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| HARBOURSPORT |
With no AFL matches scheduled last weekend, Community Football Weekend was celebrated in the Sydney AFL; a weekend that turned back the clock to the past while showcasing the future. Nick Davis was present at the St George game at Olds Park, Lewis Roberts-Thompson was at Gore Hill and Kieran Jack returned to watch Pennant Hills in action. Picken Oval was brought back into active service, as was Charles McLaughlin Oval. But among the nostalgia, the players of the future took part in Auskick while young guns again asserted themselves as exciting new talent in Sydney football.
Picken Oval had been taken out of retirement last week, and again was in action when Wests hosted Sydney Uni. The Students came into the match as favourites, having started strongly with a 4-match losing streak before going down to Pennant Hills in round 5. But the determined Wests had other ideas, getting on top early and leading at every change. Several times during the match the Magpies made a break and looked set to run away with the match, but the Students kept chipping away to bring the deficit under control.
There was only a kick in it at the last change; but with the first 4 goals of the last term, it again appeared that Wests had built a match-winning lead. The larger than expected crowd was in voice, with the roars being heard from blocks away. But the Students weren't done yet, pushing the ball forward to their running small forwards to shift the match momentum. From being 28 points down at the 13 minute mark, 5 unanswered goals tipped the fortunes Sydney Uni's way; and Coles' goal as the clock ticked over 22 minutes put the University side in front for the first time.
The Students had their tails up, but despite the setback of a match that had looked theirs for the taking all day looking to be slipping away, the Magpie heads refused to drop. Instead, they dug deep and found reserves of character to work their way out of trouble. Using the narrow wings to perfection, they found Lyn Roehrig in front of the clubhouse to kick and restore Wests' lead. Again going wide to that pocket, they found Nathan Scarfo who milked the clock before driving home the sealer. The siren sounded moments after the restart to give Wests a well-deserved 10-point win; and for the first time in close to 30 years the Wests song was sung from the old changerooms.
It was a result that kept Wests in the top 5, continuing a promising opening to their season. For Sydney Uni, it was a disappointing loss; and coach Daniel Archer will be working hard over the coming weeks to ensure the solid first month of the season doesn't go to waste.
The winds of change blowing through Sydney football look to be a breath of fresh air for UNSW-ES, but an ill wind indeed for North Shore. Even during the Bombers' strongest era, the Bulldogs have always been a bogey side; and the Bulldogs maintained their record of beating the Bombers every season since 2002, doing it in style with a comprehensive 157-point victory. The Bulldogs were too big, too fast and too good for the undermanned North Shore side, 9 unanswered goals in the third term sealing their fate and setting them up for the double-century.
East Coast v Pennant Hills went back to Charles McLaughlin as the Eagles celebrated "Back to Baulko Day"; but one thing that hasn't changed is Pennant Hills' recent dominance of the Hills derby. Both sides were severely depleted due to injury, unavailability and rep commitments; but after an even first half it was a 6-goal burst during the premiership quarter that threw the result of the match beyond doubt. Matthew Eddy and Alistair Richardson were twin targets up forward for the Demons, kicking 4 goals apiece in their 33-point win.
And a welcome change was in the air for the locals at Drummoyne, when Balmain finally took out their first win under the purple Dockers' banner when they comfortably accounted for Wollongong by 64 points. The Dockers had posted much-improved performances in recent weeks to give promise that a win wasn't far away; and once they got a sniff there was no way they were going to let it go. Nathan Darvill scored 6 for the Dockers and Evan Davis 4 in a day when the Dockers were able to finally celebrate and reap the rewards for their recent efforts.
St George moved into the top 5 when the Crows recorded a 57-point win over Campbelltown at Olds Park. The Crows unveiled two new signings from the Black Diamond League, Chris Gordon and Maurice Goolagong, and both were prominent as the Crows were dominant around the ground; extending their lead at every change. After an inconsistent opening to the season, it was a stronger performance by St George; and with several key players still to return to the lineup, the Crows remain very much still in contention. But for Campbelltown, the form of the first few weeks appears to have deserted them; and the first mid-season break gives them a chance to work on rebuilding that momentum.
