‘PIES SWARM THE SWANS IN FIRST MAAFL HOME
GAME
The Dallas Magpies accuracy around the goal was the difference in the weekend’s match up against the Chicago Swans. The temperature was a scorching 97 degrees, but both teams seemed to handle the heat. The final score: Dallas 8.11 (59)
def The first quarter of play was typical of play the entire day – a hard fought, and evenly contested. The swans jumped out into the lead kicking the first goal. Shortly after the Magpies answered with their own first major of the game, but neither team could manage more than a single goal as inaccurate kicking saw the end of the first quarter tied at 1.4 (10) for each squad.
The second quarter was also the
same story although the ‘Pies kicked away at the start of the quarter with 2
quick goals by Twomey, who was fed by handballs from Haesecke and Bliss, streaming
through the center of the ground, but the swans fought hard to quell the
Magpie push, and towards the end of the quarter they converted hard work to
points with 2 majors of their own. Games are usually won in the
third “premiership” quarter – and on this occasion it was no different.
The swans jumped out to a 3-goal lead by kicking the first 3 goals in the 3rd
term, but the Magpies came storming back as C. Russo, Richardson and Samuelson
repeatedly won the ball from center, and put 3 of their own majors on the
board to head into the final break with the momentum. The final break huddle of the
Magpies oozed confidence as coach Rackham dished out praise to all the
players who had assisted in the final 3 goals of the quarter, and yelled the
final bench changes to the final push. The final quarter belonged to
the Magpies, who kicked straighter than the Swans and flooded the back line
to hold on in the final 5 minutes. Long balls put front and center of the
goal-square by C. Russo found Cobb’s sure hands in a fiercely contested marks
at one end, while the Swans peppered the goals in desperation at the other,
as Rackham, Rodriguez and Sutton applied constant pressure not allowing the
Swans open looks at goals. When the final siren sounded
only 5-points separated the two teams, unfortunately there had to be a loser,
because the game was played in great spirit. This victory puts the Magpies in
the drivers seat in the MAAFL after two rounds. Best Players For Dallas: 3 Votes: Matt Twomey 2 Votes: Scott Cobb 1 Votes: Stuart Rackham, Patrick Sutton, Cameron Russo Action pictures from the day
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