Division
1 - JETS Prevail in Grand Final Replay
In
perfect conditions for footy the JETS took-on ANU on Saturday
in front of another large home crowd at Ken Zimmer Oval. This
was the first time the sides had met since the 2006 Grand
Final and no doubt ANU had revenge on their minds. Both had
played Harman in recent weeks which provided the form guide
going into this match – the JETS finding it more difficult
to put Harman away in Round 2 than ANU did in Round 1 so this
promised to be an entertaining match.
ANU
started well scoring early goals before the JETS got going
to register their first major for the day and in an entertaining
first quarter, both sides looked like they had come to play.
ANU had the better of the quarter, making the most of their
scoring chances kicking three straight, while the JETS managed
2 goals 3 behinds to go into the first break trailing by 3
points. The second quarter saw the momentum shift in the JETS
favour as they began to run the ball with more efficiency
and spot targets in their forward line with precision, while
their defenders were miserly in restricting ANU to 1 goal
3 behinds for the term. The JETS added 6 goals 5 behinds for
the quarter to open up a handy 29 point lead at half time.
The
third quarter was more of the same as the JETS continued to
use the ball efficiently while restricting the ANU forwards
to just 2 goals 1 behind for the quarter as the JETS forwards,
well led by Ben Thornton managed a further 5 goals 4 behinds
to extend their lead to 50 points at the last change.
ANU
were struggling to keep pace with the JETS and needed a dramatic
change of form in the last quarter to avoid an embarrassing
defeat, however this did not eventuate as the JETS continued
to dominate the match with a further 3 goals 3 behinds for
the quarter while the rock-solid JETS defence held the ANU
forwards to a single behind. In a match that promised to be
a tough, close encounter, it never really got going as the
JETS coasted to an easy 70-point victory after a competitive
first term. The JETS ability to maintain their intensity while
using the ball effectively and the great work by their defence
were highlights and should give them plenty of confidence
going into their Round 4 match against Woden.
FINAL
SCORE: JETS 16-15-111 def ANU 6-5-41
GOALS:
6 B. Thornton, 2 A. Kouvaras, M. Porter, 1 T. Pellow, R. Schlesinger,
J. Clarkson, B. Martin
BEST: D. Munday, S. Truesdale, M. Clayton,
A. Wainwright, T. Pellow
Division
2 - JETS Fight Hard for Win
After
their big win over Harman the week before, the JETS knew they
had a much tougher test ahead of them in their Round 3 clash
against an ANU team that had also enjoyed a good start to
the season. With their best side named so far this season
the JETS were full of confidence going into this one but it
was ANU who started better, posting the first 3 goals of the
game in very quick succession. Once settled the JETS began
to move the ball better through the midfield which gave their
forwards better opportunities, resulting in goals that stopped
ANU in their tracks and remarkably, by quarter time the JETS
had managed an 11-point lead after ANU did all the early work.
The
JETS effort in the second quarter was much better as their
running play, defensive work and good use of the ball inside
the forward 50 resulted in more scoreboard pressure. By half
time the JETS had extended their lead to 34 points while restricting
ANU to 2 goals 3 behinds for the quarter. The third quarter
saw another shift in momentum as ANU came to life once again,
completely dominating the quarter and outscoring the JETS
5 goals to none. The advantage the JETS had worked so hard
for in the first half was all but erased as they limped to
the three-quarter time huddle with only a four point lead,
but more worrying was the momentum of the game rested squarely
with ANU.
Coach
Marc Housley pleaded with his players to lift their work rate
in the last quarter, and even the toughest critics would have
been pleased with the JETS effort. Not only did they manage
to stop ANU’s run, they were able to create opportunities
for themselves and more importantly, make the most of them
under plenty of pressure. For much of the final term the game
was up for grabs with both sides desperate to gain some breathing
space. After trading goals the JETS held a 2-point lead into
the last 5 minutes of the match and did what was needed to
close out the game, scoring the last two goals to complete
a hard-fought 15-point win.
FINAL
SCORE: JETS 14-9-93 def ANU 12-6-78
GOALS:
4 A. Ingold, 2 N. Arch, M. Housley, C. Burgess, 1 A. Hill,
S. McNiell, G. McLeod
BEST: J. Ryan, A. Hill, D. Bryce, R. Wheatley,
P. Coussens
The
JETS Round 4 clash with Cootamundra in Cootamundra will provide
their toughest test to date and a win there will be vital
in setting-up their season. |
