Nomads win ugly at Varley Oval
The New England Nomads have beaten the Inverell Saints after a hard-fought battle at Varley Oval, a ground where the Nomads have often struggled to play well. In warm conditions Paddy Tobias, Jed Ellis-Cluff, Tom Granleese (in his 50th game for the Nomads) and Luke “Rambo” Raymond fought hard all day. Up forward Zac Economou kicked 5 and Jed Ellis-Cluff 4. The final scores were 17.10.112 to 11.13.79.
The game began in warm conditions – much warmer than the lads from the Tablelands have played in for a while – and the Nomads kicked to the southern end. The ball movement was good from the outset and the wingers and flankers were spreading well. The Flying Frenchman, Andre Garraud and young Clarrie Barker were providing plenty of targets for the midfielders. Paddy Tobias and the Jeddacutta man were getting a lot of possessions in the midfield while up back Gleeso was obviously enjoying his 50th game and causing trouble for the Inverell forwards. Luke Raymond was throwing himself into packs where blokes twice his size would be wary of going and was rewarded for this efforts. Unfortunately, our forwards were wasteful in the goal area and at the quarter-time break the Nomads’ score were probably 2 or 3 goals short of where it should have been. Scores at quarter time were 4.7.31 to 2.1.13.
The second quarter saw the game become bogged down in pack football. At times the game looked more like a set of rugby scrums with a rolling maul moving up at and down the ground. Despite the dour style of football being played the Nomads managed to kick 4 for the quarter and went to the half-time break leading 8.9.57 to 4.5.29.
The third quarter saw the game open up and both sides started to play some good football. The Nomads kicked 5 for the quarter with Zac Economou continuing his goal accumulating ways. Jed was also getting into the scorer’s corner. At the final break the Nomads lead 13.10.88 to 7.9.51.
The final quarter saw the Inverell Saints mount a real comeback and after kicking a couple of goals early they were clearly a chance of causing an upset. However, old hands steadied the ship and the Nomads scored a couple themselves and by half way through the final term the result was assured. The Nomads ran out wining by 33 points.
It was not the best exhibition on the part of the Nomads this year. Perhaps it was all of the effort the week before against the Roos but the Noeys did not bring their A-Game to Varley Oval. Admittedly it has never been a happy hunting ground for the Nomads, but more will be required if the team is to win the premiership. Standouts were Paddy “Kid Vicious” Tobias, Rambo, Jed and Gleeso.
Round 16 2015
| Saints def. by Nomads | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | P | G | B | P | ||
| Q1 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 4 | 7 | 31 | |
| HT | 4 | 5 | 29 | 8 | 9 | 57 | |
| Q3 | 7 | 9 | 51 | 13 | 10 | 88 | |
| FT | 11 | 13 | 79 | 17 | 10 | 112 | |
Team:
- C. Barker,
- D. Bioletti,
- H. Cook,
- M. Darton,
- T. Dickson,
- Z. Economou,
- J. Ellis-Cluff,
- M. Foley,
- A. Garraud,
- T. Granleese,
- W. Hall,
- T. Hunt,
- S. Macdonald,
- J. Petrascu,
- L. Raymond,
- D. Richards,
- J. Shirley,
- M. Spencer,
- O. Temoso,
- P. Tobias,
- A. Walsh,
- M. Woodward.
Goalscorers:
- Z. Economou (5),
- J. Ellis-Cluff (4),
- C. Barker,
- D. Richards,
- J. Petrascu,
- L. Raymond,
- M. Foley,
- S. Macdonald,
- T. Dickson,
- W. Hall.
Award winners:
- T. Granleese (Players' Player),
- J. Ellis-Cluff (Coach's),
- P. Tobias (President's),
- L. Raymond (Captain's),
- A. Garraud (Meehan's Plumbing Services').
