While New England Nomads were battering a below-strength Tamworth Swans by 133 points in Tamworth and Gunnedah Bulldogs registered a 56-point win over Moree Suns, the Eagles swept to victory in a brilliant final term on their home Leitch Oval turf.

“It was a pretty close game all day until the final quarter,” Saints stalwart Nic Baird said.

“We trailed by just one point but Todd (captain-coach Todd Dunn) went into the middle and he got five clearances in a row and they kicked five goals in succession to blow the whole game apart.

“We were lacking a little in match fitness and were missing a few players but they were just too good.

“They are a good football side, with their young and new players all developing well.

“When you have a player of Todd’s ability who can kick goals and then go into the middle and create them, it makes it handy. 

“They are going to be a dangerous entity.”

Haydon Chappel led the Saints, the young captain-coach inspiring the side with an outstanding effort, while Kieran Te Velde also gave the side good momentum from the middle.

 Dunn was delighted with his side’s first win and its ability to finish on strongly in the final term.

He said it had been a slow start for the club as it tries to develop new players to the game “on the run”.

“We’re going good. We have a number of new guys who have played just a few games.

“They’re still learning.”

He said big full forward Todd Fagan had a great game along with Andrew Weymer, Warren Conaty, Michael Miskle and Shane Murphy.

In Gunnedah, the Bulldogs kicked 16.12 108 to the Moree Suns’ 7.10 52 with co-coach Ryan Cooper booting five goals.

He was one of the side’s best along with Troy Sands, Tom Witts, Matthew Pengilly, Andy Mack and Peter Chapman.

Moree’s Liam Wright and Zach Collier and captain-coach Nicholas O’Sullivan kicked a pair of goals each, with O’Sullivan spearheading the team along with Matthew Lather, Max Beinke, Joe Hinchcliffe, Jade Porter and Stephen Lott.

In Tamworth, Dave Richards was in outstanding form, booting seven goals in the Nomads’ big win.

They kicked 22.24 156 to the Swans’ 3.5 23 in a game that was played 16-a-side due to the disappointing Swans turnout.

Zac Economou also kicked five goals for the visitors and the Nomad captain-coach was delighted with the way his side coped with the large ground and kept running until the final hooter.

“The boys never backed off,”  Economou said.

“It was good that when we got 50 or 60 in front they just didn’t bomb away.”

He thought Dave Richards was outstanding and that Tom Lashlie made an outstanding debut for the Nomads. Hugh Cook and Phil Mitchell were also impressive, he said.

The Swans were missing coach Andrew Donohue and a number of players,  president Josh McKenzie said.

“They (Nomads) are a good team,” McKenzie said.

“I thought we were pretty competitive and that the score didn’t reflect the game.”

He thought Trumaine Rankmore was best for the Swans along with stalwart Gavin Knee and Andrew Finlay.