finishing left them unable to convert this advantage into an outright victory
August 8, 2017
Saturday’s end-of-season clash between Barambah and Wests offered a lot of excitement for fans of both sides.
The two teams met at Wests’ home ground – Tom Alford Oval in Kingaroy – for the final round of this year’s 15-week competition.
As has been the case for the past few weeks, the day’s matches kicked off with a 1st Division game to allow the Bears to field a fresh side against their red and black rivals.
From the outset, Wests were clearly in no mood to give the northerners any quarter and they dominated possession from the get-go.
But as the match unfolded it became equally clear the Bears weren’t going to give any quarter, either.
Wests piled on the pressure, keeping the ball in the Bears’ half of the field for much of the game and making many spirited attempts on their nets.
But as had been the case the last time the two sides met, Wests’ finishing let them down.
The Bears were forced to concede an early penalty, followed by a second Wests goal further into the match.
But by the end of the game the northerners were able to split the points with a 2-all draw, courtesy of a pair of rockets sunk by the ever reliable Jackson Kelly and Duare Moses.
The match did nothing for either side’s current position on the league ladder.
But it did demonstrate that right now it would be hard to fit a cigarette paper between them.
* * *
In the Women’s Division game that followed, the lady Bears had a happy uptick in their fortunes when they took the points with a narrow 1-0 victory over their rivals.
The lady Bears have suffered from a player shortage this year – not quite as critical as the men’s side, but enough to keep the whole team working hard – and are currently in second position on the ladder.
On Saturday the lady Bears had a hunger for the ball that saw them push just that bit harder than their rivals, and after a close-fought match it paid off with a well-deserved victory.
Wests would have been disappointed with the result, but there’s still the finals season to come.
* * *
In the 2nd Division game that rounded out the day, the exhausted Bears who’d played the earlier 1st Division match took to the field for a second time against a fresh Wests side.
Most money was on Wests to take out the game, but the Bears surprised their rivals with a measured approach that took advantage of any weaknesses they could find in their opponents’ defences.
And that turned out to be more than a few.
By the end of the day, the Bears secured a slim 2-1 victory over the red and blacks and took another clutch of points back to their lair.
* * *
In Nanango, Gunners played their arch rivals Panthers on the big cats’ home turf at the Burnett Street sportsgrounds, but fans who’d hoped to see the two 1st Division squads battle it out were left disappointed.
A Gunners player shortage caused by injuries, illness and work commitments forced the purple and golds to forfeit the match, giving the Panthers their easiest points of the season.
The forfeit was a disappointment for both sides as well as the fans, but unavoidable.
However with both teams currently sitting at the top of the 1st Division table, the finals season will likely yield some edge-of-the-seat games between the squads this Spring.
* * *
In the Women’s Division clash, the lady Panthers were able to secure a 2-nil victory against the plucky Gunnettes, and it was an outcome that surprised many.
The lady Panthers – like their 1st Division men – are currently sitting at the top of the table while the Gunnettes are way down the bottom.
But it’s a tribute to the Gunnettes that after a woeful season last year and a slow start in this year’s competition, they have resolutely refused to let their heads drop.
The result? A constant, steady improvement in their game as the season’s progressed, shown by the way they held the lady Panthers back from delivering them a thrashing.
All the signs indicate the lady Panthers will likely figure in this year’s Grand Final and the Gunnettes will not.
But those same signs indicate that if the Gunnettes can hold their squad together and continue to apply themselves the same way next year, they’ll be a team to watch in 2018.
* * *
In the 2nd Division game, fans got another surprise for the day when both sides ended the match in a 1-all draw.
The 2nd Division squads of both teams are currently loitering at the bottom of the Division’s league table, but on past form Gunners seemed odds-on to take out a victory.
They lead the Panthers by a wide points margin and have tasted many more victories.
However, the young and inexperienced Panthers side has been slowly improving this year under the paternal eye of their coach and helpful assistance from some of the 1st Division players, and on Saturday it appeared to pay off.
The Panthers were naturally elated to secure a victory, and Gunners were a little shocked not to.
But football being football, anything can happen and – sooner or later – it usually does.
* * *
Round 15 Results
In Kingaroy – Wests v Barambah:
- 1st Division: Wests 2 – Barambah 2
- Women’s Division: Barambah 1 – Wests 0
- 2nd Division: Barambah 2 – Wests 1
In Nanango – Nanango v Gunners
- 1st Division: Nanango won on forfeit
- Women’s Division: Nanango 2 – Gunnettes 0
- 2nd Division: Nanango 1 – Gunners 1
* * *
Next Week
Football will be taking a one week break this Saturday because of the Ekka long weekend.
The break will allow players to freshen up for the season’s finals, which will begin with the Minor Semis on August 19, followed by the Major Semis on August 26.
After this, football will welcome in Spring with the Preliminary Finals on September 2 before the all-important Grand Finals on September 9.
These four weeks will be delivering the best matches of the season.
So mark them on your calendar, rug up, pack a thermos, and break out your team’s colours.
This 2017 season may have been a little chaotic at times, but the best is yet to come.
