Match of the Round Report: Bathurst Bushrangers vs Bathurst Giants

Bathurst Giants will be fighting for more silverware in 2022 after winning the 2021 Minor Premiership. They kick-off their season at home to the Dubbo Demons: PHOTO Ben Neely

 

Bathurst Giants 11.10-76 defeat Bathurst Bushrangers 9.9-63

 

The Bathurst Giants kicked 4 goals in the 4^th quarter to seal a 13-point victory against the Bathurst Bushrangers in front of a vocal crowd at George Park.

With huge performances in front of goal from Leigh Monaghan (4), and Sam Sloan (3), the Giants were able to come away with the win in the Round 2 contest. In further bad news for the Bushrangers side, co-coach Tim Hunter went down with a potential season ending injury.

 

Match Summary

Quarter 1 – Giants 3.2-20 lead Bushrangers 2.0-12

The first quarter started out frantic, with both teams looking to put the other under pressure early. While both teams had their chances at goal early on, it was Andrew James that kicked the first goal of the game and put the Bushrangers on the scoreboard. The Bushrangers then managed to kick their second when Grady Tapping kicked to Peter Grundy who converted in front of the sticks.

The Giants fought back on the scoreboard midway through the first quarter when they scored their first goal of the game. As the quarter got on, the game got more physical, with big tackles being made from both sides. A few minutes later, the Giants kicked their second when Jack Goodsell turned to his left boot and kicked a booming goal that sailed over Bushrangers defenders and subsequently, the posts.

The Giants kicked their third goal of the game shortly after when Leigh Monaghan fended off Simon Ross and kicked truly to put the Giants ahead. The first quarter ended with a bit of niggle between the two sides which resulted in a missed free kick for the Bushrangers.

 

Quarter 2 – Bushrangers 5.3-33 lead Giants 4.5-29

The second quarter started out very physical between the two sides as the Bushrangers pushed the ball early. They then managed to score early in the second quarter as Matthew Archer kicked a huge goal from outside the 50. Timothy Hunter played strong for the Bushrangers, making some big plays for the team. For the Giants, Shaun Noyen played excellent football, taking some big marks, and moving the ball around the field.

About halfway through the second quarter, the Giants managed to score when Leigh Monaghan dribbled one through. Bill Watterson played strongly for the Bushrangers, defusing a number of attacking opportunities from the Giants and managing to move the ball back up the field.

Late in the second quarter, Peter Grundy goaled for the Bushrangers to put them ahead at the main break.

 

Quarter 3 – Giants 7.9-51 lead Bushrangers 7.5-47

The Giants came out of the gates strong as Zac Yandle delivered to Liam Cooke straight off the bounce to give the Giants the first chance at goal, however Cooke was unable to convert. The quarter got even more physical, with both teams tackling hard and throwing themselves at the ball.  The Bushrangers managed to kick the first goal of the quarter when Kolby McMahon scored from right in front.

Jack Goodsell made some strong plays for the Giants and Bill Watterson was once again strong for the Bushrangers, making some key stops for the team. The Giants hit back midway through the third quarter when Sam Sloan kicked a goal. Not long afterwards, the Giants moved the ball down the field and kicked another goal to put some space between the teams on the scoreboard.

Despite the pressure from the Giants attack, Bill Watterson decided to take things into his own hands late in the 3rd quarter as he kicked a huge goal from outside the 50 that never looked like missing. Kolby McMahon had the opportunity at the siren to put the Bushrangers ahead but missed the kick.

 

Quarter 4 – Giants 11.10-76 defeat Bushrangers 9.9-63

The Giants once again, came out the quarter with something to prove as they had first chance at goal but missed. The Bushrangers then countered when Patrick Fisher made a big run for the Bushrangers which resulted in a goal for Kolby McMahon. Jack Goodsell helped create some good chances for the Giants attack early in the quarter before a Zac Yandle free kick resulted in a mark and goal for Sam Sloan.

The Bushrangers were pressuring the Giants hard halfway through the fourth quarter again resulting in a goal for McMahon. However, the Giants found another gear and put the pressure back on the Bushrangers, with Zac Yandle delivering to Sloan for his third of the afternoon.

Leigh Monaghan was huge for the Giants in the fourth quarter, kicking a monster goal that put the Giants up by 8 points. The Giants then scored again later in the quarter to put the game beyond doubt when Monaghan kicked his 4^th of the game. The Bushrangers were unable to come back and the Giants took the bragging rights in the season’s opening local derby.

 

Giants and Bushrangers players contest the ruck – Photo: Ben Neely

 

Coaches Comments:

On the Game:

Bushrangers (Matt Archer – Assistant Coach) – “It was a tough, physical game, they were probably just a lot more hungry at the football, we got a bit lazy and just thought it was going to happen, and they punished us.”

Giants (Mark Kennedy – Coach) – “It was a hotly contested game,  I thought the contested ball was slowly going the Bushrangers way at one stage, but we sort of manned up and we got more accountable around the 50/50 contests, and started to use it going forward.”

 

On the coach’s standout performance:

Bushrangers –  “We didn’t have many, I thought Nathan Swards and Adrian Hickey in the back line were strong. It was probably our back line that kept us in the game, We always rely on them, I just think our midfield and forwards need to be better.”

Giants – “I thought Sam Sloan was great for us up front, and Leigh Monaghan was also good up front and gave us a little bit extra muscle.”

 

On what was said at halftime:

Bushrangers – “We just need to work a bit harder, we were guilty of that, I thought there was a bit more effort on the defensive side in the second half but it was like we almost forgot we needed to work forward and we worked too hard defensively. We just can’t have it one way or another, we’ve got to be better.”

Giants –  “Just to stick with the game plan, what we were doing was working, we didn’t want a blowout and I know the paper and a few people were saying that could happen today but we just want to compete, get our game plan right and let the guys play footy.”

 

Positives from the game:

Bushrangers –  “We weren’t where we wanted to be, but we gave ourselves every opportunity. So it’s good to know that if we don’t play our best football, and with 5 minutes left, we are still there giving ourselves a shot.”

Giants – “That we won.”

 

On improvements for next week:

Bushrangers – “Probably a lot of things. Composure mostly, and just our usage in the forward half. Last week, I think it let us down a little bit, and again this week.”

Giants – “We could probably improve on not getting injured, we lost two players early, so yeah it’s just one of those things and the guys stepped up.”

 

Score:

Goal Kickers

 

What’s Next:

The Bathurst Giants travel to Orange to take on the Tigers fresh off victory against the Dubbo Demons, whilst the Bushrangers are also away, off to Dubbo against last year’s Preliminary Finalists.

 

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