With a best on ground performance by Clarrie Barker, ably assisted by comrades-in arms Tom Hunt, Charlie Paine and Modra, and with new comer Pat Sharp kicking 9 majors, the Nomads were able to defeat the ladder leaders the Tamworth Swans relatively comfortably. Making much greater use of the spine than perhaps was the case in the halcyon days of 2012-2016, the Nomads played a direct hard-runnings style of football/ Phill Mitchell was his usual zen-backman self in the last line of defence and Benji Dutaillis and Charlie Paine kicked two goals each. Unfortunately the Nomads suffered two major injuries with both Tom Moscou and Lewis Wheatley breaking collarbones. The final scores were Nomads 16.8.104 to the Swans 10.13.73.

There was a fair bit of joy in the air after the girls won their first game. The Nomads were also glad to have more numbers on the field than the previous week. The ins included Modra and Big Tom. The team was still missing Noah Connick and Conor Nest (slightly confusing set of names there). The Nomads kicked to the Uralla End and played fairly well, especially the midfield who were dominating proceedings. Pat Sharp kicked 4 for the quarter. The forwards generally were working hard defensively which was pleasing to see, with the Yepster leading the way. Tom Moscou was injured in this quarter after a collision with what turned out to be a broken collarbone and he took no further part in the match. The score at the first break was the Nomads 5.2.32 to the Swans 3.2.20

This was a terrific battle with two sides playing good fast football. A number of times the Swans were able to move the ball quickly to their forward line after a turnover, leaving the backmen playing against superior numbers. Phill Mitchell on a number of occasions found himself one out against 3 which remarkably on several occasions he was able to defend. During this quarter Benji Dutaillis kicked 2 goals in quick succession. However, he subsequently spent the second half of the game in the backline (there were mutterings in some quarters that the Mayor of Armidale, Lord Munday, was behind this, but those rumours turned out to be completely unfounded). At the half time break the scores were the Nomads 9.3.57 to the Swans 5.5.35.

The third quarter was tight with only two goals scored by each side. Charlie Paine took a number of strong marks in this quarter up forward and Pat Sharp kept kicking truly. At three quarter the game was finely balanced with the Nomads on 11.3.39 to the Swans 7.10.52.

In the final quarter the Nomads strength, especially in the middle, proved to be too much for the Swans and the Nomads kicked 5 goals to the Swans 3. The biggest noise of the day was reserved for Ira by the very partisan crowd, yelling IRAH as he kicked for goal. It is not clear to those watching that this was necessarily that helpful. Pat Sharp continued on his merry way and he now has 23 goals in 3 matches. The final score saw the Nomads victorious by 31 points. Clap Clap.

Photo courtesy of Richard Jones of Balcony Films.

So the Nomads are have now won 4 games and, as it turns out, have beaten all of the sides except for Moree (and that was Moree’s only victory). W will have an interesting time over the next few weeks with uni holidays but hopefully we will be able to field reasonably strong sides.

Awards
Players Player C. Barker
Coach’s award: C. Paine
President’s award: P. Sharp
Captain’s award: P. Mitchell
Meehans plumbing award: T. Hunt

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