Match One: Tamworth Swans 17.19.121 def Gunnedah Bulldogs 12.12.84 at Number One Oval
The Tamworth Swans have ended season 2013 on a high winning their second game of the season with a win over the Bulldogs 37 points on Saturday afternoon. The win was the second on the trot for the Swans and following a close loss to the Saints a couple of weeks ago, they have finished the season off showing there is plenty of fight in the troops in 2014.
The first half of this clash was tight. Both teams attacked the ball well, and despite the "friendly" nature of the contest, both were keen to finish the season off with a win. Also in the back of the minds of both clubs would have been the opporunity to move off the bottom of the ladder by the end of the day. As the long change approached, the Swasn started to get more ascendency and took a slender 1 point lead into the sheds at half time.
The third quarter was where the Dogs started to slow, with the warm conditions and a lack of numbers on the bench starting to take it's toll. They continued to battle hard, but the Swans had extended their lead to 15 points at the last change and looked to be goign the better.
The last 25 minutes of footy for the season for both clubs had an air of what could have been. The skill level was high and both teams continued to fight for the contested footy. The Swans continued to press and the pressure eventually told on the Dogs who allowed 4 goals to one for the quarter and see the final margin extend past 6 goals. Unfortunately for the Dogs, a goal almost on the siren condemned them to the wooden spoon in season 2013, after starting the season with such confidence.
Sam Wealand was the main destroyer up front for the Swans with 6 goals for the game with Gavin Knee kicking 3 himself. Together with Sam Shelton, Knee and Wealand were the best performers on the day for the victors. The Dogs had Ben Middlebrook, Jesse Dixon and Damien Baldwin as their main goal kickers with 3 each. James Mack, Michael Kennedy and John Woolaston were their best in a losing effort.
Match Two: Tamworth Kangaroos 12.16.88 def Inverell Saints 12.11.83 at Number One Oval
The second of the catch up matches for the weekend saw something of a dead rubber between the Roos and Saints in Tamworth. Both clubs had secured their places in the final four and only a huge win by the Roos was going to be enough for the places to be changed for the double chance to finish the season.
The match was close throughout, with both clubs looking to shore up their sturctures a week out from finals while at the same time restrict any injuries. The Roos were missing many key players, as were the Saints, and the match became a battle of the backlines as both coaches pushed forward their trusty defenders in the hope they could slot a couple of goals and possibly add a dimension to their games during the final series.
With 5 minutes to go, the match looked all but over as the Roos asserted their dominance on the match. However, two goals in a matter of minutes to the Saints brought the margin back to 5 points with 70 seconds to go. A frantic last minute ensued, with Saints veteran Fraser Hughes having a shot on the siren to win the game. Unfortunately for the visitors, the kick fell short and the Roos were winners on the day to draw equal on points with the Saints but with an inferior percentage.
No details are known about the game, except that the 3 Gillies Medal vote counts went to Alex Hudson of the Roos, 2 to Nick Baird of the Saints, and 1 to Dan Gimbert of the Roos.
Last Modified on 14/08/2013 12:40