ROUND 3 -
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
ON Sunday, April 12 the Bombala District Football Club hosted their first home game for this season, kicking off Round 3 against Bega.
The end scores again saw mixed results for the home team, with the High Heelers taking out another convincing win and the Blue Heeler boys, whilst starting strong, ending up being defeated at home.
Ladies League Tag (Round 3)
The ladies started off strong against the grand-finalists of last year’s League Tag comp, The Bega Chicks, with both teams trying to find their own pace to set the games mood.
An uncharacteristic drop from the kick-off from the Bombala team had them on the back-foot and defending back to back sets early. It was anyone’s game for the initial 10 minutes with great hustle from both team.
However it was the experienced captain who stood up for the Bombala girls, taking on the line with a dominating run; Maree Coates (sponsored by Dommo’s Shearing) split the Bega defensive line to put first points on the board followed up with a successful conversation.
In the 22nd minute a penalty was awarded to the High Heelers 10m out from their try-line and it was Chloe Hodak who took a quick tap to off load to the supporting Monique Ingram (sponsored by Fortitude Physiotherapy) who scored close to the posts; Maree Coates again successful with the conversion.
The Bega Chicks played a very strong attacking game but the High Heelers defence held them to out to a 12-0 half time score. Sam Ingram and Janine Jamieson played a great defensive game, always quick to tag once the ball had come free from dummy half. Emma Sullivan was an asset to the team ensuring structure and plenty of talk in defence.
Both teams returned pumped after the half time break. Monique Ingram, Chloe Hodak and Jane Peadon often breaking through the Bega defensive line gaining good ground.
After another penalty was awarded to Bombala it was captain Maree Coates who steamed in again for Bombala, scoring under the posts. The conversion was successful.
Bega continued to attack the Bombala line, however a small fumble with the ball saw repossession for Bombala and a well-placed pass from Monique Ingram to a steaming Tash Stewart (Sponsored by C&G Hood) saw her hit the hole with such pace there was no one able to come close to stopping her; Tash ran the length of the field to score on the black dot. Maree Coates’ golden boot never failed her, converting Tash’s try to bring the score to 24-0.
The girls never tired throughout the second half, keeping their defence strong, quick to tag when Bega looked like scoring and strong runs by Keiarna Rodwell and Sam Ingram kept the girls fired up.
In the 40th minute the High Heelers saw themselves yet again with fantastic field position. The girls played through one of their best sets. It was down the right hand side that Tash Stewart stepped up yet again to evade defenders and break the line to score her 2nd of the day.
The final score ended as 28-0. The High Heelers were quite proud of their efforts and reports from the girls included “feeling privileged and a great sense of pride to be able to play and win in front of their home town”.
The Players Player awarded from the players went to the try scoring machine Tash Stewart, 3 points from the coach went to Emma Sullivan for her great direction, 2 points to Sam Ingram for her barn-storming runs and gutsy tags and 1 point to Keiarna Rodwell for playing great structured footy.
First Grade (Round 3)
Once the whistle blew for the start of the game all players knew they were in for a long and hard game of footy. Attack was something the boys wanted to show Bega they had and what a way to show that by Jackson Standen scoring in the 4th minute. Jackson (sponsored by J&A Murdoch) converted his own try taking the score to 6-0.
Raymond Kading and Brett Hodak showed the crowd how to attack straight up the middle of the field, both putting in many hard runs through the Bega defence throughout the game.
In the 14th minute Bega found a small hole in the Heelers line, scoring their first points for the game.
Reece Crouch was not afraid of the Bega line with some big hit-ups, keeping the Bega boys off the Heelers line. A ball fumble from Bega and an excellent pick up by Daniel Jacobs saw him off to the other end of the field sure to score, however was tackled at the 70m mark.
With all the boys fired up for the attack after Daniels run, the play was set up for Captain Joe Bobbin (sponsored by G. Moore Concreting) to score on the right hand side of the field. The conversion was unsuccessful and the score now stood at 10-6.
Our boys were on a roll!! Brett Hodak (Sponsored by Final Touches) found a gap in the Bega defense and was over the line to score. Jackson Standen converted Brett’s try giving the boys some breathing room on the score board.
Andrew Anderson, Paul Perkins and Charlie Lomas tackled well throughout the first half keeping good pressure on the Bega side.
On the half time hooter a penalty was given to the heelers and Jackson Standen went for a kick at goal, unfortunately the kick was not on target and the half time score sat at 16-12.
This would be the last of the Heelers momentum, with what seemed like panic football in the second half, forced passes and cheap penalties saw the Heelers turn over far too much possession in the second half. The Bega team took full advantage of these mistakes and were the only team to score in the second half, running in 44 unanswered points in the second half with a final score-line of 56-16.
While the Heelers were certainly disappointed by their second half effort, their first half showed how when playing as a team they have the ability to be a force to reckon with. The boys take away plenty of positives from the game and will be back more determined than ever in round 4.
Players points awarded from the players went to Andrew Anderson, relentless in directing play across the park, 3 points from coach went to Andrew as well, 2 points was shared between Brett Hodak and Chris Anderson for their tireless defense and 1 point to Charlie Lomas keeping strong out wide.
ROUND 4
The Bombala Blue Heelers’ first grade team travelled to Batemans Bay on Sunday, April 19 for a solo game, with the High Heelers having the Bye round.
The boys came away delighted with their first win of the season, the Heelers seemed destined to start seeing results as the boys continue to work hard week in week out, building on their skills both as individuals and as a team.
