Round Eleven Men’s Premier Division Match Review, St George Dragons v UTS Bats

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Written by Lachlan Scott

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First Quarter

The sun poured down on a meaningful moment for St George, celebrating multiple Hall of Fame and Lifetime Member inductees on back to St George day. Fans also got around for the debut of Colby Hill playing in #2 and with the Prems for the first time, but certainly not the last. UTS came in challengers, looking to stay in touch with finals and reassert themselves after a tough loss to UNSW-ES before the bye. Stanlan-Velt played his heart out and kicked a bag of 5 that round and looked to do it again today.

And the Dragons come out firing! Hill makes his presence felt immediately, forcing the ball forward and keeping it alive right on the boundary, dodging defenders and handballing through traffic. Flanagan lays a bone crunching tackle and earns himself a holding the ball free kick. His pass inside 50 targets Mills-Vasas but it pops out in the contest, right into the waiting arms of Kenny who wheels around and snaps a whirling boomerang towards goal. And it’s in! St George with the first of the day.

St George head deep into the forward line again and the midfields flood in to choke up the contest. It makes no difference for Tegg however as he ducks and weaves through bodies to burst out the back hunting for a tumbling chaos ball. He sprints headlong towards the goal line, a hair’s breadth remaining he gets boot to ball and with the gentlest of touches the Dragons now have two in a row.

Backlund is in everything forward of the ball for the Bats and appears to be the main target early and its certainly working. It hasn’t paid off on the scoreboard yet but with defenders scrambling to adjust he’s been afforded multiple shots on goal and looks dangerous. Calabro is holding the fort down the other end, chopping off and intercept every forward entry he can get his hands on.

St George transition through the centre with pinpoint precise kicks, ending with Nabaki patrolling at the top of the 50. He spots Tegg leading out from goal to the pocket and squeezes a lateral pass into his path. Tegg lets the ball bounce past both him and his opponent, scoops it up at the last second, balancing on the tightrope of the boundary line. He’s turned a full 180 and burned his opponent, squeezes off a shot from an impossible angle and it rumbles, bumbles, and stumbles its way through for a miraculous goal. Two in a row for Tegg.

Kenny and Tegg are on fire early. The St George mids led by Hodgson have assumed control out of the centre and feed the next forward foray to Tegg who’s gut running has allowed him to break off his opponent. He wheels and goes immediately to Kenny who marks strongly above his head through heavy contact. He brushes it off, takes his time with the run up, his eyes drilling holes into the goal umpire. And for good reason! The kick is straight and high, the umpire not moving an inch as it passes directly overhead.

Lee shows of some incredible skills down back for the Bats, intercepting the kick forward, brushing off multiple opponents to burst forward, 360 spins his way out of the next tackle before handballing off and laying a crunching shepherd. Saunders is doing the same for the Dragons, sharking the ball out of the contest and pummelling it forward, gaining metres all across the field.

Backlund earns himself a 50m penalty down back gifting UTS an easy transition down field. He only has eyes for Stanlan-Velt as he streams out from goal on a strong lead and finds him with a piercing dart of a kick. Stanlan-Velt has been in this position before, needing to kick a goal to keep them close and this time proves no different. Kicking like there’s no pressure whatsoever, he shows off his trademark kicking motion and sends a long bomb right between the uprights for UTS’ first goal of the day.

St George again go forward from the centre bounce, the ball bogging down on the boundary line as a strong breeze keeps the throw ins short. Coenen dives headfirst into the contest and keeps his head over the ball, earning himself a free kick from high contact. He dusts himself off, surprises everyone and runs around the man on the mark and shoots from just outside 50. And nobodies home! The ball sails long and high, past defenders sprinting back to cover, through the uprights and that’s another goal for the Dragons.

He doesn’t stop there though. Coenen lines in the middle for the centre bounce, collects the ball off the tap down, spins his opponent and bangs it long into the forward line. A pack forms at the drop of the ball and its thumped down by the defence, right into the outstretched arms of Tegg as he sprints past. He takes a step to balance and slams the kick across his body at full tilt for his third of the first quarter!

