THE New Norfolk Eagles delivered their best performance for the year in a great four-quarter effort that shocked the visiting Lindisfarne Two Blues at the big Boyer Oval in Round 8 of the SFL season on Saturday. The Eagles went on to win by 21 points in perfect sunny conditions for football.
They celebrated their great win as they chaired off Eagle stalwart Josh Clifford following his 300th game in what has been a great career for his beloved Eagles. It was great to see both clubs line up in a guard of honor as Josh was chaired from the field.
The Eagles were more accurate in front of goal and matched the Two Blues running game finishing strongly in the all-important last quarter. It was also the first time the Eagles have defeated the Two Blues in five years, which should give the Senior squad some confidence in coming weeks after the coming mid-season bye.
Matchups at the starting bounce had Two Blue captain Aiden Webster in defence on in-form Eagle playing coach Josh Farrow. Eagle ruckman Caleb Mayne was up against Two Blue giant Blake Jones. The ever-improving Mikel Blundell picked up dangerous Two Blue forward Ed Stanley and busy Eagle onballer Ryan Wakefield ran
with Lindisfarne’s on-field leader Sheldon Smith.
The Two Blues were playing the short chip kick game in the early stages of the first term and changing lanes which had the Eagles on the run, but the home team scored two quick goals in succession from Farrow and Clifford. The Two Blues answered through Jake McPherson but in-form Eagle Ryan Wakefield found Jye Bearman who slotted through the Eagles’ third goal to take a seven-point lead at quarter-time: New Norfolk 3.0 (18) to Lindisfarne 1.5 (11).
Big Eagle playing coach Josh Farrow took a complete hanger over Two Blue Sheldon Smith early in the second term in a game highlight. Moments later he passed the footy to 300-gamer Josh Clifford who received a free kick in front of the big sticks and booted the Eagles’ fourth. Tough defender Brayden Butler worked his way up field and delivered a skillful pass on the chest of Eagle forward Blake Mayne who goaled. The Eagles were on a roll as Farrow looked for big Blake Mayne up forward who was rewarded with a free kick to boot his second and give the home team a handy 26-point lead.
The Two Blues hit top gear, slamming on four quick goals with big man Blake Jones and Jake McPherson influential in attack to hit the lead by two points at the 24-minute mark. Busy onballer Jake Bearman steadied the ship with a goal just before the half time siren to put the Eagles four-points in front at the main break: New Norfolk 7.1 (43) to Lindisfarne 5.9 (39).
Eagle forward Blake Mayne started the third term with a clever snap from 40 metres out as the Sherrin cleared the pack and bounced through for a goal. Two Blue forward Ed Stanley answered for the visitors. In the next passage of play Blake Mayne figured prominently once again finding Nathan Eiszele, who was being held in the goal square, who goaled from a free kick dead in front. Ruckman Caleb Mayne was troubled with a knee problem and was moved from ruck duties to the forward line which paid off for the Eagles as he bagged the next two goals to give the Eagles a 21-point lead.
The Two Blues once again hit back and had momentum in the last 10 minutes of the term, kicking three goals in a row to trail by only five points at three quarter time. It looked like supporters were in for a great last quarter. Defender Rowan Thomason was dominating for the Eagles as he continued his great form after missing the last round with concussion. Brothers Jye and Jake Bearman were getting plenty of the footy. Three-quarter time scores were New Norfolk 11.6 (72) to Lindisfarne 9.13 (67).
The Eagles were fired up at the break and started the quarter with Blake Mayne who was causing problems for the Two Blue defence taking a grab and passing to Farrow for a major. The next passage of play saw talented utility Tyron Bailey pass to Farrow who in turn passed to Eagle young gun Riley Triffett for a great goal. The Eagles gained in confidence and it looked like they had the Two Blues on the ropes as Bailey once again passed to Farrow who slotted through another major from a tight angle to jump out to a 20-point lead at the 20-minute mark.
The Two Blues snapped a late goal but in the dying stages of the contest dashing defender Rowan Thomason was brilliant with his run from half back with a slick 40 metre drop punt finding Farrow once again to boot
his fourth goal and record a great 21-point victory.
Ruckman Caleb Mayne stood up when it counted after battling knee soreness and was a focal point in attack. Rowan Thomason was magnificent all afternoon in a great four-quarter effort. Jake and Jye Bearman were important in the engine room gathering many possessions and Mikel Blundell was a rock in defence keeping Ed Stanley to just three goals.
The Eagles now have a well-earned bye which will be welcomed by some of the more senior players to give their bodies a bit of recovery time before taking on Cygnet way down south in Round 9 on June 13.
Final Scores
New Norfolk 15.7 (97)
Lindisfarne 10.16 (76)
Best – New Norfolk: Rowan Thomason, Josh Farrow, Caleb Mayne, Jye Bearman, Jake Bearman, Mikel Blundell; Lindisfarne: A. Sharp, A. Continenza, D. Johns, J. McPherson, S. Smith, T. Westbury.
Goals – New Norfolk: J. Farrow 4, Blake Mayne 3, Caleb Mayne 2, J. Clifford 2, Jake Bearman, Jye Bearman, N. Eiszele, R. Triffett; Lindisfarne: E. Stanley 3, J. McPherson 3, D. Johns, B. Jones, T. Carter-Roach, C. Broughan.
NEXT GAMES
Saturday, June 13 at Cygnet
Women v The Port at 11am
Reserves v Cygnet at 1pm
Seniors v Cygnet at 3pm
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