BIG SECOND HALF HELPS MAGPIES STAY UNDEFEATED

CINCINNATI — The Dallas Magpies broke open a tight game with a determined second-half effort to pull away from the Dockers, 80-27. The important road win allowed the undefeated Magpies to maintain their hold on first place in the Mid-American Australian Football League.

At the half, the Magpies (3-0 in the MAAFL, 4-0 overall) lead by six points, 31-25. But the opening bounce of the third quarter — when the Magpies won the center tap and quickly kicked a goal — set the tone for the rest of the game. The start of the quarter ignited the Magpies’ offense, which kicked four goals in each of the third and fourth quarters. The defense also rose the challenge in the second half, holding Cincinnati to only two behinds.

The second half was a sharp contrast to the first half, as an inspired Dockers squad came out determined to protect its home field. The Dockers managed to hang with the Magpies goal for goal, while pressuring the Magpies into kicking seven behinds out of their 11 scoring opportunities. After two quarters, the Magpies were up 4.7 to 4.1.

“I thought we came out a little flat to start the game,” said full-forward Scott Cobb. “But at the half, we realized we needed to start playing the way we’re capable of playing, and we came out determined and focused.”

Several Magpies played key roles in the win. Ruckman Jon Samuelson dominated throughout the game, winning virtually every tap, most cleanly. Steve Moore and Grant Campbell dominated in the middle of the ground, and Cobb and Chi Chi Rodriguez in the forward line found gaps in the Dockers defense. For the Magpies in defense, Justin Chance and Chris Cordry turned in solid, hard-hitting performances to help shut down the Dockers.

The Magpies next face the Atlanta Kookaburras in a MAAFL match at 2 p.m. June 25 in Dallas.

The 2005 Magpies Schedule/Results:

Date	Opponent	Results
April 2	vs. Baton Rouge	W 42-10
May 7	@ Milwaukee	W 67-41
May 21	vs. Chicago	W 59-54
June 11	@ Cincinnati	W 80-27
June 25	vs. Atlanta
July 16	@ Baton Rouge
Aug. 13	vs. Nashville
Aug. 27	@ St. Louis

About the Dallas Magpies:

The Dallas Magpies are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, dedicated to fostering national and international amateur sports competition as well as promoting a cultural exchange between Americans and Australians. The Magpies participate in the Mid American Australian Football League, a division of the United States Australian Football League, and also have a player, Brandon Blankenship, competing on the U.S. National team during international competition. The team is active in promoting the Australian national sport and Australian culture through clinics at area schools and by sponsoring events such as the annual Australia Day and ANZAC Day celebrations in the Metroplex.

For more details on organizing a school clinic, playing footy with the team or supporting the Dallas Magpies Australian Football Club, e-mail the recruiting department (recruiting@dallasfooty.com).