SYDNEY AFL CATCH-UP WEEKEND 2012
Article and Photos by Michael Shillito

When the fixtures were brought out before the season started, a week was set aside to replay games postponed by wet weather during the season. And on the Queens Birthday public holiday, persistent rainfall caused the weekend to be needed as three of the five games were called off. And so three matches were played in Premier Division.

Balmain kept themselves within striking distance of the double-chance when they defeated Sydney Uni at Sydney Uni No 1 Oval in an early game on Saturday. But the Dockers were made to work hard for it by a plucky Students side that refused to go down without a fight.
A high-scoring shootout in the first quarter saw the Dockers leading by nine points at the first change. The second term, in the final analysis, would be the difference between the two teams. The Students had their chances, creating plenty of scoring opportunities but squandering them all to score seven behinds for the quarter. At the other end, the Dockers scored three goals to get out to a 22-point lead at half time.
The Dockers had threatened to run away with the game in the third quarter, but the Students prevented them from getting away. Four goals apiece were scored for the quarter, with the Dockers remaining 19 points clear at three-quarter time. A three-goal buffer would be difficult for the Students to overcome; but they gave it their best shot in the last quarter. The Students kept attacking, kept pressing for goal. But for each goal they got, the Dockers had the answers. A marathon final term saw each side add six goals to their score, as the Students kept looking for a way back into the contest but the Dockers coming up with a quick reply.
When the final siren finally sounded, the Dockers had won the game by 16 points. Ben Taggart kicked four goals for the Dockers in a best-on-ground performance, while Travis Stevens and Gerard Wilkie were also prominent around the ground. For the Students, Michael Figg contributed five goals, while Jack Hiscox, Dean McKay and Sam Orton were among their best.

Top spot was on the line at Mike Kenny Oval, as Pennant Hills played host to UNSW-ES. And it was the visitors who emerged with the points and pole position on the ladder after the Bulldogs completed a 23-point win over the Demons.
The first quarter was a low-scoring affair, with plenty of desperation and hard tackling as both sides looked to assert themselves physically. The Bulldogs led by eight points at the first change, but opened the game up in the second term as they got on top of the Demons around the ground. The Demons were hanging in there for dear life, but it was the Bulldogs who had the edge.
The margin was 9 points in favour of the Bulldogs at half time. But they finally got away from the Demons in the premiership quarter. Four goals to one set up a match-winning 30-point lead at the last change. And although the Demons worked hard in an attempt to peg back the margin, the UNSW-ES defence held firm.
Leigh Lavery kicked five goals for the Bulldogs; while Peter Kefalas, Richard Troon and Adam Gulden were among their best. For the Demons, Alex Goodall, Brant Jack and James Dunn were among their best. The result sees the Bulldogs replace the Demons at the top of the ladder. Both of Pennant Hills? losses so far this season have been at the hands of UNSW-ES, a key psychological edge to the Bulldogs should the two sides meet again during the finals.

The final game of the weekend was at North Dalton Oval on Sunday, with Illawarra hosting North Shore. As the game started, the heavens opened and it was a scrappy game played in slippery conditions.
Illawarra came out early showing determination, and scored an early goal. But the Bombers fought back late in the quarter to lead by 15 points at quarter time. Most players were struggling to control the ball in the slippery conditions, and the game featured plenty of dropped marks and turnovers. But the exception to that rule was North Shore forward Daniel Roberts, who had no trouble in marking the greasy ball that others were unable to hold. With Roberts kicking all four of North Shore?s second quarter goals, the Bombers led by 30 points at the long break.
The Lions had squandered some early scoring opportunities, and could have been closer to the Bombers. But the North Shore defence tightened after half time denying the Lions any hope of getting back into the contest; with the Lions barely able to penetrate the 50 metre line in the second half and they would not score again until the final minute of the game. North Shore scored four goals in each of the third and fourth quarters to extend the final margin to 77 points before the final siren brought the lacklustre contest to a close.
Daniel Roberts finished with nine goals for the Bombers in a best on ground performance, while Doug Hadden and Pat Brackin were also prominent around the ground. For the Lions, Keegan Litchfield, Daniel McClure and Thomas Green worked hard all day.


Balmain 5.1 8.3 12.5 18.5 (113)
Sydney University 3.4 3.11 7.16 13.19 (97)
Goals : Balmain - B Taggart 4, T Luff 3, W Blackburne 3, L Conway 2, J Farrell, K Pearson, G Wilkie, T Matson, S Bowen, J Coulloupas. Sydney Uni ? M Figg 5, M Carey 2, B Fitzpatrick 2, A O?Dea, J McGuirk, M Scott, C Fleetwood.
Best : Balmain ? B Taggart, T Stevens, G Wilkie, J Farrell, J Coulloupas, W Blackburne. Sydney Uni ? J Hiscox, D McKay, S Orton, L Godfrey, M Figg, C Reichman.
At Sydney Uni No 1 Oval, Saturday 21st July 2012.

