Near loss lifts Nomads
From the Armidale Independent, 18/06/2014
Armidale’s undefeated football side avoided an embarrassing loss when it produced an inspired final quarter in the Tamworth AFL competition on Saturday.
The New England Nomads were down by a point against Narrabri at the final change before finding another gear to win by 19 points at Bellevue Oval.
Most pundits expected the Nomads to be too classy for the Eagles, especially on home turf, after New England thumped them by 87 points in Narrabri earlier this year.
But nothing separated the two sides for most of the game on Saturday.
The Nomads led by five points at quarter time and a point at half time, before the Eagles kicked four goals to three in the third term to hold a one-point buffer heading into the final stanza.
But under the captaincy of Weston Whitby, New England found something extra to kick 4.4 to 1.1 and maintain its unbeaten record.
The Nomads won 10.13 (73) to 8.6 (54).
Whitby kicked four goals in a best afield performance, while Tom Granleese, who booted two majors, was next best.
Others to perform well were Hoani Morrell, Dave Richards, Velani Chakalisa and Tom Hunt.
The Nomads were missing some key players due to university holidays and will face the same predicament this week when they travel to Tamworth to take on the winless Swans.
The Swans were beaten by 147 points in Inverell on Saturday, while the Tamworth Kangaroos defeated Gunnedah by four points in a thriller.
Not for reproduction except by permission of the Armidale Independent
Round 6 2014
| Nomads def. Eagles | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | P | G | B | P | ||
| Q1 | 2 | 6 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 13 | |
| HT | 3 | 6 | 24 | 3 | 5 | 23 | |
| Q3 | 6 | 9 | 45 | 7 | 5 | 47 | |
| FT | 10 | 13 | 73 | 8 | 6 | 54 | |
Team:
- C. Barker,
- V. Chakalisa,
- D. Davies,
- R. Davies,
- M. Evans,
- M. Folpp,
- J. Frost,
- C. Graham,
- T. Granleese,
- T. Hunt,
- G. Knuckey,
- S. Maseko,
- H. Morrell,
- L. Raymond,
- D. Richards,
- N. Sanders,
- O. Temoso,
- J. Veall,
- S. Walkom,
- A. Walsh,
- W. Whitby,
- M. Woodward.
Goalscorers:
- W. Whitby (4),
- T. Granleese (2),
- C. Graham,
- D. Richards,
- M. Folpp,
- N. Sanders.
Award winners:
- T. Granleese (Players' Player),
- W. Whitby (Coach's),
- V. Chakalisa (President's),
- T. Hunt (Captain's),
- C. Barker (Gleeson's).
