This is the best result of a NT championship team in many years.
GOAL KICKERS C. Cunningham 3 W. Rioli 2 J. Anderson 1 L. Brand 1 R. Tiparui 1 D. Williams 1
BEST B. Johansen J. Collinson D. Williams C. Cunningham J. Williams