Uni NSW-Eastern Suburbs 2.3 6.4 10.8 11.10 (76)
Pennant Hills 1.1 4.7 5.8 7.11 (53)
Goals : UNSW-ES ? L Lavery 5, J Parmenter, T Williamson, A Gulden, T Heath, P Kefalas, J Kiel. Pennant Hills ? A Goodall 2, M Crawford 2, N Campbell, R Watts, T Wales.
Best : UNSW-ES ? P Kefalas, R Troon, A Gulden, H Nichols, J Kiel, T Heath. Pennant Hills ? A Goodall, Brant Jack, J Dunn, S Wray, T Wales, N Campbell.
At Mike Kenny Oval, Saturday 21st July 2012.

North Shore 4.2 8.6 12.8 16.10 (106)
Illawarra 1.5 3.5 3.5 4.5 (29)
Goals : North Shore ? D Roberts 9, D Hadden 2, C Murphy, L Kilpatrick, N Todd, S Carruthers, J Davis. Illawarra ? W Edmed, C Cook, T Green, J Adamson.
Best : North Shore ? D Roberts, D Hadden, P Brackin, B Fitzgerald, B Barnes, R Wason. Illawarra ? K Litchfield, D McClure, T Green, J Roebuck, J Lewis, L Wilson.
At North Dalton Oval, Saturday 21st July 2012.

 Play
Won
Draw
Lost
For
Agnst
Pts
%age
Strk
UNSW-ES
13
12
0
1
1,512
634
92.31
238.49
W8
Pennant Hills
14
12
0
2
1,414
800
85.71
176.75
L1
North Shore
13
11
0
2
1,481
684
84.62
216.52
W3
Balmain
13
10
0
3
1,547
759
76.92
203.82
W5
UTS
14
10
0
4
1,230
960
71.43
128.12
W2
St George
13
7
0
6
1,228
1,061
53.85
115.74
L2
Illawarra
14
4
0
10
889
1,388
28.57
64.85
L4
Sydney Hills
14
4
0
10
854
1,356
28.57
62.98
W1
Campbelltown
14
2
0
12
695
1,712
14.29
40.60
L3
Sydney Uni
13
1
0
12
657
1,369
7.69
47.99
L6
Western Suburbs
13
1
0
12
667
1,451
7.69
45.97
L5
Black - Confirmed finalists
Green - Currently in a finals position, but not yet guaranteed a place in the finals
Blue - Not currently in a finals position, but still a chance to qualify
Purple - Will not be competing in the finals
Red - Wooden spoon, probable relegation

Division One:
Pennant Hills 10.14 (74) d UNSW-ES 9.3 (57)
Sydney Hills Eagles 15.7 (97) d Macquarie University 4.6 (30)
Manly Warringah 14.14 (98) d North Shore 1.3 (9)
UTS 11.6 (72) d Western Suburbs 8.12 (60)
Holroyd-Parramatta 11.8 (74) d Penrith 3.4 (22)
Ladder (Match Ratio) ? Manly-Warringah (100, 662.36%), Southern Power (92.31, 329.23%), Holroyd-Parramatta (69.23, 115.72%), UTS (64.29, 135.04%), Penrith (46.15, 71.51%), North Shore (38.46, 77.91%), UNSW-ES (38.46, 62.28%), Macquarie Uni (35.71, 85.61%), Sydney Hills (28.57, 63.33%), Pennant Hills (28.57, 46.73%), Wests (7.69, 40.85%).

Division Two:
Sydney University 9.9 (63) d Balmain 9.8 (62)
Manly Warringah 16.11 (107) d Illawarra 6.8 (44)
Ladder ? Sydney Uni (48, 145.01%), UNSW-ES (36, 139.20%), Balmain (36, 123.58%), Manly-Warringah (32, 144.18%), NorWest (32, 125.34%), St George (32, 125.29%), Camden (32, 114.71%), Moorebank (20, 99.12%), Illawarra (8, 60.12%), Auburn (4, 25.68%).

Division Three:
Blacktown 10.4 (64) d UTS 7.15 (57)
Sydney Uni 10.10 (70) d Macquarie Uni 5.10 (40)
Campbelltown 8.17 (65) d Sydney Hills 9.7 (61)
Ladder ? UTS (48, 446.20%), Sydney Uni (48, 263.80%), Blacktown (44, 253.55%), Saints AFC (36, 208.97%), Southern Power (28, 118.99%), Wests (24, 60.34%), Campbelltown (20, 42.22%), Macquarie Uni (16, 55.44%), Sydney Hills (12, 42.26%), Moorebank (4, 27.05%).

