Rounds
3, 4 and part of 5 are now behind the teams and there have been a
few major surprises. Power, who were convinced they weren’t
going to lose a game this year, came unstuck in round 3. They
struggled for much of their game against Lightening before finally
winning 9-4 then Lowanna pulled off a major upset with very workman
like game winning 4-1 over Power. This sent some shock waves
around the courts. In contrast Stallions, who were sitting
4th after round 1, have made up a lot of ground but came unstuck against
Titans. Stallions were playing well leading 1-0 but lost the
plot and Titans punished them. Lowanna’s bubble burst when they
played Stallions who put in a great performance to win this encounter
4.0.
In rounds 4 & 5, Titans and Power have shared the spoils with
Titans winning 6-2 then Power winning 4-1. Lightening,
who have a very exciting style of play, all out attack, and they have
led in all but one of their games. Their last encounter
against Stallions was a classic. Stallions were having a bad
round in front of goal, taking 10 shots to score their first goal
in two prior games and it was a ‘must win’ game for Stallions to stay
1 point behind Power. Stallions led 2-0 then 2-1, 2-2,
3-2 and 3-3 at half time. 4-3 then 4-4. Lightening threw
everything into attack in the last 3 minutes and Stallions’defence
took control and just let Lightening flood their half of the court. The score went to 5-4 then 6-4 to Stallions who stopped anything in
their defensive third, even a penalty didn’t help Lightening as it
was saved by Stallions’ keeper Michael Ferguson. Many
onlookers considered it to be the game of the season so far.
Round 1 of the National League caused a real
stir to the pecking order but by the end of the day, for the first
time in their history, Power headed the ladder.
The opening game
was very entertaining with Dodgers showing the very young Colts side
how to use the full size court. Stallions, who are rebuilding
their very young squad, are looking forward to some big games in
Power v Titans was a humdinger. Champions,
Titans, were determined to hang on to their title. Power came
into the game determined not to concede a goal. As the games
have always been between these two teams it was fast and furious and
entertaining with plenty of goals. The first half belonged
to Power. They settled very quickly and skipped out to a 3 goal
lead and it seemed that Titans were down and out. But as the
second half wore on Titans gradually came back into the game and surprisingly
levelled the scores at 3-3. The final 6 minutes were pure
dynamite – end to end and Power on 5 fouls. Power surged to
5-3 then Titans pulled one back. Somehow Power hung on
and ran out worthy winners.
MEN'S NATIONAL LEAGUE LADDER – 5 round 2007
P W D L F A PTS
Newborough Power 21 15 1 5 100 41 31
City Utd Thunder 22 10 3 9 89 73 23
Gold Coast Spartans 22 9 1 12 102 102 19
Robina Varsity Lakers 22 3 5 14 31 103 11
| TEAM | PLAYED | WON | DRAWN | LOST | GF | GA | PTS |
| Ballarat City Saints | 18 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 100 | 2 | 35 |
| Ballarat City Belles | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 58 | 17 | 20 |
| Benowa Dragons | 16 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 37 | 63 | 17 |
| Newborough Power | 16 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 30 | 63 | 10 |
| Gold Coast Spartans | 16 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 28 | 58 | 10 |
|
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GF
|
GA
|
PTS
|
| Ballarat City Stallions |
29
|
21
|
3
|
5
|
123
|
32
|
45
|
| Newbourough Power |
29
|
16
|
4
|
9
|
114
|
74
|
36
|
| Gold Coast Spartans |
29
|
17
|
1
|
11
|
105
|
49
|
35
|
| Sunbury Comets |
29
|
8
|
2
|
19
|
72
|
128
|
16
|
| Mix FM Panthers |
29
|
7
|
1
|
21
|
107
|
108
|
15
|
|
Bendigo Titans
|
9
|
7
|
1
|
1
|
41
|
14
|
15
|
| Solo Electric |
29
|
6
|
0
|
23
|
44
|
110
|
12
|
|
Robina Varsity
Lakers
|
9
|
5
|
2
|
2
|
42
|
14
|
12
|
|
Sharks
|
29
|
4
|
1
|
22
|
41
|
113
|
9
|
|
Black
Knights
|
29
|
1
|
0
|
19
|
16
|
131
|
2
|
Power 12 10 0 2 93 42 20
Stallions 12 9 1 2 78 27 19
Titans 12 8 0 4 74 32 16
Lightening 12 4 2 6 66 70 10
Colts 12 1 0 11 21 127 2
Lowanna 7 2 1 4 29 67 5
The concluding games in round 2 proved very interesting. It was expected that Titans would vie for top position but results haven’t allowed that to happen. Power, on their home court, just got the edge over Titans in a more than exciting game. Till the final score of 3-2 fans were kept on the edge of their seats. Stallions went in to their 3 games looking for at least 4 points and took advantage of a weakened Titans side and were really happy with their 5-1 win but know they won’t enjoy such a luxury in their next meeting. Lightening keep the pressure on Titans by sitting on the same points and their next meeting will prove vital to both teams if they wish to challenge for the title. Lightening proved they are a good side as they led Power for half of their game.
Newcomers, Colts and Lowanna, make the league interesting and Colts proved they can be very hard to beat, losing 5-4 to Titans. Lowanna will be a much improved side next round.
|
POWER R Whiting 18 C
Whiting 11 D Abela 10 C
Noppert 10 L Goriuk 9 H
Azzam 7 J
Carlin 6 J
Dunn 5 T
Felici 5
|
STALLIONS M J McIver 12 R
Maher 11 J
Costigan 6 R Janes 3 F
Emary 1 T
Cameron 1 Own Goals 2
|
TITANS S
Robertson 17 R Clayton 13 J
Clayton 12 X
Clayton 9 B J
Gwynn 7 P
Ryan 5 S
Gower 2 Own Goals 2
|
LIGHTENING
D
Abela 13 A Redston 6 M Heatherington 5 T Felici
5 J Camm
4 C D Cummings
4 T
Thompson 3 K
Maxfield 2 V Nemanga 2 B Goriuk
1 J Semple 1 M |
LOWANNA J Camm
4 L Fanning 3 A Birrell
2 C Jayden 2 S Ryan 2 J Semple 2 J
Cattamch 1 H Sedjwick 1 R
Paulet 1 Own Goals 7
|
COLTS
O
de Koning 8 M Miles
2 A Anticaglia 1
|
|
POWER fouls cards
R Whiting 5 L Goriuk 4 1 Y H Axxam 3 D Abela 2 J Dunn 2 C Noppert 2 J Carlin 1 |
STALLIONS fouls cards R Maher 2 R Janes 1
|
TITANS
fouls cards
S Robertson 5 2 Y B S Gower 4 1 Y J Gwynn 3 X Clayton 3 P Ryan 2 R Clayton 2
|
|
LIGHTENING fouls cards
J Green 7 3 Y D Cummings 6 2 Y K Maxfield 6 1 Y M Heatheringon 6 1 Y D Abela 3 A Redston 3 C B Goriuk 2 V Neranja 2 T Felici 1 |
LOWANNA fouls cards
A Birell 3 R Paulet 2 J Semple 2 L Fanning 2 C Jayden 1
|
COLTS
fouls cards
O de Koning 2 M Rae 1 H Cousens 1
|