NARRABRI Eagles bounced back from a big loss to give unbeaten premiers New England Nomads a scare, Gunnedah Bulldogs went within a kick of upsetting Tamworth Kangaroos and Inverell Saints overwhelmed under-strength Tamworth Swans in Inverell when round six Tamworth AFL action kicked in around the region on Saturday.
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The Saints kicked 25.17 167 to the Swans’ 2.8 20 at Varley Oval, Chris Whitton kicking nine goals for the home team, eight of which came in the first half, coach Nick Baird said.
“Chris didn’t get that good a delivery in the second half,” Baird said.
“But the Swans did a good job of restricting us as well.”
His midfield dominated much of the game in testing wet and slippery conditions with a boggy cricket pitch area.
While Whitton was starring, Lachlan McDonald also impressed, the young player another good young colt for the Saints.
Luke Selig was also outstanding, Baird said.
At Armidale, the Narrabri Eagles actually led the New England Nomads at three quarter time in a game where the Nomads finished strongly for a 10.13 73 to 8.6 54 win.
“It was pretty disappointing to lose from there,” Eagles captain-coach Todd Dunn said.
Dunn, who kicked five of the eight Eagles goals, was ecstatic his side bounced back well from a big loss to the Saints in their previous game to give the Nomads a good run.
“We gave them a bit of a scare,” Dunn said.
“It was good to bounce back like that.
“We had been slowly building for the four or five weeks before the Saints and that was pretty disappointing for us.
“It was a big step backwards for us.
“But then to bounce back like that means we are moving in the right direction.”
Michael Miskle, Mark Barrow, Michael Levin, Dan Nixon and Giulio Hiemoana also starred for the Eagles.
Weston Whitby kicked four goals and Tom Granleese two for the unbeaten Nomads in a performance where Dave Richards and Venkasa Chakalisa also starred.
At Gunnedah, the Bulldogs almost upset Tamworth Kangaroos.
John Woolaston and his Bulldogs kicked 11.11 77 only to be pipped by the Kangaroos and their 11.15 81.
Andrew George (3), Jake Vigor (2) and Ben Middlebrook (2) starred for the home side along with James Mack, David Didovic, Andrew Pratt and Luke Curgenven.
Matt Hodge was the difference, booting six goals for the Roos while coach Brett Douglas thought Brad Rees was outstanding.
“It was a tight game, nice and wet and we scrounged our way through,” Douglas said