It was a round of lopsided contests in First Division. Holroyd-Parramatta defeated NorWest Jets by 56 points at Gipps Rd, while Southern Sharks had no answer to UTS, going down by 90 points. Macquarie Uni took out a 102-point win over Penrith; while Manly dominated Camden all day to race to a 163-point win.
Western Suburbs 4.1 9.8 9.9 15.10 (100)
Sydney University 3.3 6.5 8.10 13.12 (90)
Goals : Wests - M Eurell 3, N Scarfo 3, C French 2, M Withers 2, C McGuirk, A Dowdle, T O'Neil, E Kassem, L Roehrig. Sydney Uni - A Lee 3, B Coles 2, A Hawkins, M Egan, B Fitzpatrick, B Mankarious, J McGuirk, C McLachlan, T Air, J Carr.
Reserves - Sydney Uni 18.15 (123) d Wests 8.2 (50)
At Picken Oval, Sunday 11th May 2008.
Uni NSW-Eastern Suburbs 7.5 14.9 23.12 32.15 (207)
North Shore 4.0 6.0 6.0 8.2 (50)
Goals : UNSW-ES - E Kiel 5, B Abbott 5, E Carroll 3, M Carey 3, D Rampe 2, S Rutland 2, A Heffernan 2, P Kefalas 2, N O'Brien 2, T Luff 2, D Coupe, B Sutton, A Darling, L Jarjoura. North Shore - A Nicks 2, J O'Dell, P Brackin, B Attwood, M Thompson, A Lowes, B Fitzgerald.
Reserves - UNSW-ES 20.12 (132) d North Shore 3.5 (23)
At Gore Hill Oval, Saturday 10th May 2008.
Pennant Hills 2.1 8.8 14.9 16.10 (110)
East Coast Eagles 3.3 6.8 6.9 nbsp; 11.11 (77)
Goals : Pennant Hills - M Eddy 4, A Richardson 4, N Campbell 3, M Carey 2, K Wright 2, J Clarke. East Coast - B Rogers 2, G Seebeck 2, D Spiteri, A Floyd, S Ryan, G Garner, A Polkinghorne, J Vlatko, R Smyth.
Reserves - Pennant Hills 14.10 (94) d East Coast 11.6 (72)
At Charles McLaughlin Oval, Saturday 10th May 2008.
Balmain 2.2 8.8 12.14 19.13 (127)
Wollongong 3.5 5.10 5.12 8.15 (63)
Goals : Balmain - N Darvill 6, E Davis 4, R Officer 3, J Dickens 2, D Brain, D Hall, J Boyd, R Doran. Wollongong - C Stanton, M Shepherd, S Dowling, S Dennis, T Heath, M Dombroski, G Batty, T Bartlett.
Reserves - Wollongong 10.21 (81) d Balmain 10.8 (68)
At Drummoyne Oval, Saturday 10th May 2008.
St George 3.7 8.10 12.13 13.16 (94)
Campbelltown 2.1 3.2 4.5 5.7 (37)
Goals : St George - M Goolagong 4, A Low 3, D Ryan 2, P Dugmore 2, D Ward, T Addison. Campbelltown - C Fretwell 2, S Kershaw 2, S Doherty.
Reserves - St George 30.15 (195) d Campbelltown 3.0 (18)
At Olds Park, Saturday 10th May 2008.
| Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | Pts | %age | Streak | |
| Uni NSW-Eastern Subs | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 769 | 488 | 20 | 157.58 | W3 |
| Pennant Hills | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 690 | 507 | 20 | 136.09 | W3 |
| Sydney University | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 651 | 534 | 16 | 121.91 | L2 |
| St George | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 529 | 448 | 16 | 118.02 | W2 |
| Western Suburbs | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 579 | 502 | 16 | 115.34 | W1 |
| East Coast Eagles | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 617 | 513 | 12 | 120.27 | L1 |
| Campbelltown | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 349 | 603 | 8 | 57.88 | L3 |
| Wollongong | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 492 | 650 | 4 | 75.69 | L3 |
| Balmain | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 486 | 644 | 4 | 75.47 | W1 |
| North Shore | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 428 | 701 | 4 | 61.03 | L1 |
First Division:
Holroyd-Parramatta 18.16 (124) d NorWest Jets 10.8 (68)
Uni Technology, Sydney 22.13 (145) d Southern Sharks 8.7 (55)
Macquarie Uni 23.9 (147) d Penrith 6.9 (45)
Manly-Warringah 33.17 (215) d Camden 8.4 (52)
Reserve Grade
Holroyd-Parramatta 10.12 (72) d NorWest Jets 7.12 (54)
UTS 23.17 (155) d Southern Sharks 5.5 (35)
Macquarie Uni 28.22 (190) d Penrith 6.2 (38)
Manly-Warringah 39.18 (252) d Camden 1.1 (7)
Second Division:
UTS 8.23 (71) d Macquarie Uni 3.2 (20)
Pennant Hills 20.22 (142) d Manly-Warringah 1.0 (6)
Sydney Uni Blue d Holroyd-Parramatta - forfeit
UNSW-ES Bulldogs 16.18 (114) d Sydney Uni Red 3.5 (23)
Moorebank Sports 16.16 (112) d UNSW-ES Whales 5.5 (35)
Under 18s Premier:
Wollongong 19.20 (134) d Balmain 4.4 (28)
North Shore Bombers 23.19 (157) d St Ignatius Riverview 5.3 (33)
Campbelltown 16.5 (101) d St George 4.7 (31)
Pennant Hills 10.11 (71) d East Coast Eagles 8.6 (54)
North Shore Bears 16.10 (106) d Western Suburbs 12.11 (83)
Under 18s Challenge:
East Coast Eagles 8.7 (55) d Pennant Hills 5.4 (34)
Macquarie Uni 16.14 (110) d Penrith 6.9 (45)
UNSW-ES 15.14 (104) d Manly-Warringah 5.5 (35)
Moorebank Sports 11.7 (73) d Southern Sharks 8.10 (58)
NEXT WEEK'S FIXTURES
Representative Fixture
Saturday 17th May
Newcastle No 1 Sports Ground - Black Diamond AFL v Sydney AFL (2:00pm)
Premier Division Reserves (Round 1 Catch-Up Fixtures)
Saturday 17th May
Olds Park - St George v North Shore (2pm)
Picken Oval - Western Suburbs v Wollongong (2pm)
St Pauls Oval - Sydney Uni v Balmain (2pm)
Village Green - UNSW-ES v East Coast Eagles (2pm)
Ern Holmes Oval - Pennant Hills v Campbelltown (2:15pm)
First Division
Saturday 17th May (Seniors 2:10pm, Reserves 12pm)
Bensons Lane - NorWest Jets v Macquarie Uni
Fairfax Reserve - Camden v UTS
Greygums Oval - Penrith v Manly-Warringah
Gwawley Oval - Southern Sharks v Holroyd-Parramatta
Second Division
Saturday 17th May
Ern Holmes Oval - Pennant Hills v Macquarie Uni (8:15am)
Pittwater No 5 - Manly-Warringah v UNSW-ES Bulldogs (10am)
St Pauls Oval - Sydney Uni Red v Holroyd-Parramatta (10am)
St Pauls Oval - Sydney Uni Blue v Moorebank Sports (12pm)
Village Green - UNSW-ES Whales v UTS (12pm)
Under 18s Premier
Saturday 17th May
Olds Park - St George v North Shore Bombers (12pm)
Picken Oval - Western Suburbs v Wollongong (12pm)
Pittwater No 5 - North Shore Bears v Balmain (12pm)
Ern Holmes Oval - Pennant Hills v Campbelltown (12:15pm)
Sunday 18th May
Riverview Fourth - St Ignatius Riverview v East Coast Eagles (10am)
Under 18s Challenge
Saturday 17th May
Greygums Oval - Penrith v Manly-Warringah (10am)
Gwawley Oval - Southern Sharks v East Coast Eagles (10am)
Ern Holmes Oval - Pennant Hills v Moorebank Sports (10:15am)
Sunday 18th May
Village Green - UNSW-ES v Macquarie Uni (10am)