TAMWORTH Kangaroos sit atop the Tamworth AFL ladder after three successive wins as reigning premiers New England Nomads flexed their premiership muscle in Gunnedah and Tamworth Swans overcame a slow start to eclipse the Moree Suns in Tamworth on Saturday.
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The Suns, re-formed after a 20-year hiatus, were coming off a huge first-round loss to Inverell Saints and a second- round bye but stunned the Swans to lead at quarter-time by four points and trail by just one kick at the major break.
However the Swans kicked six and eight-goal final terms to run away with a 19.9 123 to 7.5 47 win.
Lean and long teenager Thomas Byrnes booted six goals, four of them in the final quarter, while Brad Walters, Nathan Bradburn, Stephen Fairless and Jordan Jeffriess-Tapper kicked two goals each.
Moree Suns captain coach Nicholas O’Sullivan kicked three goals to lead the Suns with an impressive effort while Liam Wright kicked two.
“We started a bit slow,” Swans coach Andrew Donohue said.
“But it’s a bit hard getting the structure with so many new players.”
O’Sullivan was delighted with the effort and improvement from his new side.
“We played real good the first half,” he said.
“It was just lack of match fitness in the second half and a lack of experience.
“I was very happy with the first half. We played the type of footie I wanted.”
With so many players new to the game and a number of 16 and 17-year-olds, he is looking forward to growing and developing them.
At Narrabri, the Tamworth Kangaroos kicked 15.18 108 to the Eagles’ 11.16 82.
Dean Hoy bagged six goals while Daniel Johnson and Nic Frawley kicked multiples against a side where captain-coach Todd Dunn booted four and Zach Lauritsen, Michael Miskle and Todd Fagan also kicked braces.
In Gunnedah, the home side was overwhelmed by a good Nomads.
Zac Economou (6), Dave Richards (4) and Jed Ellis-Cluff (4) led the way for the visitors with 14 goals between them in the 19.15 129 to 9.9 63 score.
Cameron Milne, Al Hillard and Ryan Cooper kicked two apiece for a Bulldogs side best served by James Mack, Luke Curgenven, Brent Hartley, Brad Jenkinson, Andy Mack and Mathew Pengilly.
Zach Old, Wulu Hall, Mark Spencer, Shane Snowden, Clarence Patrick Barker and Ellis-Cluff were outstanding for the reigning premiers who head to Tamworth to tackle the Swans this Saturday.
Narrabri Eagles are at home to the Inverell Saints and Moree Suns host Gunnedah Bulldogs, with the Kangaroos having the bye.
