In front of a strong home crowd and with the 2007 Premiership team looking on the Northam Railways Football Club recorded its first triple for some time on Saturday. The Fast Tart netballers started the day at the earlier 11.30am time slot to avoid clashing with club netball. The Tarts recorded a strong 53-38 victory over the Belles. Best players: Katie Leeder and Ashlee Annels.
The reserves followed and came up against Quairading who were sitting in fourth on two wins two losses. The young and fast Baby Bombers were running the Bulls off their feet but could not capitalise on the scoreboard kicking 1-7 for the quarter.
The experienced Bulls were also inaccurate in front of goals finishing the quarter on 0-5. The second quarter saw the Bombers kick 2-2 to Bulls 2-8, Railways leading by just two points at the half.
The second half saw a see-sawing battle with not much separating the two sides until the last five minutes when Railways kicked the last two goals to record a 14-point victory; final scores RFC 8-12 (60) QFC 4-22 (46). Railways best: J. Kickett, A. Riley, H. Corbett, T. Derschow and J. Clark. Quairading best: M. Shenton, A. Stacey and A. Farmer.
A much anticipated league game was next. Right from the first bounce the intent from the Bulls was to ruffle some feathers on Bombers skipper Nathan de Blecourt, but this just seemed to spur him on.
Playing across half back he was everywhere in the first quarter, cutting off Bulls’ attack and driving the ball into the two Daniels; Arangio who was enjoying a run up forward and Negus, both kicking one each for the quarter. Down the other end Tom Martin and Lochie Luckens looked dangerous kicking two and one goal respectively; quarter-time scores 2.8 to 3.1.
The second quarter saw Railways start to take charge kicking 6 goals to 3 and take a 22-point lead into the main break, 8.14 to 6.4. Arangio and Negus kicking two each with Davis and Gordon one each. The third quarter saw Negus kicking the only three goals of the quarter and looked unstoppable up forward, he also took mark of the day to record his second goal for the quarter.
Quairading kicked four goals for the quarter to stay in touch at three-quarter time but were relying too much on Luckens and Martin, the Bombers taking a 15-point lead into the final term. A dominant last quarter saw Railways kick six goals to two and record a comfortable 50-point victory.
Wyatt Gordon kicked two, Negus kicked two to finish with eight for the day and Davis and Garlett kicked one each; final score Railways 17.20 (122) Quairading 11.6 (72). Award winners (sponsored by Northam Carpet Court).
League: 1st Nathan de Blecourt; 2nd Daniel Arangio; 3rd Daniel Negus; 4th James Morris. Reserves: 1st Jordon Kickett; 2nd Austin Riley; 3rd Trevor Derschow; 4th Harley Corbett. Fast Tarts: Top award – Katie leeder; Top Tart – Ashlee Annels.