Disappointing loss to Inverell
by Nick Schultz
Looking for our fourth win in a row, we knew we were facing a tough contest against a well-organised Inverell side – they’ve been part of the last three TAFL grand finals and their team hasn’t changed much over that time.
We came out really hard at the ball. Our on-ballers were getting it out of the middle, our backs were repelling most Inverell attacks, and our forwards were finding space. A 50m goal on the run from Anthony Reid got us going, and Matt Maxwell, despite being sick as a dog, once again showed his goal scoring knack. However, we squandered an early lead with some loose manning-up and a let up of pressure.
Again in the second we controlled the game. Our zone across the centre was really heaping the pressure on Inverell’s backline. When Jonathan Frost booted a miracle goal from the pocket (sending his kids wild), we again had a break, but much like in the first, we let it slip before half time. Another of the league’s burley but brilliant forwards was giving us a headache, as Mick Viney showed us how he goes about filling his league goal kicking trophy cabinet. Nomad cult hero Omphile Temoso got a lesson on how not to respond to bogan harassment, earning us our second potty talk yellow card in two weeks. We were 10 points down at the long break.
The feeling in the sheds at half time seemed to be that we had what it would take to match this team – that a bit of aggression and intensity for the ball would let us control the game, and have it played on our terms. We did none of this after half time. The Saints started winning the centre clearances, and our manning up around the ground was woeful. The usual suspects were busting their guts for us – Clinton Ballagh, Hamish Pearce, Paddy Tobias – but too many Nomads went missing. New Saint recruit ‘Chooky’ was killing us through the middle, and we weren’t keeping up as they rebounded out of defence. It was a pretty disappointing show from us in front of our home crowd, as we went down by 10 goals.
It was clear that both fitness and hardness were issues in the second half, and I don’t think there will be any concessions made to the Tablelands climate at training in the weeks to come. The game was a wakeup call, and I hope everyone hits the track this week prepared to do the work required to be a top side in this competition. We have the top of the table Roos in Tamworth next week, and a chance to show a bit of what we’re about.
Award winners: Players Player: Hamish Pearce, Coach’s Award: Jonathan Frost, President’s Award: Paddy Tobias, Captain’s Award: Joe Harland, Vice Chancellor’s Award: Clinton Ballagh, Red Rooster Award: Omphile Temoso.
Round 6 2010
| Nomads def. by Saints | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | P | G | B | P | ||
| Q1 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 3 | 5 | 23 | |
| HT | 6 | 4 | 40 | 7 | 8 | 50 | |
| Q3 | 8 | 7 | 55 | 11 | 14 | 80 | |
| FT | 9 | 9 | 63 | 18 | 17 | 125 | |
Team:
- A. Baillie,
- C. Ballagh,
- M. Bourke,
- M. Clayton,
- M. Dowdle,
- D. Dunlop,
- J. Frost,
- J. Harland,
- M. Maxwell,
- L. McLeod,
- C. Merrick,
- C. Murray,
- H. Pearce,
- A. Reid,
- N. Schultz,
- O. Temoso,
- P. Tobias,
- G. Wagstaff,
- A. Walsh,
- T. Walsh,
- J. Wright.
Goalscorers:
- M. Maxwell (3),
- H. Pearce (2),
- J. Frost (2),
- A. Reid,
- P. Tobias.
Award winners:
- H. Pearce (Players' Player),
- J. Frost (Coach's),
- J. Harland (Captain's),
- C. Ballagh (VC's),
- O. Temoso (Red Rooster),
- P. Tobias (Vice President's).
