Rams get a win
1:53:57 PM Sat 2 July, 2005
Matt Burgan
Exclusive to afl.com.au
http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=212710
New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory has won its first and final match of its 2005 NAB AFL under-18 championship campaign after it thrashed Northern Territory by 57 points at Optus Oval on Saturday.
The Rams 14.10 (94) defeated the Thunder 5.7 (37) in the 'dead-rubber' between the two second division sides. The title for this section will be decided in the second match at Carlton on Saturday between Queensland and Tasmania.
NSW/ACT entered its third match, having narrowly lost to Queensland by 16 points and Tasmania by 11 points respectively, but finished the tournament on a strong note, after it piled on 11 goals to three after quarter-time.
For Northern Territory, this year's carnival was a disappointing one, particularly as it had won two of the past three second division titles. It was the Thunder's third heavy loss from its three outings.
NSW/ACT's Adam Prior was best on ground, as booted seven goals for the match. He was the dominant forward, as he also finished with 13 marks. He had 11 scoring shots, as he also booted four behinds. Malcolm Lynch also chipped in with three majors.
James Bennett (27 disposals), Matt Fife (25), Kieren Jack (23) and Justin Kahlfeldt (22) combined for around 100 touches, while ruckman Sam Rowe won 30 hit outs in an impressive display.
Trevor Oliver capped off a fine carnival for Northern Territory, finishing with 22 possessions, while Nathan McLean had 17 touches. Thomas Motlop was his side's only multiple goalscorer with three goals.
NSW/ACT started in a blaze of glory when it posted the first three goals of the match to breakaway to an 18-point lead. A.Prior booted the opening two and looked threatening up forward for the Rams.
Having already suffered two 50-plus point thrashings in this year's championship, the signs looked ominous early for the Territory, but to its credit, the top-enders fought back with two in a row, pegging the margin back to six points at the first change.
The Rams took control for much of the second quarter, adding three in succession, to claim a 25-point lead at the 13-minute mark. But Aidan Hill's goal for the Northern Territory late in the term, kept the Thunder in touch at the long break.
Although the Thunder was still in reach at half-time, trailing by 20 points, the match was all but over at three quarter-time. NSW/ACT slammed five unanswered goals to runaway to a 49-point lead. Only T.Motlop's second goal reduced the deficit to 42 points heading into the final term.
NSW/ACT added a further three goals to one, rubbing further salt into the Northern Territory wound.
NORTHERN TERRITORY: 2.2 3.4 4.7 5.7 (37)
NEW SOUTH WALES/AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY: 3.2 6.6 11.7 14.10 (94)
GOALS - Northern Territory: T.Motlop 3, Hill, N.McLean
NSW/ACT: A.Prior 7, Lynch 3, Addison, Bennett, Fife, Toussis
BEST - Northern Territory: Oliver, N.McLean, T.Motlop, Irwin, Hill, Stephensen
NSW/ACT: A.Prior, Bennett, Fife, Rowe, Lynch, Jack, Addison, Kahlfeldt
UMPIRES - Hay, Keating, Mills
At Optus Oval
NAB AFL U18 Championships
Tassie wins title
4:45:26 PM Sat 2 July, 2005
http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=risingstarprogram&spg=u18champsdisplay&articleid=212720
Tasmania has won a thrilling and often spiteful encounter over Queensland by 11 points to win the 2005 NAB AFL under 18 championships second division title.
The Apple Isle 13.14 (92) defeated the Scorpions 12.9 (81) to win its third title and first since 2001.
Tasmania had several outstanding players including Sam Lonergan (27 disposals), Grant Birchall (23 possessions) and Sam Fielding (22 touches), while Todd Grima, who booted 10 goals in the first match of the carnival, finished with three goals.
Glen Screech was Queensland's highest ball-winner with 27 disposals, while Lee Spurr finished with three goals.
With the title on the line, Tasmania gained the upper hand at the first break, after it booted five goals to three, giving the Tassie a 15-point advantage. Grima had two to his name by quarter-time.
Queensland fought back in the second term, with three goals to one, to reduce the margin to just two points at half-time. It what had already been a spirited encounter, tempers frayed at half-time when a melee broke out, after Queensland's Rhan Hooper had a set-shot for goal.
After Hooper's shot missed, the fracas then developed, lasting for more than three minutes. On top of several heated tussles, a handful of spectators also ran onto the ground.
Two players - Queensland's Albert Proud and Tasmania's James Armstrong - were given yellow cards, which resulted in the duo starting on the bench in the second half. But under the rule, they were allowed to come back onto the ground after 15 minutes.
Tassie had the slight edge in the third term, when it added four goals to three, giving it a nine-point buffer heading into the final stanza.
Spurr registered his third to kick-start the last term, which brought the deficit back to just three points, but when Jack Riewoldt - cousin of St Kilda captain Nick - and Lonergan posted consecutive majors for the Apple Isle, it was out to 17 points.
With the rain pouring down, Tassie looked set to have the result in the bag, but the Scorpions had one last challenge, posting a couple to trail by just four points. But when Grima booted his third - and match-winning goal - Tassie clinched the title.
TASMANIA: 5.4 6.7 10.9 13.14 (92)
QUEENSLAND: 3.1 6.5 9.6 12.9 (81)
GOALS - Tasmania: Grima 3, Beck 2, Howard 2, Lonergan 2, Wade 2, Charlesworth, Riewoldt
Queensland: Spurr 3, Brittain 2, Petterd 2, Smith 2, Armitage, Dzufer, Hooper
BEST - Tasmania: Lonergan, Birchall, Riewoldt, Wade, Fielding, Grima, Thorp, Armstrong
Queensland: Screech, Kiel, Urquhart, Spurr, Lucy, Armitage, Petterd
UMPIRES - Cure, Fila, Pawley
At Optus Oval
