Men’s Premier Division Match of the Round Review – UNSW-ES Bulldogs v North Shore Bombers
By Lucas Holmes
The UNSW-ES Bulldogs had the bye in round 5. In round 4 they accounted for Manly Warringah by 67 points. The North Shore Bombers won a tight contest over Inner West by 11 points in round 5.
First quarter
It was an up-tempo start to the contest from both sides, as play stayed between the two forward 50 arcs.
The Bombers kicked the first goal of the afternoon after seven minutes of elapsed time.
From a ball up on the centre wing, Mitchell Crisafulli’s tap found Charlie Sennitt alone at the stoppage. Sennitt kicked immediately and found a leading Max Thomas 45 metres out, directly in front. Thomas kept the ball low, and North Shore was on the board.
After a quick snap from Hamish Dunstan registered a minor score, the Bulldogs had their first after 14 minutes.
A ball up deep inside the forward 50 saw Thomas Baxter surrounded at the stoppage. He broke away from Bombers Captain Jake Veale before he swatted away three Bombers defenders and snapped from close range.
The Bulldogs’ second came right on the quarter time siren from Dean Towers following a lovely Cooper Kilpatrick pass.
Quarter time UNSW-ES Bulldogs 2.2.14 North Shore Bombers 1.3.9.
Second quarter
UNSW-ES started quickly in the second term, Bryon Middleton’s sweeping handball found Indhi Kirk in stride. His kick from the arc was pushed to the right-hand side for a minor score.
After the Bulldogs had the football hemmed inside their attacking 50, the Bombers didn’t waste their opportunity at the other end.
A wide handball from Veale and a short, lateral kick from Zac Fyffe opened the far centre wing. Felix Rogers’s low entry inside the forward 50 was collected by Thomas in stride. Jack Woodman waited patiently outside the contest and fired a quick handball to Josh Rayner who straightened and kicked from 25 metres out.
The middle period of the second term continued to be played between the two arcs as both backlines stood tall.
An act of ill-discipline not only led to a scuffle but the Bombers’ second goal of the term.
A downfield free kick was paid against Thomas Tyson for a late hit on Rogers. Thomas the beneficiary of the free kick in the left forward pocket ran around the corner and kicked his second goal.
The Bulldogs retook the lead late in the quarter from a Dunstan set shot from close range as a highly physical first half concluded.
Half time UNSW-ES Bulldogs 3.7.25 North Shore Bombers 3.3.21.
Third quarter
The Bulldogs once again had a fast start, Cooper Kilpatrick had the first goal of the quarter inside the first 90 seconds.
From a free kick on the half-forward flank, Kilpatrick found a leading lane inside the forward 50 and was met with a low Towers pass.
Kilpatrick kicked from 40 metres and after only kicking three goals in the first half, the Bulldogs already had their fourth.
For the Bombers, William Giacometti was moved into the ruck as Crisafulli was hampered with a hamstring injury.
North Shore had a couple of opportunities on goal through the middle period of the quarter but only registered minor scores.
However, Rayner made no mistake with 12 minutes of elapsed time.
Rayner took a strong pack mark after a deep entry inside the forward 50 from Veale. He kicked from 30 metres out on the angle, the margin cut to three points.
A last-ditch tackle on Mitchell Conn and a touch on the goal line from Jack Campbell kept the Bombers well and truly in the contest.
A classy finish from Liam Ross rounded out an entertaining third quarter. The margin was nine points in favour of the Bulldogs.
Three quarter time UNSW-ES Bulldogs 5.9.39 North Shore Bombers 5.8.38.
Fourth quarter
With the match well and truly in the balance, UNSW-ES put their foot down in the early stages of the final term.
From a ball up not far from the Bulldogs attacking goal square, Edwards went up unopposed in the ruck. However, Middleton read the tap best. He broke through a tackle and finished off the outside of his boot.
Dunstan finished a move from the backline before Tricks finished on the run from the very next centre bounce. In the blink of an eye, the margin was 27 points.
Goals to Kilpatrick and Kirk (the first goal of his senior career) were scored before Thomas had his third for the afternoon.
He was front and centre from a contest in the goal square and kicked off the ground from close range.
Majors from Towers (his second), Lachlan O’Callaghan and Ross’ second on full time finished an outstanding eight-goal final quarter for the Bulldogs.
Full time UNSW-ES Bulldogs 13.17.95 North Shore Bombers 5.8.38.
There were plenty of contributors from the home side. Liam Ross’ composure around the football was important. Fred Tricks and Hamish Dunstan impressed in the forward half whilst Jack Willis, particularly in the second half was dominant in the ruck.
Will Edwards was one of North Shore’s best across half back. Jake Veale had plenty of time and space around the ground and Josh Rayner provided a target and was efficient inside the forward 50.
UNSW-ES Bulldogs 13.17.95
Goal kickers: C. Kilpatrick 2, L. Ross 2, D. Towers 2, H. Dunstan 2, I. Kirk, T. Baxter, B. Middleton, L. O’Callaghan, F. Tricks
Best: M. Ries, T. Baxter, J. Endermann, J. Willis, L. Ross, H. Dunstan
North Shore Bombers 5.8.38
Goal kickers: M. Thomas 3, J. Rayner 2
Best: W. Edwards, J. Woodman, T. Meacham, H. Walker, J. Veale, N. Campbell
