Starting season in style
Matt Foley was one of the Nomads best against Narrabri.
The New England Nomads have wasted no time getting their premiership defence on track, registering an 87-point victory over the Narrabri Eagles on Saturday.
The two-time reigning premiers were wary of the Eagles heading into the opening round of the competition, but a 49-point third quarter, was the catalyst in the Nomads massive win.
Skipper Weston Whitby and Isaiah Graham both kicked five goals each for the Nomads, while Dave Richards booted four.
The Nomads defence was outstanding in the opening quarter as they jumped out a 31-1 lead.
Narrabri showed some fight in the second quarter, booting four goals, but the Nomads kicked three and led 51-26 at half time.
Seven third quarter goals to the Nomads put the game to bed with a period left to play, with the Eagles only able to muster three behind to see the scoreline at 100-29.
Five more goals in the fourth quarter by the Nomads ensured a comfortable victory.
Cameron Graham also kicked two goals for the Nomads, adding to goals from Tony Dickson, Tom Hunt and Shannan MacDonald.
The win got new Nomads player-coach Zac Economou off to the perfect start in his coaching career, and even he admitted surprise with the lopsided scoreline.
“It was surprisingly big,” he said.
“I certainly wasn’t expecting it to be that big a margin.”
Economou said a howling tail wind was responsible for massive first and third quarters by his side.
“We decided to start off with the wind at our backs to build a bit of a lead early on,” he said.
The coach pointed to Whitby, Richards, Matt Foley, Johnathon Frost and MacDonald as his sides best.
Economou said he was very pleased with the all round performance of his team.
“We didn’t know what to expect out there,” he said.
“The boys gelled together really well.”
On a sour note, the Nomads lost star mid-fielder Mark Spencer to a knee injury 30 seconds into the match and he is expected to miss an extended period.
The Nomads host the Tamworth Swans in Armidale this weekend.
Not for reproduction except by permission of the Armidale Express
Round 1 2014
| Eagles def. by Nomads | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | P | G | B | P | ||
| Q1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 31 | |
| HT | 4 | 2 | 26 | 7 | 9 | 51 | |
| Q3 | 4 | 5 | 29 | 14 | 16 | 100 | |
| FT | 6 | 9 | 45 | 19 | 18 | 132 | |
Team:
- C. Ballagh,
- V. Chakalisa,
- T. Dickson,
- Z. Economou,
- M. Evans,
- M. Foley,
- J. Frost,
- C. Graham,
- I. Graham,
- T. Granleese,
- W. Hall,
- T. Hunt,
- S. Macdonald,
- D. Richards,
- J. Shirley,
- M. Shirley,
- M. Spencer,
- O. Temoso,
- A. Walsh,
- W. Whitby,
- M. Woodward.
Goalscorers:
- I. Graham (5),
- W. Whitby (5),
- D. Richards (4),
- C. Graham (2),
- S. Macdonald,
- T. Dickson,
- T. Hunt.
Award winners:
- M. Foley (Players' Player),
- V. Chakalisa (Coach's),
- D. Richards (President's),
- S. Macdonald (Captain's),
- W. Whitby (Gleeson's).
