Crowd: perhaps 3,500! Referee: Gerry Connolly 6/10 Game: 6/10 Players: NTB: Baker, Austin, Pryce c.(Lane), Ritchie (West?), McManus, Wilson (Bennett), Ironside, Lowe, Zane, Edwards, McGuire. AdCity: ? No notes.
In a deferred Rnd 8 game the Breakers travelled to the City of Churches with only prayers to sustain them in the post-Halpin era. Watching these two teams is hard for me as I was a City fan for nearly 20 years until Johnny Perrin was dudded as coach and now my more recently adopted Newcastle team I love dearly, as a convert should, but one has to despair at times! This was one of them.
If the EC was Rooball played for 20 mins the Breakers would be top of the league as so many times this year and last they dominate for spells of that length. Tonight we started out like wildfire with a good 25 mins of dominance and, 3 good chances, and a disallowed goal (I will need to watch the video to see why!). Wilson and Pryce were pushing up well in the midfield and both Clacka (Zane) and Brick (McGuire) competitive up front. Then just when it looked like the wheels might fall off AdCity it was classic counter attack and with Ironside standing flatfooted near the ever moving Mori it was a clear head past Baker at about 29 mins. City picked up the tempo and despite heaps of pressure from the Breakers the next 15 mins was City with 6 in the box being marshalled by Tobin (who incidently gave away 5 fouls) and swept by Costanzo in place of Ivanovic, with the fast midfield flick to Mori or Hassell to run with. At about 39 mins Brooks was left free on the left to place the ball past Baker who had made 2 great saves just before. At half time 2-0 with the cupboard bare for Kosmina on the bench.
The secons half started with no changes at either end and for the next 25 mins the Breakers again dominated posession in 3/4 of the field but getting to just outside of the penalty area and losing it. One could sense that unless the Breakers got a shock goal their spirit would flag before their stamina and gradually AdCity blunted Zane, Pryce, and Wilson's threat and put pressure back on Austin, McManus, Ritchie and Edwards. In fact Ritchie stood on the ball trying to round Mori and off was Frogger tearing for goal and placing it well over Baker. 3-0. To give Newcastle credirt they kept pushing forward but except for a freshened McGuire the attack was blunted. Painfully but inevitably Mori picked up another for his hat-trick (and 11 this year along with Cardozo) 4-0.
Best: NTB - Wilson, Pryce, Baker. AdCity: Costanzo, Mori, Petkovic.
AdCity: It could be said "he would say that wouldn't he!" but at the season's opening I picked Adelaide Zebras as finalists. Obviously they are shaking off the cobwebs and with 4 games in two weeks I would hate to be Perth & Carlton meeting them later this month to keep top 6 spots. Mori was very good, Costanzo excellent, Petkovic cool, and the defence back to top form. Newcastle: When is that Consortium making a bid? It is impossible for Zane to carry the team, even with support from Pryce, Wilson, and Ritchie. You can't fault anyone for commitment - what is needed now is ideas going forward and defensive intelligence. Both are lacking and if there wasn't already a CC (Cranney count) for balls given away I'd start an Ironside Count. He really is just taking up space despite the crap spoken about him by Kosmina and Wade etc. At least Baker is back to last year's form with none of the goals his fault. With just 4 reserves what options are there - bring up Heath Timmins, Juchniewicz, and Owens from the NYL? - we couldn't do worse! Buy Scott Mutton from Bathurst 75 - do something Kossie!