MAJOR SEMI FINAL - MATCH REPORT

Tim Calvaresi
Aug 16, 2014
3 min read

NORTHS BULLDOGS - 10

Def By

CORRIMAL COUGARS - 16

Well some will say that was the loss that the boys needed, some will say they got out played, well in our opinion we lost that one. There is a difference between being beaten & losing a game, the difference is in the way the result has come about. In a beaten game the opposition has out played you, on Saturday that wasn't the case. That game was a game in which we went away from our game plan, handed the ball over at crucial times & really put ourselves under pressure. Those things are our errors, but the main point is these errors & moments in the game, are well within our control & not a common pattern that the boys have shown through the season. That's why we say, we beat ourselves.

Not to take anything away from Corrimal though, they are a quality football team, with some quality players in key positions. The game was a high quality match with both teams not giving an inch. The Corrimal big boys made some good meters as did our boys. The Corrimal halves made some very good decisions, as did our halves...and so on. The Norths boys were first to open up the scoring when the first kick off went dead in goal, from there we applied some good pressure & nearly came away with another. But after about 10 mins some errors crept in and the rest is history. It's behind us now, done, gone.

The mood post match was pretty sombre, as you'd understand with the boys digesting their first loss of the year. But as the afternoon & night went on you could really see the spirits lift once it was all put into perspective. They all know what needs to be done & all know they can do it. This week we will refocus & get back to the structures that have worked all season for us, we know they work & we know we can execute them.

The Players Players awards went to:

1st: Brad Morrin. Brad had a stellar game, was in everything & really fought hard. He was inspirational for the boys in the engine room.

2nd: Shaun Helt. Shaun had a blinder! Great first half was solid in defence & really carried the ball with gusto.

3rd: Todd Gripton. With limited touches in attack every time he did get ball he was electric, literally! In defence you'd put your house on him.

So this now brings us to Mt Kembla. After speaking with a few of the boys, they have all said the game against Mt Kembla back in Round 7 at Mt Kembla was the toughest game they have played all year. That first 20 mins was heavy, rough & tumble football. Both sides were going hammer & tong at it. Eventually the Norths Boys ran away with it, but not easily, the Kembla boys really stood up. Come Saturday we can expect much of the same, if not more fight from the Lowires. It will be a great match between the two clubs, we both share quite a few similarities & a good relationship.

This will be a cracker!! Get there & bring the Norths Bulldogs home!!