Men’s Premier Division Match of the Round Review – Sydney University v UNSW-ES Bulldogs

Written by Lucas Holmes

 

Sydney University defeated Manly Warringah by 68 points in round 7. The UNSW-ES Bulldogs won a tough contest against St. George by 9 points.

 

First quarter

The Bulldogs extracted the centre clearance from the opening bounce, but it was quick thinking from Angus Jones who had the first shot on goal.

UNSW-ES looked to spread the football from defence through Max Ries. Jones took a reflex mark and played on immediately but couldn’t screw the ball around enough. A minor score with only one minute gone in the match.

Sydney University strike forward Izaac Hughes registered a behind himself soon after, but they made no mistake with their third shot on goal.

Austin Lucy took an intercept mark from a hacked Bulldogs clearance. He then found Nathan Battaglia on a long, searching lead who took a contested mark.

Battaglia converted the set shot from 40 metres out on the angle, and for all their dominance in the early exchanges, Sydney University finally had the first major.

Having limited opportunities in the first term, the Bulldogs replied with a goal of their own after ten minutes of elapsed time.

From a boundary throw-in between the half-back flank and the centre wing Ethan Eshuys somehow got a handball away to Liam Ross on the overlap. Tom Banuelos presented to Ross on the half-forward flank, who then unselfishly found Dean Towers leading back to the goal square who kicked a well-worked team goal.

After a slow start for their high standards, the Bulldogs quickly kicked into gear. Eshuys’ goal came soon after, before a flurry of late goals rounded out a strong end to the quarter.

Quarter time Sydney University 1.3.9 UNSW-ES Bulldogs 6.4.40.   

 

Second quarter

It was another fast start for Sydney University, Hughes leapt high and then found Cordner deep in the forward pocket. Cordner on the wrong side for a left-footer kept the ball to the near side for a behind.

University had several entries inside their forward 50 and the Bulldogs’ defence was resolute. Jasper Hardy and Jake Brown took intercept marks deep in defence.

But it was UNSW-ES who kicked a counter-attacking goal through Brodie Romensky.

Brown got a fist to the ball at centre half-back which opened the centre corridor. A lateral kick found Banuelos whose pass to the half-forward flank was well-handled by Eshuys. He quickly found Romensky who followed up the play and marked in the left forward pocket.

Romensky played on around the corner and kicked another goal against the run of play.

Sydney University responded minutes later through Nick Foster. Tackling pressure inside the forward 50 caused a quick kick out of defence by the Bulldogs. Hughes couldn’t quite reel in the mark but bought the football to the ground. Jack Dimery’s kick off a step found Foster in front of his direct opponent and kicked from just outside the goal square

Cordner’s second directly from a ruck contest before Hughes utilised his speed and snapped across his body from the forward pocket.

The momentum had well shifted at the main break.

Half time Sydney University 4.7.31 UNSW-ES 7.6.48.

 

Third quarter

The Bulldogs scored a behind from the first passage of play in the second half as they looked to wrestle back the momentum in their favour.

However, Sydney University transitioned the ball from defence to kick their fourth consecutive goal after four minutes of elapsed time.

Hughes leapt at centre half-forward and bought Cordner’s kick to the ground. Jones roved the contest and somehow got a kick away and dribbled the ball home from distance.

A feature of this onslaught from Sydney University in the late second and the early third term was the tackling pressure. The Bulldogs struggled to win clear possessions, particularly around stoppages.

Jones was influential in University’s sixth goal. Both Hughes then Jones played on quickly on the centre wing and half-forward flank. Jones’s kick to a leading Cordner was superb who converted the set shot on the angle from 35 metres out.

UNSW-ES had limited opportunities through the later stages of the quarter as their lead was reduced to seven points at the final change.

Three quarter time Sydney University 6.8.44 UNSW-ES Bulldogs 7.9.51.

 

Fourth quarter

Sydney University went straight inside their forward 50 to begin the final term. Both Hughes and Cordner had set shots deep in their non-proffered pockets and only yielded a minor score between them.

Another behind bought the margin inside a goal for the first time since the first quarter.

Round 7 Rising Star nominee Bryon Middleton had a chance to extend the Bulldogs’ lead.

Quick ball movement which involved Romensky and Towers ended with an uncontested mark to Middleton at centre half-forward. His set shot from 50 metres out stayed out to the right-hand side. The margin was an even goal.

Mitchell Conn didn’t miss when the UNSW-ES went forward minutes later.

Brown’s high kick on the half-back flank created a contest on the centre wing. A wide handball found Jackson Tikkeros in stride who kicked in the direction of Conn inside the forward 50.

Conn received a kind bounce, steadied and drilled the ball home under no pressure as the Bulldogs had the first goal of the final term.

After the University defence held up, they came roaring back.

Several behinds were scored before they had their first goal of the quarter after 21 minutes of elapsed time. Dimery converted a set shot from 45 metres out as the home supporters urged their team on.

Hughes added his second from a short set shot before Foster kicked the sealer as Sydney University gave the Bulldogs their first loss of season 2022.

Full time Sydney University 9.18.72 UNSW-ES Bulldogs 8.12.60.

 

Both Peter Spurling and Tim Cordner were crucial for Sydney University in the ruck and around the ground. Spurling took several intercept marks in defence. Spencer Krochmal was a rock behind the football.

Jack Willis worked hard against the ruck tandem, he also impacted the game around the ground. Fred Tricks was important around the contest so too was Brodie Romensky.

 

Sydney University 9.18.72

Goal kickers: T. Cordner 2, N. Foster 2, I, Hughes 2, J. Dimery, A. Jones, N. Battaglia

Best: N. Lees, L. Wilson, I. Hughes, P. Spurling, N. Foster, S. Krochmal

 

UNSW-ES Bulldogs 8.12.60

Goal kickers: E. Eshuys 2, O. Peter 2, T. Banuelos, M. Conn, B. Romensky

Best: M. Ries, J. Hardy, T. Banuelos, B. Romensky