NEW ENGLAND Nomads returned to the top of the Tamworth AFL when they shone brightest and shot sharpest against Tamworth Kangaroos in their top-of-the-table clash at No. 1 Oval Tamworth on Saturday.
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Zac Economou and his Nomads came down from Armidale intent on starting well against the competition leaders. They did that and kicked straight on their way to a 14.10 94 to 9.15 69 victory.
The reigning TAFL premiers returned to the top of the TAFL table on percentage points with both sides having won six of their games.
The Nomads have just a point advantage on percentages 209.51% to the Roos’ 208.45%.
Gunnedah Bulldogs also remained equal third with Inverell Saints after the Saints overran Moree Suns 14.19 103 to 4.3 27 and the Bulldogs beat the Tamworth Swans by 107 points at Wolseley Park, Gunnedah.
The Bulldogs kicked 23.20 158 to the Swans’ 8.3 51 with cricketing allrounders Cameron Milne and Brad Jenkinson both kicking seven goals apiece for the winners.
They also starred with Luke Curgenven Peter Chapman, Al Hillard and Jake Vigor against a side best served by Tom Byrnes (4 goals) Tony Rankmore, Andrew Finlay, Adam Plithof and Jacob McArthur.
In the top-of-the-table clash the Nomads were too good , too tall and too sharp for the Roos.
Both sides had 24 scoring shots but the Nomads were the more accurate with captain-coach Zac Economu (7) and Dave Richards (5) on target.
“It was a pretty good contest,” Economou said.
“We needed to make a good start and the first 10 minutes was really good pressure.”
They broke the game open in the third quarter when the Roos were one man short after Dean Hoy was “sin binned” for 15 minutes.
“It was just a bit of push and shove,” Roos coach Tony Bishop said of the yellow card incident.
“He didn’t deserve it.
“But it’s not where we lost the game. We competed pretty well just lost a bit of juice doing it. We were just outplayed.”
The Nomads also welcomed back Tom Hunt, their best and fairest winner last season.
Tom Granleese also missed the first round loss to the Roos and the former captain-coach was outstanding in defence with Hunt a towering presence in the third and fourth quarters.
Tony Bishop thought Mitchell Penberthy was “best on ground” after another highly energised game and thinks new recruit, Brandon McRedmond will be a great acquisition for his club after the stocky number four made a bright debut, kicking two goals and making a couple of thumping tackles.
