Men’s Premier Division Match of the Round Review – Pennant Hills Demons vs. North Shore Bombers

Written By Lucas Holmes

 

Recap

Both sides came into this round 6 matchup off 100-point victories, the Pennant Hills Demons brushing aside the winless Camden Cats whilst North Shore Bombers defeated Manly Warringah.

With weather conditions cool and blustery, North Shore’s run and carry off half-back set the tone for the afternoon. Pennant Hills had their moments, but the Bombers ultimately proved too strong. Expect these two sides to be in contention when September rolls around.

First Quarter

North Shore had the better of the early exchanges at Mike Kenny Oval. An early shot from Jamie Vlatko failed to register a score.

For all the Bombers early dominance, it was the Demons who registered the first major for the afternoon. Harry Angel was dragged out of the contest following a boundary throw-in and made no mistake from the set shot.

From the resulting centre bounce, North Shore’s Christian Loone followed up his hit out and sent the ball inside the forward 50. Like all good forwards, Vlatko was in front and took a sliding mark. His set shot just made the required journey and the match was back on level terms.

The Bombers then forced a turnover on the centre wing. Sam Barkley sent the ball to the hotspot where Matthew Wilson was waiting to get a boot to the ball just before it crossed the goal line.

North Shore had two in a row before Pennant Hills Christopher Galvin and the Bombers Joshua Rayner traded goals late in the quarter.

The quarter time score Pennant Hills Demons 2.0.12 North Shore Bombers 3.2.20.

Second Quarter

On this occasion it was the Demons with the fast start, some chain handballs found Luke Skrivanic on the attacking end of the centre square. A deep kick found Angel but some wonderful scrambling defence from the Bombers saved what would have been a certain goal.

We had to wait until the nine-minute mark to see the opening goal, and it was Vlatko once more. After a scuffle broke out behind play, Luke Giacometti launched the ball high into the forward pocket, Vlatko who applied a tackle was rewarded after the umpire deemed the defender hadn’t made a genuine attempt to dispose of the football. Vlatko snapped across his body to kick his second.

Goals to Nicholas Brewer and Miles Barrett opened a 28-point margin for the Bombers, before a late Harry Maguire goal for the Demons.

The score at the main break, Pennant Hills Demons 3.1.19 North Shore Bombers 6.5.41.

Third Quarter

Similar to the first quarter, North Shore had the majority of possession and time inside the forward 50 to begin the second half.

However, the Bombers had to wait until the nine-minute mark for the scoreboard to tick over. A contest was formed after a centering ball from the half-forward flank where Jordan Law was collected high. Law who punched the ball low to keep it out of the breeze kicked his first for the afternoon. The margin back out to 28 points.

It didn’t take long for the Demons to respond. Brad Hunt roved the centre bounce and sent them onto the attack, Maguire helped the ball deep where Theo Moraitis showed great agility and snapped across his body to give them a chance to close the margin.

Moraitis did his best to carry the Demons back into the contest, his second was cancelled out by Bombers small forward Felix Rogers and Law’s second.

At three quarter time Pennant Hills Demons 5.1.31 trail North Shore Bombers 9.7.61.

Fourth Quarter

Pennant Hills needed the first goal of the final quarter if they were any chance to run down the Bombers. Although it was Rogers second five minutes in that put the margin beyond doubt.

A goal-saving tackle was applied by the Pennant Hills defence after the ball was driven deep inside forward 50 by Tom Meacham. As with all elite small forwards Rogers kept his feet snapping a goal on his left foot from 15 metres out.

The Bombers showed why they’ll be contenders in September kicking five consecutive goals before a late consolation from Wilson Mudge rounded out the match.

Full time at Mike Kenny Oval in Cherrybrook Pennant Hills Demons 6.2.38 North Shore Bombers 14.9.93.

Mitchell Blow and Maine Vidler were strong behind the football for the Demons whilst Harry Angel was lively in the forward line. For North Shore Meacham was arguably the best player on the ground and Reed Van Huisstede was a thorn in Maguire’s side for the duration.

 

Pennant Hills Demons 6.2.38

Goal Kickers: T. Moraitis 2, H. Maguire, C. Galvin, H. Angel, W. Mudge

Best: M. Blow, B. Hunt, W. Mudge, L. Skrivanic, C. Matthews, T. Edmonds   

North Shore Bombers 14.9.93

Goal kickers: M. Wilson 4, F. Rogers 2, J. Law 2, J. Vlatko 2, N. Brewer, N. Campbell, J. Rayner, M. Barritt

Best: J. Law, R. van Huisstede, K. Devlin, N. Campbell, S. Barkley, M. Wilson

 

Premier Division Men’s – Match of the Round next week; 

Sydney University vs. Pennant Hills Demons – 1:50pm Sydney University No.1 Oval

 

Photo by Merrillie Redden