Sport / Football
Pirates take the wind out of Brunswick’s sails
Brunswick NOBs 8.8 (56) lost to Old Peninsula 13.10 (88) at Harry MacDonald Oval
Tim Purdey
MAKING their first trip down the highway to Mount Eliza for four years, Brunswick got a stark reminder of just how hard it is to defeat arch-rivals Old Peninsula in the hostile surrounds of Harry MacDonald Oval, taking the fight up to the Pirates for three quarters before falling away to lose by 32 points in blustery conditions on Saturday.
Kicking into a five-goal wind in the first quarter, the NOBs started very well and with run-and-carry crafted the opening goal of the game to small forward Paul Scamporlino on the goal-line.
Brunswick then controlled the ball for a period before the home side clicked into gear with four majors in-a-row.
The exciting Andre Jaycock responded with goal-of-the-day from 40 into the breeze to make reduce the margin to 11 points, but two late majors to the Pirates spoilt much of Brunswick’s good work.
When their turn came with the wind, Brunswick dominated possession but tended to take an indirect route and overused the ball by hand. Key forward Tom Wilson finally put the NOBs on the board for the term with a soccer goal from close range after six minutes, but it was another 10 minutes before the prolific Fletcher Banfield nailed one off a single step from 45.
Scamporlino then kicked his second after a free kick to make it three goals to nil for the quarter and the Pirates’ lead was cut to six points at the main break.
The NOBs began the third term brilliantly, tying the scores in the first minute through Banfield’s second from a well-taken set shot. The Pirates then used the wind to their advantage to snag the next three majors, before Tom Wilson took a good mark and goaled to drag the margin back to 13 points. The home side then added another to make the margin 19 points at the final change, which was certainly gettable for Brunswick with the breeze, even though it was not as strong as at the start of the game.
The last quarter did not go to plan for the NOBs as Old Peninsula kicked the opening goal then deprived them of scoring opportunities by stepping-up the pressure and causing turnover-after-turnover in the middle of the ground. The Pirates added a second for the term after 18 minutes to extend their advantage to an insurmountable 34 points, before captain Ben Wilson kicked a welcome major, but Brunswick had run out of legs at that stage and a goal on the siren to the home side rubbed some salt into the wound.
Brunswick’s effort was excellent in tough conditions against a top-team, with Andre Jaycock leading the way with his hard-running and creativity. Other midfielders to shine were Daniel Mott and Gabe Banova, while defenders Tahj Haddock (who also had impact when swung forward) and Whitlam Bishop were impassable. Tom Wilson was the best forward with his clean marking a feature.
The NOBs are on the road again this week to Elsternwick as they look to impose themselves on last year’s grand final rivals.
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