02.06.2008 – Nick Bailey
Last week’s missed kicks for goal almost handed Uni victory, but this week it cost them dearly as the Students succumbed to St. George 16.16.112 to 12.24.96 at Uni Oval No.1 on Saturday and crashed to their fourth successive defeat.
Whereas last week it was Uni’s opponents, UNSW/Eastern Suburbs, who had the goalkicking yips, the Students caught the bug this week, kicking at 33% accuracy to go down by 16 points at home. Uni now find themselves clinging onto the finals placings on percentage, and will need to arrest their present decline sooner rather than later if they desire September football.
Initially it was St.George who failed to kick straight, leading Uni by only 11 points at quarter time as they kicked three goals from ten scoring shots. Uni took over in that department in the second term, however, kicking a wasteful 2.10 for the quarter to find themselves fifteen points down at the half.
The match was essentially over by three quarter time, as Uni squandered yet more opportunities in the third quarter to kick 1.7, no match for the four goals kicked by the Saints as they opened up a 30 point lead.
Not for the first time this season Uni rallied late, finally fixing their radar to boot seven final term majors, but it was too tall an order as they allowed St.George to kick five of their own and take the four points.
Alex Lee continued his magnificent goalkicking performance this year with a season best haul of six, leaving him in 5th place on the competition leading goalkickers’ ladder, whilst Mark Egan contributed with three. Joshua Leary was voted Uni’s best on ground, with vice captain Joel Carr putting in yet another outstanding performance.
For St.George Maurice Goolagong and Christopher MacDougal kicked five goals, with Peter Dugmore landing three. Declan Donahue was judged the Saints’ best, with Goolagong also attracting attention for his efforts.
Uni now enter a must-win Round Nine clash against the last placed Balmain Dockers this Sunday at Drummoyne Oval. When these two sides met earlier this year in Round One it was Uni who ran out 63 point winners, and the Students would dearly love a similar result this time around to ensure they remain in finals calculations. Centre bounce is at 2:10pm.