Gillingham leads well late here in the first, gaining space on his opponent and marking strongly above his head. Both his kicks drift off to the left but if he can get his sights lined up, he’ll be dangerous all day.

UTS are right in this but are tripping at the final hurdle. Their transition through the midfield and connection with forwards is fantastic, just the goalkicking radar has been wonky early. If they can rectify that, the Dragons early lead could evaporate very quickly.

Quarter Time St George Dragons 6.3.39 – UTS Bats 1.6.12

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Second Quarter

The St George midfield starts strong again in the second, grinding the ball forward through repeat stoppages and locking it forward with a strong defensive screen across the 50m arc. Flanagan lurks on the outside of the contest waiting for the quick handball, receives it and immediately lobs it to the centre of the forward line with a high up and under kick. Mills-Vasas races to the drop of the ball first and uses his body to shrug off his opponent, marking surely on his chest. His run up is long and methodical, and with good reason, the kick doesn’t deviate an inch as he puts through his first of the day.

The UTS mids roar to life at the next centre bounce, Kimpton barging opposition out of his path as he wheels and goes, flinging a wild kick to the top of the arc. The ball spills from the resulting contest but Fischer springs from nowhere to strafe past, collect, single step to steady, and slams it across his body from 45 out. The kick hangs in the air for what seems like an eternity before crashing back to earth directly in front of the goal umpire. Goal UTS!

This quarter continues to seesaw back and forth. Hodgson intercepts a UTS attack, runs through the midfield, one-two with Coenen and feeds the handball into the forward line, dodging defenders all the while. Lycakis evades his opponent and sprints into no mans land, marking solidly and clutching the Sherrin to his chest. He backs up over the 50m arc, builds throughout his run up into a full sprint and smashes the kick directly through the big sticks. St George extend their lead.

Spotfires erupt as Lee shows real bravery backing up to mark a ball kicked just past him and is collected high by his opposition. He earns a 50m penalty for his efforts and after collecting himself, strolls cool as a cucumber to 20m out directly in front and slots the goal. The Bats wont be complaining about receiving a free shot on goal but plenty of remonstrating after that one.

St George take some pace off the ball after a few minutes of lost composure, regaining it through returning to precise and methodical kick-mark movement up the ground. It pays off as they earn a 50m penalty from an over-eager man on the mark, gifting Jones a kick inside 50 just before half time. Jones scans through his option, spots his captain Hodgson and finds him with a short sharp chip kick. Hodgson sees the clock and wastes absolutely no time as he sprints around the man on the mark to bring him onto his right foot and smashes a soaring kick goalwards. The Dragons with the last laugh here in the second but UTS holding on and looming.

Half Time St George Dragons 9.5.59 – UTS Bats 3.9.27

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Third Quarter

Scoring dries up after the main break as the Bats defence tightens up and the midfield brings about parity for the first part of this quarter. They gain the ascendancy, cutting off and intercepting St George’s transition downfield at every opportunity, turn the ball around and send it deep into their forward pocket. Stanlan-Velt and Backlund shirk the regular key forward tactic of hovering at the fringes to collect the quick handball out and instead dive headfirst into the contest. And it comes up trumps for Stanlan-Velt as he lays his body on the line and collects a high free kick for his efforts. 30m out at a tough angle looking directly into the sun, he steadies the ship for UTS and kicks the first goal of the second half. He cops a hard knock off the ball after kicking the goal and earns a second shot on goal. It drifts left for a minor, understandably as he leaves the field clutching his arm.

The Dragons focus in again and force stoppage after stoppage in their defensive 50. They escape without injury thanks to a monstrous thumping kick from Hill, clearing almost the entire middle of the ground in one fell swoop. Lycakis swings out wide and chases a tumbling chaos ball towards the boundary, gathering at the last second and finding Flanagan with a dinky kick inside 50. Flanagan zigs and zags, loses his man, spins 180 and dumps off to Kenny streaming past towards goal. He slams it onto the outside of his boot, and it sails through for a major. Goal St George.

