The New England Nomads have returned to the top of their game after a comprehensive victory against the in-form Tamworth Kangaroos. Coming off a rather lacklustre win against the Gunnedah Bulldogs the week before, the Nomads returned to their best running football and showed they are a force to reckon with in 2014. The work of the defence was particularly impressive. The final score was 17.15.117 to 5.8.38.

The weather that greeted the Nomads when they arrived in Tamworth was positively balmy after the snowy conditions that had prevailed in Armidale over the previous two days. The Nomads were fielding one of their strongest sides in recent times with the return of Weston Whitby and the availability of all of the university students, including Zac Wells and Shannon Macdonald.

The Nomads kicked to the eastern end (away from the swimming pool) in the first quarter and right from the start the intensity was there. Most noticeable was the ferocity in the midfield where Weston Whitby and the Katman, Dr. Flexo Freund were hitting the packs with a ferocity rarely seen in the TAFL. “Mister Everwhere”, Matty Foley, kicked the first goal off a straight tap out from Big Tommy Hunt and the Nomads were away. It was in general a tight quarter and the Roos were playing good football but the signs were good for the boys from the Northern Regions. The forwards were providing plenty of options, with both Rampaging Davey Richards and Matt-the-Folpp leading strongly. And the back line were playing tightly, strengthened by the return of Gleeso. The scores at the end of the first term were 5.3.33 to 2.2.14.

In the second quarter the intensity lifted from both sides. It was clear that this was to be a big quarter. The Roos were had their forward line stacked with some of their best players, including Hodgey and Dan Overeem and so the Nomads defenders had to be on their guard. Tom Hunt was taking some strong marks, despite being double teamed for much of the quarter. In the backline, between taking breaks in the midfield, Zac Wells was doing a tight job on Hodgey and Gleeso and Coach Zac were punching anything that was put into the air. Many of those punches functioned just as effectively as a kick. In the forward line Modra was busily accumulating goals. The Nomads were also beginning to switch the ball and use their superior footskills to effect – these were all ominous signs. At half time the Nomads lead 10.7.67 to 4.3.27.

Although the Nomads were 40 points up it still felt like it was anyone’s game as play resumed in the third quarter. However, the Nomads came out and played some of the best football that has been played over the past few years in the green white and black. Long term timekeeper, and local Tamworth legend, Billy Holder said after the game that was the best third quarter of football he had seen at No.1 in all of his years. And so it was. The midfield was reading the ruck work of Ompsy and Tommy Hunt to perfection and the back line were impenetrable. The hardness at the ball was impressive. At the final break the scores were 15.10.100 o 5.5.35.

It would have been easy for the Nomads to drop off at this point but the intensity remained in the last quarter. Weston Whitby was the general in charge in the middle, Mister Everywhere playing the link-man right across the ground and on the wings Mark E Spencer, Rambo and Izzy Graham were moving the ball extremely quickly right until the final siren. Modra ended up with 6 goals but he was ably supported by a range of other players who chipped in with goals when needed. The Nomads really took the opportunities which were presented to them.

Overall it was a really pleasing team effort. All credit to the boys for rising to the occasion when it was needed. Highlights of the day included Wellsy’s run where he broke through about 5 or 6 Roos players who were surrounding him to find space in the centre of the ground (the shame of it was that he forgot to bounce the ball) and Frosty’s brief stint as full-forward where he kicked a miracle goal from the boundary. The greatest subterfuge of the day came when the Roos included a player called Rowdy – so they did. It was confusing at first with two Rowdies on the park but the Roos didn’t gain any real advantage since both sides were completely banjaxed.

All power to the Nomads. Go the Green.

Round 10 2014

This entry was posted on Monday, July 21st, 2014 at 10:09 pm and is filed under Match report. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.