Gosford claim a hat-trick
Picture by: Bruce Edminston
Written by Josh Callinan
Originally published in the Newcastle Herald
JOSH Barty knows Gosford have a tough road ahead but the Tigers player-coach remains pleased with opening the Black Diamond Cup campaign with a 3-1 record.
The Tigers, now in equal third position on the competition ladder, meet Warners Bay, undefeated Cardiff , last year’s grand finalists Terrigal Avoca and Singleton away in the upcoming rounds.
It comes after stringing together three wins on the trot, sealed with the weekend’s 18-point victory over visitors Nelson Bay at Adcock Park.
Gosford (13.12-90 ) accounted for the Marlins (9.8-72 ) on Saturday having previously beaten Maitland and Wyong Lakes.
The Tigers’ only blemish in 2019 was a loss to Terrigal Avoca in the season opener. The next five are going to be tough, but I back my boys and know they are up to it, Barty said. They have already been showing that even though we get considered as underdogs. We are pretty ecstatic to get those three wins on the board.
Barty expects Patrick Murphy , Daniel White and Daniel Parker to all return from various stints on the sidelines , which will strengthen Gosford’s squad.
However, Tigers quartet Wade Power (ankle), Calan Montgomery (concussion), Thomas Paavola (shoulder) and Hamish Sproule (ankle) may be out having picked up injuries in the fourth round encounter.
Sproule was nominated as Saturday’s best on ground. By a mile, Barty said. He [Sproule] was instrumental in the backline. Gosford kicked five majors in the opening term and led by 30 at the main break. Nelson Bay managed 7.9 in the second half and outscored the Tigers in both the last quarters but could never bridge the gap.
Our problem has been kicking at goal and it’s happened for three weeks, Barty said. We should have beaten Wyong by more and same with Maitland and the Bay. We’ve been going 10.14 or 10.15 and not converting all of those chances. We let Nelson Bay back in the third quarter. That was a lapse of concentration.
Tim Eather (four) and Brad Deitz (two) booted six goals between them for Gosford while Marlins skipper Billy Barton (four) and Chase Morrissey (three) also had multiple entries.
Elsewhere on Saturday and Newcastle City’s Anthony Baker was an absolute ball magnet according to Blues coach Tim Cotter as the defending premiers continued their perfect run with a 96-point win over Wyong Lakes.
Cameron Keast landed four majors for City (17.15-117 ) at Don Small Oval while the Magpies (3.3-21 ) played most of the second half with 17 players after losing Carter Jones, David Murphy, ANdrew Raslan, (concussion), Aaron Laska (back) and Josh Glachan (shoulder).
Singleton (17.13-115 ) dominated Maitland (7.7-49 ) at Rose Point Park. Terrigal Avoca (13.15-93 ) beat Killarney Vale (2.8-20 ), who played most of the second half with 17 players.
Meanwhile, in the women’s competition Cardiff , Wyong Lakes, Newcastle City, Maitland and Wallsend-West Newcastle all recorded wins. Port Stephens and Killarney Vale picked up points via forfeits.
LADDER: City, Cardiff (100%), Terrigal Avoca, Gosford (75), Warners Bay, Singleton (50), Wyong Lakes, Killarney Vale (25), Nelson Bay, Maitland (0).
