Nomads on a roll
By James Polson (Armidale Express, 27/06/2008)
The New England Nomads will be hoping to capitalise on a solid win last week over Muswellbrook when they host Gunnedah at Bellevue Oval in round 10 of the Tamworth Australian Football League competition tomorrow.
With their player roster decimated by the university holidays, the Nomads came away with a 10-point win over the Cats, a game described by coach Brendan Meehan as the ‘first full game of footy we’ve played all year’.
Muswellbrook led at the first two breaks, with a second-half fightback from the Nomads laying the platform for a 12-9-81 to 11-5-71 victory.
The weekend match is shaping as a tight encounter, with little between the two sides the last time they met and just one win separating them on the competition ladder.
Early last month the Nomads prevailed over Gunnedah 14-13-97 to 11-10-76.
But with even more players likely to be missing this week, Meehan said his side understands the need to maintain momentum until the majority of players return in late July.
“I think the university holidays finish around the weekend of the 25th,” he said.
“Until then we’ll be hoping to string a few wins together and head into the semi-finals on a bit of a roll.”
Meehan said he would know more about the makeup of the team after training last night, but at time of press he expected to have 18 players available.
Meehan said the club’s recent acquisitions had been going from strength to strength.
“The town guys have been playing really well,” he said.
“Ken Clayton, I think he’s only about 17 years old, was fantastic last week.”
In other TAFL fixtures to be played this weekend Tamworth hosts a local derby between the Swans and the Kangaroos at No. 1 Oval, while Muswellbrook travel to Inverell to face the defending premiers.
Not for reproduction except by permission of the Armidale Express
June 27th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Muswellbrook have forfeited their match with Inverell.