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2nd Semi Final v Central 2007
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BAD KICKING = BAD FOOTBALL!
Best: Gill, Allan, Cubillo, Sporn Against a polished team like Central you must simply capitalise on all your opportunities – and tardy finishing in front of goals cost the Roosters dearly yesterday as they fell 20 points short of the northern infidels. “We didn’t put them away…we left the door open and they came flying through”, was assistant coach Darren Jarman’s assessment of a first half which saw North only leading by eight points on the coattails of sloppy conversion in front of goal. Whilst Nick Gill’s general field work and endeavour could not be questioned yesterday, a conversion rate of only 2.6 did nothing to quell those detractors of his goalkicking. Having said that, he was not alone as our other key forwards Clinton Alleway (2.2) and Michael Wundke (1.1 plus two out-on-the full) should have also had far better returns from their opportunities. Through three ‘posters’ into the equation (Ladhams, Matty Wright and Gill all hit the post from conversion opportunities), and who knows what might have transpired – albeit the Doggies could also lay claim to the goalkicking curse in the last stanza with a return of 3-7 to North’s paltry 0-5. In stark contrast to recent outings, North bolted promisingly enough out of the blocks and, with some welcomed assistance from the umpiring fraternity, stole a handy 13 point buffer at the first change. Our lead was extended to a match-high 20 points by the eight minute mark of the second stanza (5-5 to 2-3), but it should have been more had we fully capitalised on our opportunities in front of goal. A team like Central simply needs no further invitation, as the Doggies lifted themselves off the canvass and returned the scoreboard ledger to a 7-9 equilibrium at the final change. My three quarter time fears of a Central whitewash in the last term needed only forty seconds to come to fruition – the fact that they stole the lead courtesy from one of those pesky Gowan twins just added to the frustration! “Their midfielders probably worked a bit harder than us. It was disappointing to be 20 points in front and doing well…we missed some ‘sitters’ today”, was Darren Jarman’s matter-of-fact post game assessment. “The beauty of this game is that we are still alive. We are looking very positively towards next week”, Jarman said. With the Doggies marching into a record eighth consecutive grand final, it is now only the Roosters which stand in the way of yet another boring Eagles-Central encounter on the grand final stage. Until next week…
Photos of the game can be viewed here: Pics of North v Central 2nd Semi Final 2007 |