Division Four:
UTS 11.11 (77) d Macquarie Uni 4.5 (29)
Holroyd-Parramatta 9.12 (66) d Manly Warringah 9.7 (61)
Ladder ? UTS (52, 256.75%), Gosford (48, 264.42%), Penrith (44, 237.66%), UNSW-ES (40, 177.59%), NorWest (24, 72.71%), Manly-Warringah (20, 67.21%), North Shore (20, 62.87%), Holroyd-Parramatta (12, 46.92%), Southern Power (12, 38.45%), Macquarie Uni (8, 48.67%).

Division Five:
Moorebank 14.13 (97) d UTS 5.6 (36)
Sydney Uni 12.15 (87) d Holroyd-Parramatta 2.4 (16)
Ladder (Match Ratio) ? Sydney Uni (76.92, 207.16%), Camden (76.92, 159.34%), UTS (70.83, 165.70%), Saints AFC (58.33, 140.00%), UNSW-ES (54.17, 137.40%), Moorebank (50, 123.34%), Penrith (33.33, 67.60%), Holroyd-Parramatta (15.38, 36.12%).

Under 18s One:
St Ignatius, Riverview 11.10 (76) d Pennant Hills 5.6 (36)
Sydney University 32.14 (206) d Penrith 1.5 (11)
St George 8.15 (63) d Western Suburbs 7.8 (50)
Sydney Hills Eagles 11.12 (78) d North Shore 10.7 (67)
Ladder (Match Ratio) ? Sydney Hills (96.15, 308.21%), Sydney Uni (81.82, 187.61%), Illawarra (70.83, 152.24%), Pennant Hills (58.33, 133.70%), St George (53.85, 130.16%), North Shore (45.45, 157.61%), UNSW-ES (45.45, 86.10%), Riverview (25, 87.50%), Wests (25, 53.49%), Penrith (0, 8.67%).

Under 18s Two:
Macquarie University 13.11 (89) d Sydney Hills Eagles 7.2 (44)
Balmain 10.9 (69) d Holroyd-Parramatta 10.6 (66)
Ladder (Match Ratio) ? Southern Power (91.67, 463.18%), Balmain (75, 220.77%), Manly-Warringah (72.73, 208.25%), Moorebank (63.64, 88.13%), NorWest (50, 149.33%), Macquarie Uni (50, 100.38%), Sydney Hills (18.18, 61.35%), Holroyd-Parramatta (18.18, 52.78%), Saints AFC (8.33, 12.07%).

Women:
Balmain 9.8 (62) d Sydney University 1.2 (8)
Macquarie University 3.14 (32) d Auburn 1.1 (7)
UNSW/ES 5.4 (34) d Southern Power 2.4 (16)
Wollongong 12.18 (90) d UTS Shamrocks 1.2 (8)
Ladder (Match Ratio) ? Balmain (100, 724.12%), Wollongong (81.82, 292.07%), Sydney Uni (72.73, 349.12%), Western Wolves (63.64, 247.21%), Newtown (63.64, 173.33%), UNSW (54.55, 121.41%), Macquarie Uni (54.55, 97.93%), Southern Power (33.33, 77.33%), Auburn (16.67, 20.06%), UTS (16.67, 15.69%), Penrith (0, 8.74%).


THE RUN HOME
Six teams remain in finals contention. Illawarra?s loss has ended any mathematical hopes of qualifying for the finals.
UNSW-ES?s win over Pennant Hills sees the Bulldogs replace the Demons at the top of the ladder, thanks to a superior percentage and with a game in hand.
North Shore are a game behind UNSW-ES and Pennant Hills, with an inferior percentage to the Bulldogs but a better percentage than Pennant Hills.
Balmain and UTS are a further game behind. Balmain?s percentage is marginally below that of North Shore, while UTS?s percentage is well below and the Bats still have another bye to come.
St George are three games out of the five, and although they have a relatively easy draw to end their season will need to get a winning streak going to keep themselves in contention.
Next week sees two clashes between top five teams. UNSW-ES take on UTS, while Balmain are up against Pennant Hills. Balmain and UTS will be desperate for wins; if UNSW-ES, Pennant Hills and North Shore win their matches next week, a two-game break would open up between fourth and fifth.
UNSW-ES (48, 238.49%) ? UTS (Village Green), Balmain (Henson), North Shore (Gore Hill), Sydney Hills (Village Green), Sydney Uni (Village Green).
Pennant Hills (48, 176.75%) ? Balmain (Henson), Sydney Hills (Bruce Purser), bye, Wests (Mike Kenny), North Shore (Gore Hill).
North Shore (44, 216.52%) ? Illawarra (Gore Hill), UTS (Waverley), UNSW-ES (Gore Hill), Balmain (Henson), Pennant Hills (Gore Hill).
Balmain (40, 203.82%) ? Pennant Hills (Henson), UNSW-ES (Henson), Campbelltown (Monarch), North Shore (Henson), St George (Kelso).
UTS (40, 128.12%) ? UNSW-ES (Village Green), North Shore (Waverley), St George (Kelso), bye, Illawarra (North Dalton).
St George (28, 115.74%) ? Sydney Uni (Blacktown), Campbelltown (Monarch), UTS (Kelso), Illawarra (Kelso), Balmain (Kelso).

