Nomads comfortable in first home game
The Nomads first home game of the season resulted in a 9.18 (72) to 4.16 (40) victory over the Gunnedah Bulldogs.
In beautiful conditions at Bellevue Oval, New England chose to kick towards the grand stand and sprung out to a 15-point lead by quarter time. They held this lead until the fourth quarter when they were able to pull further ahead as a result of their improving ball movement.
Gunnedah were only able to raise 17 players for this fixture resulting in a 16-a-side game. Nomads’ coach Brendan Meehan chose to set up his 16 with just two forwards and two half-forwards. The room this decision created was taken advantage of by Johnathon Frost in the first quarter, running beyond the half-forward line to find space in the right forward pocket and create numerous opportunities.
For much of the second quarter New England defended stoutly as the Bulldogs kept them pinned in their defensive fifty. A combination of good defensive pressure and some inaccurate shooting allowed the Nomads to maintain their lead.
The third quarter saw very little scoreboard action as the two teams battled for control of the game, but in the final quarter an improving Nomads side cruised to victory.
Having worked hard on communication and support during the week’s training sessions, the Nomads put in their best team effort of the season so far in this match. However, one or two people were still worthy of being singled out for a mention. Hamish Pearce put in a superb display of combative football, having numerous possessions and contesting the ball all over the oval. Weston Whitby top-scored and put in spells in the centres despite carrying an injury. In the defence, which was generally excellent, Grant Wagstaff was the standout performer never giving his opponent a inch.
In Tamworth, the Swans had a 21.10 (136) to 11.7 (73) victory over the Narrabri Eagles. Muswellbrook Cats forfeited their fixture in Inverell.
Round 4 2010
| Nomads def. Bulldogs | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | P | G | B | P | ||
| Q1 | 4 | 4 | 28 | 2 | 1 | 13 | |
| HT | 6 | 8 | 44 | 3 | 9 | 27 | |
| Q3 | 6 | 14 | 50 | 4 | 11 | 35 | |
| FT | 9 | 18 | 72 | 4 | 16 | 40 | |
Team:
- A. Baillie,
- C. Ballagh,
- M. Bourke,
- D. Brown,
- M. Clayton,
- R. Crump,
- M. Dowdle,
- D. Dunlop,
- J. Frost,
- J. Harland,
- M. Maxwell,
- L. McLeod,
- C. Murray,
- G. Nelson,
- H. Pearce,
- O. Temoso,
- G. Wagstaff,
- A. Walsh,
- T. Walsh,
- W. Whitby,
- J. Wright.
Goalscorers:
- W. Whitby (4),
- M. Maxwell (2),
- H. Pearce,
- J. Frost,
- T. Walsh.
Award winners:
- H. Pearce (Players' Player),
- C. Murray (Coach's),
- J. Harland (President's),
- C. Ballagh (Captain's),
- G. Wagstaff (VC's),
- J. Frost (Red Rooster).