UTS continues to trap the ball forward but without scoreboard results, St George’s defence has held strong this quarter against an avalanche of forward entries. They transition up the field through another methodical kick-mark drive up the wing, ending in Jones at the top of the 50. He spots the captain Hodgson streaming out of the forward pocket and targets him, the kick spilling out the back. Saunders collects off the deck, breaks one tackle, breaks a second, spots Kenny lurking and dishes off rapid fire. Kenny wastes no time at all, single step, snap goal and in the blink of an eye the Dragons have turned this difficult quarter in their favour.

Three Quarter Time St George Dragons 11.9.75 – UTS Bats 4.11.35

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Fourth Quarter

The Bats keep plinking away at the scoreboard early in the fourth, unable to convert forward pressure into majors. Their transition down the ground has been well above par but St George’s defensive unit has shut down any movement in the forward line and pressured kicks on goal all day. The Dragons finally break out and fly down field through gut running from the contest and creating space from their opponents. The kick comes in to Tegg at the top of the goal square, knocked away by the defence, into the hands of Mills-Vasas. He staggers through contact, breaks his arms free and handballs in hope to Saunders who’s snuck his way forward completely unmarked. Saunders steadies and snaps high over the defender’s heads with all the time in the world and the Dragons open up the scoring here in the fourth.

UTS power down the wing as the light begins to fade Olds Park, shadows not dissuading them from finding the scoreboard again. Gillingham continues to give his all at the coalface, finds Edwards with the handpass, he thumps a long soaring ball deep into the forward pocket. Boyd chases the Sherrin as it tumbles towards goal, putting his head over the ball and copping a hit high for a free kick 15m out at a tricky angle. He makes it look easy and puts some mustard on it for good measure, booting the ball through the big sticks and 40m beyond. Goal UTS.

The Bats immediately drive forward again, and it devolves into a scrum directly in front of goal, some tired legs out there. Callahan collects the tap down and begins to muscle his way through but is taken down in a sling tackle deemed dangerous and lines up well within striking distance. He knows the time left on the clock and wastes none of it, run up, piercing kick, easy goal and reward for courage. Two in a row for the Bats.

St George put a stop to the comeback just as soon as it begins. Tegg marks in space at the top of the arc, scans the forward line through the sun and spots Maher streaming out from goal with defenders in tow. He puts the kick deftly out in front of him and Maher does the rest, marking cleanly. The glare lights up his face as he squints towards goal, focusing on the fluoro of the goal umpire, and kicks it directly over his head! Incredible accuracy so late in the afternoon.

And again they go forward, the Dragons making a statement late. The Bats mids pour back to clog up the contest and it works for a time as a scrimmage forms 20m out directly in front. Hodgson lurks out the back of the contest, keeping space from his opponents and waiting for his opportunity. After what seems like an eternity it finally comes, the handball fires out directly to him, no need to deviate. He turns, snaps and goals, lightning fast without a moment’s hesitation, true captain’s goal from the skipper.

And they crack the century! St George switch across the ground to open up the forward line and it works. Nicholls takes the reigns and sends it inside 50 to a one on one, the ball tips down, Saunders nabs it with skill off the deck, spins 180 and pounds it through for the last goal of the day.

A Massive win for St George on a very special day, with many special fans in the stands. Hill performed well on the wing, running his opposite ragged and linking up rapid handball chains and towering long bombs in a sign of things to come.

The Bats left their kicking boots at home today, finishing with 6 goals, 14 behinds. They were close in the contest throughout, but the final kick let them down and kept their progress off the scoreboard.

Full Time St George Dragons 15.11.101 – UTS Bats 6.14.50

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Final Scores:

St George Dragons: 15.11.101

Goal Kickers: N. Kenny 4, P. Tegg 3, B. Hodgson 2, M. Saunders 2, T. Coenen, D. Lucakis, E. Maher, J. Mills-Vasas.

Best: Timothy Coenen, Connor Flanagan, Ben Hodgson, Nathan Kenny, Matt Saunders, Patrick Tegg

UTS Bats: 6.14.50

Goal Kickers: N. Stanlan-Velt 2, G. Boyd, H. Callahan, T. Fischer, J. Lee

Best: Will Edwards, Jack Calabro, Patrick Gillingham, Thomas Borrillo, Sam Bowler, Harrison Dyson

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