NEXT WEEK?S FIXTURES (Lurker?s Kiss of Death in bold):

Premier Division:
Saturday 28th July
Blacktown International Sportspark ? St George v Sydney Uni (2:10pm)
Picken Oval ? Western Suburbs v Campbelltown (2:10pm)
Village Green ? UNSW-ES v UTS (2:10pm)
Gore Hill Oval ? North Shore v Illawarra (2:30pm)
Sunday 29th July
Henson Park ? Balmain v Pennant Hills (2:10pm)
BYE ? Sydney Hills.

Division One:
Saturday 28th July
Gore Hill Oval ? North Shore v Manly-Warringah (10:30am)
Picken Oval ? Western Suburbs v Macquarie Uni (12pm)
Village Green ? UNSW-ES v UTS (12pm)
Gwawley Park ? Southern Power v Holroyd-Parramatta (12:30pm)
Sunday 29th July
Greygums Oval ? Penrith v Pennant Hills (2:10pm)
BYE ? Sydney Hills.

Division Two:
Saturday 28th July
Blacktown International Sportspark ? St George v Sydney Uni (12pm)
Weldon Oval ? Manly-Warringah v Camden (2:10pm)
Blacktown ISP No 2 ? Auburn v Illawarra (6pm)
Sunday 29th July
Henson Park ? Balmain v Moorebank (12pm)
Village Green ? UNSW-ES v NorWest (2:10pm)

Division Three:
Saturday 28th July
Bruce Purser Reserve ? Sydney Hills v Blacktown (2:10pm)
Pioneers Park ? Saints AFC v Macquarie Uni (2:10pm)
St Pauls Oval ? Sydney Uni v Moorebank (2:10pm)
Trumper Park ? UTS v Western Suburbs (2:10pm)
Gwawley Park ? Southern Power v Campbelltown (2:30pm)

Division Four:
Saturday 28th July
Gore Hill Oval ? North Shore v Manly-Warringah (8:30am)
Gwawley Park ? Southern Power v Holroyd-Parramatta (10:30am)
Trumper Park ? UTS v Penrith (12pm)
Adcock Park ? Gosford v Macquarie Uni (1pm)
Sunday 29th July
Village Green ? UNSW-ES v NorWest (12pm)

Division Five:
Saturday 28th July
St Pauls Oval ? Sydney Uni v Penrith (12pm)
Sunday 29th July
Village Green ? UNSW-ES v Moorebank (10am)
Trumper Park ? UTS v Holroyd-Parramatta (12pm)
BYE ? Saints AFC, Camden.

Under 18s One:
Saturday 28th July
Blacktown International Sportspark ? St George v Sydney Uni (10am)
Village Green ? UNSW-ES v St Ignatius Riverview (10am)
Gore Hill Oval ? North Shore v Illawarra (12:30pm)
Sunday 29th July
Greygums Oval ? Penrith v Pennant Hills (12pm)
BYE ? Sydney Hills, Western Suburbs.

Under 18s Two:
Saturday 28th July
Gwawley Park ? Southern Power v Holroyd-Parramatta (8:30am)
Bruce Purser Reserve ? Sydney Hills v Moorebank (12pm)
Pioneers Park ? Saints AFC v Macquarie Uni (12pm)
Sunday 29th July
Henson Park ? Balmain v Manly-Warringah (10am)
BYE ? NorWest.

Women:
Saturday 28th July
St Pauls Oval ? Sydney Uni v Western Wolves (10am)
Mahoney Park ? UTS v Penrith (11am)
Mahoney Park ? UNSW v Macquarie Uni (1pm)
Mahoney Park ? Newtown v Balmain (3pm)
Mahoney Park ? Wollongong v Auburn (5pm)
BYE ? Southern Power.