DALLAS MAGPIES VICTORIOUS IN ANZAC DAY CLASH

 

 

The Dallas Magpies Australian Football Club pulled off a strong win against visitors The Orange County Bombers today in Dallas. 10.8.68 to 7.7.49.  The win retains Dallas’ unbeaten record in 2008 and brings the OC vs Dallas series even with both teams winning at home (OC defeated Dallas in OC in the Fall of 2007).

 

 

In what was anticipated to be a very tough game from the get-go, the large crowd wasn’t disappointed and both sides attacked the ball with fierce determination and fire.  Dallas had the first scoring opportunity but a tight OC defense cleared the ball and rebounded quickly to put their first goal on the board.  In a hard fought quarter where nothing was given by either team Dallas managed to kick 2 goals thanks to some fine work out of the middle by on-ballers Moore, Relf and Howard.  The big forward Cassity and aerialist Jess Wortman contributed to the offensive play and saw the Magpies go into the first break with a 6 point lead.

 

The second quarter belonged to the home side as they managed to put away 3.3 to the Bombers 1.1.  Through some clever forward line play the pies managed to build on their lead.  The Bombers never gave in and continued their threatening style of play into the forward line.  Magpies captain Pat Sutton and his defensive line up worked tirelessly all quarter and continually rebounded the forward advances.  Going into the main break, it was a confident Dallas team leading by 20 points, which had benefited from their fast, running style of play and had opened up the game. 

 

The premiership quarter was one for the record books as the OC Bombers threw everything they had at the home side and began edging their way back into the game.  The OC players seemed to have had injected new life back into their running game and kicked 3 unanswered goals and were right back in the game.  Dallas managed to settle the ship and kick 2 of their own for the quarter but were out played and out scored by 4 goals to 2, bridging the gap to only 7 points heading into the final 20 minutes.

 

Combating the OC comeback, the Magpies lifted in the last quarter and made some strategic moves that saw Jared Ray move to a key position and stop dead any forward advances.  He was instrumental in transitioning the ball from the defensive half up to the forward line and with help from Moore, Braithwait, Relf and Howard the pies surged ahead and booted through 3 goals to 1 for the quarter.  As the final siren sounded the magpies had held off a second half attack from the visitors and continued their home field winning streak.  Dallas home by 3+ goals.  In what was a super game of Australian Football by both teams it was the last for Magpies Coach and former Captain, Rackham who ended a 20 year football career, of which 8 were with the Magpies, by tearing his ACL for the 2nd time.  Dallas now concentrates their efforts on a return game to Baton Rouge on May 10th in their preparation for the Nationals tournament.

 

Dallas Goal Kickers:

Steve Cassity 2, Steve Moore 2, Taylor Howard 2, Justin Sullivan 1, Stuart Rackham 1, Jess Wortman 1, Cameron Braithwait 1.

Dallas Best Players:

Moore (5 votes), Ray (4), Howard (3),  Relf (2), Wortman (1 vote)

 

Dallas Injuries:

Stuart Rackham (Knee - season)

Dallas Statistics:

 

No.

Player

HB

Kicks

Poss

Marks

Goals

1

Jared Ray

11

7

18

3

 

2

Justin Sullivan

3

1

4

 

1

3

Duncan Relf

11

5

16

2

 

4

Lorkan Drew

2

2

4

2

 

5

Shane Jobe

0

3

3

2

 

6

Pat Sutton (cap)

5

4

9

2

 

7

Stuart Rackham

4

2

6

6

1

8

Drew Schneck

3

1

4

 

 

9

Benjie Bliss

4

2

6

 

 

10

Taylor Howard

6

2

8

3

2

11

Justin Chance

2

1

3

1

 

12

Dustin Brazel

3

4

7

2

 

13

Robbie Rothlein (vc)

6

6

12

1

 

15

Brian Bell

2

1

3

 

 

17

Jess Wortman

8

3

11

1

1

18

Cam Braithwait

8

7

15

4

1

22

Steve Cassity

4

2

6

1

2

23

Kyle Horgan

6

3

9

2

 

24

Steve Bass

3

3

6

1

 

27

Jon Samuelson

2

3

5

1

 

32

Chris Emerson

6

3

9

1

 

36

Steve Moore

14

7

21

1

2

42

Brenn Miller

5

6

11

2

 

46

Justin Goertz

1

1

2

 

 

 

Totals

119

79

198

38

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Possessions per goal  = 20