DARREN MONCRIEFF
Thursday, September 1, 2011
SOUTH Australia is hitting its straps, Northern Territory win a golden-point thriller, and WA continues its unbeaten run on day 2 on the Gold Coast today.
Conceding seven scoring shots to one to Queensland in the first half, the Croweaters recovered in stunning fashion to win 5.1 (31) to 3.7 (25) at Southport.
The Queenslanders had the run of the game early with goals to Didymus Blanket and Tyson Wilson, plus several near misses, before SA could score. However, Kyle Jackson chaged that when he got his team on the score sheet just before the break.
Then the lads from the south shifted into gear.
Tyler McKenzie and Kym Lebois led SA from the front. Goals came from their hard work with Colin Sansbury and James Brennan kicking singles.
Queensland returned fire to take back the lead but SA's Eddie Smallwood steadied the ship. And when Jacob Stengle kicked his side's fifth goal near full-time it completed a terrific turnaround for the South Australians.
Northern Territory got its first win of the championships on the board with a thrilling 4.3 (27) to 3.3 (18) victory over Victoria/Tasmania, which came in golden-point extra time after scores were locked on 3.3 at full-time.
After an even first half, the Vic/Tas combine began to find more of the ball.
Djye Thorpe-Morgan, one of his side's leading players, got the ball forward countless times. And when team-mate Bohdi Walker kicked two quality goals it seemed the result was in the bag.
But Laurie Donation's goal brought NT back in the game. Moments later Nicholas Corbett tied the scores with his first goal.
The frantic remaining minutes saw the ball bounce pinball-style from one end to the other until the siren sounded to end the game.
With a win-loss result needed for final placings, golden-point extra time was added: first score wins. The game picked up another level as both sides fought desperately to force the ball forward.
NT got the break when Tiwi Islander Adam Tipungwuti found the ball in space and he made no mistake 30 metres out.
A certain draw looked likely in the earlier NSW/ACT-Queensland match.
Queensland were leading by six points deep in the second half when NSW/ACT's Brendan Curry-Johnstone raised his eyes to see a team-mate on a fast lead from a forward pocket. Brendan's kick, however, was smothered by the agile Amey Odo and barely three seconds later the siren sounded with Queensland in front, 3.3 (21) to 2.3 (15).
Western Australia asserted its class with a 7.2 (44) to 3.3 (21) win over NT, in which WA's Jamie Ryder kick the game's first goal inside the first minute, while Jarrod Pickett kicked two majors for the victors.
More results can be found here.
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 23/11/2011 10:13