Sport
17 August, 2024
Bombers to take on finals in form, Tigers earn home play-off | HDFNL R18
Noradjuha Quantong beat Pimpinio 15.13 (103) - 5.4 (34).
The Noradjuha Quantong Bombers have ended their 2024 HDFNL regular season on a high after defeating the Pimpinio Tigers 15.13 (103) - 5.4 (34) at the Pimpinio Sporting Complex on Saturday, August 17.
This victory makes it four wins in a row for the Bombers as they now turn their attention to finals.
Noradjuha Quantong's senior football coach Damian Cameron said it was 'really good' to see his side come away with the round 18 win.
"It was a bit of a challenge is the first half, but it was always going to be," said Cameron.
"Pimpinio had a disappointing loss last week and they wouldn't want to lose [again], so I knew they were going to come out firing, and they made it hard at the start."
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A highly competitive first half had the Bombers ahead by only one goal at half time.
"We were probably just a fraction undisciplined," said Cameron.
"We were letting them win the stoppages, which is something we pride ourselves on.
"And, they spread really well attackingly, so if you let them do that, they chip it around and hit the scoreboard."
But upon returning to the field after halftime, Noradjuha Quantong took control.
"I knew we had a lot to give, so we did exactly what we needed to do in the second half," said Cameron.
Noradjuha Quantong outscored Pimpinio 77-14 through the third and fourth quarters.
"We changed up a few things with our rotations through the mids," Cameron said.
"We were rotating through the bench, and then we put them forward, and some of those resting mids were able to hit the scoreboard, and when they had their opportunities in they were winning clearances."
"That's massive for us to win them and keep pressing forward."
Looking ahead to finals, Cameron said his side is feeling 'unreal'.
"Apart from a hiccup against Harrow Balmoral a month ago, we've set ourselves up really well," he said.
"We changed a lot of things and the group's just enjoying it, and I know it's easy to enjoy it when you're winning, but I think it's a bit of a circle; you win your footy, you enjoy it; you enjoy it more and then you play better footy."
While Pimpinio faced defeat, the side can celebrate, as points percentage stronger than Rupanyup's was all the side needed to elevate its placing on the ladder from sixth to fifth.
The extra spot gives the Tigers a home-field elimination final and will see the side take on Laharum instead of a rematch with the Bombers.
Rupanyup's footballers also found themselves on the wrong side of a blowout match, losing to Harrow Balmoral 18.26 (134) - 3.2 (20).
Rupanyup was kept scoreless through both the second and fourth quarters of the game.
Also in round 18, Laharum beat Edenhope Apsley 18.10 (118) - 2.8 (20).
Laharum Young gun Josh Hutchinson topped the games scoring with four goals.
Stawell's Swifts will now take to finals with momentum at its back after defeating the Natimuk United Rams 30.15 (195) - 9.5 (59).
Paul Summers was at his usual goals scoring form, kicking 10 majors, but he was outdone by his own teammate Cameron Wickham, who kicked 11.
And, after trailing at all three breaks, Kalkee surged in the final quarter at Kalkee Recreation Reserve to beat Taylors Lake 11.8 (74) - 10.6 (66).