Chris Yeend
It may not have been the most attractive game of football, but Riddell and the Sunbury Kangaroos put on a world class example of hard physical football in game one of the RDFL round 13 split round on Sunday afternoon at the Riddells Creek Reserve. The Sunbury Kangaroos led and dominated most of the day but the Bombers snuck home, thanks to the boot of Ben Sonogan, to prevail by just one point.
SUNDAY FOOTBALL
The Bombers and the Roos battled it out in a rare home and away game on a Sunday. The a stand alone game was part of round 13 which commences in two weeks. Spectators from all clubs were in attendance to see the epic battle. The social rooms side of the ground was wet and muddy while the far side was very soft under foot.
POOR KICKING
The Bombers were switched on early and won the ball through the middle more often than the Roos. Haydn Ross and Brian Ruffell kicked two points. The battle between Sunbury's Jamie Cuffe and Riddell's Ben Sonogan was a great dual to watch across the Roos forward line. Cuffe's son Tierone was relentless around the ball and sharked plenty of contests off the hit outs which were in buckets and spades as neither team could break away from quickly developing packs. Jason King kicked a wobbly left foot goal in the right forward pocket on the run to open the goal-scoring for the game at the nine minute mark to give the Roos a five-point lead. The Bombers inaccuracy proved costly and trailed by four points at the opening break.
HARD GOING
The second quarter mirrored the first. Both sides found it very hard to win clear possession. Sunbury worked hard as it took on everything that Riddell threw at its backline and cleared well with numbers from half back through Dan Gregory, Bobby Johnson and Adam Walsh. Chris Meacham and Lucas Dowson goaled within three minutes to extend the lead to 16 points at the eight-minute mark. Brian Ruffell ended his streak of three misses with a mark, quick turn around, play on and goal at the 12-minute mark of the term. The Roos managed to lead by 14 points at half time.
GAME CHANGING MOVE
Riddell's Ben Sonogan moved from the backline to the forward line and the results were instant. He proved to be a strong marking target and restrict the influence of Sunbury's backmen. Matt Sammut was in the thick of everything for Riddell and was often sighted giving the ball to the umpire to start another ruck contest. The battle between Riddell's James Nolan and Sunbury's Leigh Fishendon was a treat but it was 40 year-old big man Jamie Cuffe who pushed back, ran hard and would often win the contest at half forward in the same passage of play. Riddell forwards Silvester and Cox kicked goals to reduce the margin to one point at the nine-minute mark of the third term before the Roos responded with three goals of their own in six minutes to lead by a game high 17 points heading into time-on.
SILLY FREE KICKS
Sunbury gave away several free kicks. Riddell's Cam Casson kicked a goal from 50 metres out, was bumped off the ball and awarded a free kick after the ball sailed through for a goal. He kicked truly from the same spot as the Bombers hit the front at the 25 minute mark. Jared Pretty's second goal put Sunbury in front by four points at three quarter time.
THRILLING FINISH
Jarryd Cox put Riddell in front with a goal on the run in the opening minute of the final term. Sunbury responded with the next three goals to Jamie Cuffe, Meacham and Pretty. Matt Darby responded for Riddell with a check side goal at the 12-minute mark for Riddell. Ben Sonogan proved the hero with two goals at the 21 and 23-minute mark to put the Bombers up by a point. The stage was set for a grand stand finish. The Roos pushed forward before the Bombers calmly moved the ball to centre wing. The ball stayed there for the final three minutes as players threw themselves at everything. The siren sounded in front of the interchange gates. Riddell players celebrated while Sunbury were left to wonder what might have been after they dominated the game for much of the day.
RADIO
Tune into 100.7 Highlands FM this Friday from 6.30pm and again on Saturday from 12pm for the Football Netball Preview Show. This will lead up to the big game between Riddell and Romsey live at the Riddells Creek Reserve from 1.30pm on 100.7 and 88.1FM.
Last Modified on 10/07/2012 16:55