With a wet cloudy day it was always going to be possession as the likely determinant of the outcome. However from the kick off Bombala had to immediately defend back to back sets after a played-at charge down, kick out on the full and Sheppard call, the boys made hard work of gaining any field position and it was the Bay who crossed over for the opening points out wide. With the conversion successful the score was 6-0, 10 minutes in.
Strong runs by Rhys Crouch, Joe Bobbin and Chris Anderson saw eventual field position in Bombala’s favour and it was the combination of Paul Perkins and Brett Hodak that brought the boys devilishly close to scoring points of their own, only to be denied inches from the line.
The back and forth tussle between the sides kept even for the next few sets, again drop balls and exchange of possession kept the crowd in great anticipation. It was eventually Batemans Bay who scored out on the left hand side again with a converted try making the score 12-0.
The Bombala boys rather than hang their heads, kicked off with sheer determination and focus. It was not long before they had good field position and Rhys Crouch again with a barnstorming run made it millimetres from the line. The boys went right to Joe Bobbin who unfortunately couldn’t get the pass away in time to an unmarked Daniel Douch.
Daniel Douch and Keiren Rodwell’s dominating defence forced the next turn over in the Bombala boys favour. The boys had the ball 20m out from their line, itching to put points on the board; it was one of the senior boys stepping up, Paul Perkins (sponsored by MCH welding) taking the ball from a scoot at dummy half and slicing through the defence to score on the black dot. Daniel Jacobs converted the try to take the score to 12-6.
With only 5 minutes left on the clock it was Batemans Bay coming back to answer with one last unconverted try before half time, taking the Tigers into half time with a lead of 16-6.
The second half saw the Bombala boys take the field with a positive attitude determined to stamp their footprint on this game. It was again the combination of Paul Perkins with Brett Hodak (sponsored by Final Touches) that saw positive results with Brett scoring under the posts. With the conversion successful from Daniel Jacobs you could almost see the momentum shifting and the boy’s spirits lifting, the score became 12-16.
It wasn’t long before Bombala eventually regained position again in Batemans Bay’s half and it was the damaging run of Joe Bobbin (sponsored by G. Moore Concreting) out on the right hand side that saw him go over the line to lock the scores up and the successful conversion from Daniel Jacobs from the sideline put the Bombala boys ahead on the scoreboard for the first time in the game at 18-16.
Possession still seemed to be a key influence and with drop balls and double knock-ons it was evident both teams were battling hard against the slippery conditions. It was off a quick tap that the Bay boys hit back through their half back darting through an unsuspected Bombala team. With an unconverted try the score tipped back to the Bay’s favour at 20-18.
One player who did not seem at all deterred by the slippery conditions was Bombala’s Daniel Douch, out on the wing taking multiple high balls on the fly at great pace to carve through the defence, and eventually it was from a kick put up from Murray Jackson that bounced up to a steaming Douch who, once in space was untouchable. Douch (sponsored by Optus Bega) went in for a well-deserved try to edge the boys back in front; Daniel Jacobs conversion took the Heelers lead to 24-20.
There was 15 minutes to go at this point and the tension was mounting as the boys seemed to be able to taste victory. Barnstorming and inspirational runs from the senior boys Brett Hodak, Joe Bobbin and Paul Perkins provided the spark the boys needed to keep making good metres. Solid defence out wide by Toby Moran, Digby Walcott and Daniel Jacobs kept the Tigers at bay. However it was with 7 minutes to go that Daniel Jacobs sustained an injury requiring precautionary measures from an Ambulance. Play was suspended whilst waiting for the Ambulance and the boys returned to the sheds to keep warm and discuss the game plan to finish off the home team.
With Jacobs being cheered once leaving the field, the Bombala boys ran onto the field with obvious intent, to win! The increase in vocals alone showed that the Bombala spirit was lifted and the boys were more determined than ever to finish out the game as winners.
On the back of further strong running from Joe Bobbin and Rhys Crouch, Paul Perkins was able to get a good cross field kick away into the arms of Daniel Douch who was able to flick it backwards to a supporting Andrew Anderson (sponsored by Platypus Crash Repairs) who went over to score and seal the win for the Heelers. The try unconverted took the final score to 28-20 to the Bombala boys.
Players Players with 3 points was awarded to the ever reliable work horse Daniel Jacobs, who was happily welcomed back by the team after the game after getting the all clear from the Dr. 2 points were awarded to the classy ball handler in Daniel Douch and 1 point was shared between Brett Hodak and Chris Anderson for their powerful running and solid defensive efforts.
The boys were all delighted with their first win, commenting that they have worked hard to continue building on their efforts and it’s great to see the results paying off.
The Bombala and District Football club would like to extend a big thank you to those who came to support the players at Batemans Bay and also to their sponsors who have helped to make this season possible for Bombala including, the Bombala RSL Club, Peter Caldwell Building Supplies, Ron Milliner Earthmoving, RAW Strength Bombala, Dongwah, Bob Stewart, Our Local IGA, Pat Lomas and Imperial Hotel Bombala.
The Bombala & District Football Club look forward to hosting their second home game of the season at the Bombala Showground next Sunday, April 26, with a top of the table clash for our ladies against the undefeated Narooma League Tag side and with our boys keen to put together back-to-back wins against the Narooma Devils.
Ladies League Tag kick off is set for 1.30pm and First Grade set for 2.30pm, get along to the games this Sunday for what is assured to be an entertaining afternoon of footy.