Round 2 - ANZAC Day, Sunshine & Big Scoreboards

The 25th April (Anzac Day) is always a special day in the calendar for any Australian or New Zealander as they come together to commemorate the lives of soldiers who have fallen in battle. The day itself, for any Brits/RoW's reading this is significant as it marks the day the ANZACs landed at Gallipoli in the First World War.

My trip to the London Swans was a privilege as it allowed me to witness the memorial to the fallen and an impeccably observed minutes silence.

Last season the Swans lost a classic Grand Final against the Wandsworth Demons in extra time and will be looking to go one better this year. Against what looked to be a strong South East London Giants side the Swans were in imperious form.

Early on a ball hoisted into the 50 was not marked by the Giants defence and found its way through to Ronan Fenn who soccered it home for the first goal of the game. The Giants response was instant and after superbly gathering a low ball, Geoff Mackay fired home the Giants opener. As the quarter drew to a close a long range effort from Nic Dazeley increased the hosts lead and with six behinds they went in at the first quarter 2.6.18 to 1.0.6 ahead.

Ian Ash increased the hosts lead early in the second quarter, but a great pick up from a loose ball by Chris Leopardi saw the Giants keep themselves in the game. The Swans were racking up the behind thoughs and three more stretched their lead, but Jake Peachey got hold of a ball out of a scramble and scored to send the sides in at the big break with the Swans ahead.

The Swans blew the game apart in the third quarter. A ball into the 50 saw a battle on the floor and Dazeley converted. Shortly after and Dazeley was at it again. A great mark by Ash saw him find Dazeley who scored. The Giants put the Swans backline under some pressure but the hosts held firm and a goal from Dominic Bowes helped increase the lead to 7.10.52 to 2.0.12.

Mackay notched his second of the game early in the final period to keep things respectable, but the Swans stepped on the gas in the final period and Lachie Callaghan found Luke Borland who took a great mark and converted. A late hit on Dazeley then gave him time to line up a shot at goal and notch his fourth of the game. Scoring was completed with Ash Sly cutting inside a challenge and firing home to give a full time score of 10.11.71 to 3.0.18 to the London Swans

The second game of the day the Swans Women's Conference side entertained their South East London Giant counterparts. Both sides were in action on Week 1 with the Giants drawing with the West London Wildcats and the Swans being well beaten at the North London Lions but competing well with eight players in their squad playing their first ever AFL game.

The Swans were out of the blocks like rocket and after a couple of behinds, Tori Long slotted their first goal of the season and they were sitting eight points to the good. The Giants came roaring back, and after Ellie Hyner has struck from close range, they took the lead through another close range effort, this time from the boot of Eleanor de Jersey, and the Giants led 2.2.14 to 1.2.8 lead into the break

An experienced Giants were dominating the second half but only had a couple of behinds to show for their efforts, until a late bobbly effort through a crowd from Ash O'Mahony-Dorian stretched the lead going into the big break. Giants led 3.4.22 to 1.2.8.

Again the third quarter was the Giants on the offensive, with some sterling defensive work from the Swans restricting them again to a couple of behinds before a Lexi Spokes strike late on moved the visitors further clear. Giants led 4.6.30 to 1.2.8 going into the final period.

A flowing move involving Yui Quintal and Laura Akehurst set up Dayna Richman to score and celebrate in style, with the goals being rounded off after another flowing move and well deserved finish for the excellent Quintal to give a final score of Giants 6.10.46 to 1.2.8

The penultimate clash of the day saw a repeat of last seasons Men's Conference final, with the Swans hosting the Wimbledon Hawks. Last season the Swans came out on top in all three meetings and it was too be no different this time, albeit with a much bigger win.

For the Swans Reed Jepson was nigh on unplayable, and in tandem with Fergus Lappin looks to provide another X-Factor for the reigning Conference champions. Early in the opening quarter a sumptuous Jepson hand-pass cut three Hawks out of the equation and Lappin ran on to score from close range. Jepson then doubled his assist tally by nudging a ball through to Fabe Barrett who soccered home from close range. Hawks talisman Billy Glasgow reduced the arrears with a set shot, before a flowing move saw Hawks opened up and Jepson scoring to send the Swans into the break 3.4.22 to 1.1.7 ahead

The Swans started the second period on the offensive and a big mark by Michael Batten saw him find Jepson who converted to stretch the lead, but almost immediately the Hawks responded, Billy O'Loughlin launching the ball goalwards and in the ensuing melee, Hawks Charlie Nicholas (not to be confused with Arsenal and Scotland legend "Champagne Charlie") swoops to convert. The contest though was swinging from end to end and Lappin mark and fired home to restore the lead, only for the Hawks to find Dom Castaldello who slotted a set shot through the uprights. That though was as good as it got in the quarter for the Hawks as the Swans turned the screws and started to dominate.

A front on challenge on Jepson saw him given a set shot to increase the lead and notch his third of the day and shortly after it was number four, following a good mark and finish. When Zac Di Guiseppe fired home, the Hawks were looking for some half time respite, and the Swans went into the big break with an 8.6.54 to 3.2.20 lead.

The Hawks started the third quarter positively but after a spell of unrewarded pressure the were put further behind when Harry Pitts struck home. Again the Hawks responded positively but the reigning champions were in no mood for an upset, and Jepson struck his fifth with a neat turn and finish. O'Loughlin got the Hawks on the board in the quarter converting a set shot from just inside the 50 and but further goals from Nelson Pryor and Batten from out wide took the Swans into the final break with a big lead (I will be honest I got a bit lost here - blame it on a senior moment!)

Jepson was back at it with a great mark and conversion to start the final period, before great work from Pryor saw him find Lappin who converted from a tight angle for his third. Lappin then turned provider, spoiling a high bomb into Jepson who scored again, and minutes later some defensive suicide by the Hawks gave Jepson a tap in from a yard. Credit the Hawks for not throwing in the towel and they responded with a stunning run, bounce and sweet left foot strike from Myles Hudson, to at least trouble the big scoreboard in the final period.

The cherry on top of the icing on top of the cake for the Swans saw Jepson, who else I hear you ask, find Marcus Gardner and he round off the scoring to give the Swans a 17.12.114 to 5.3.33 win.

The final game of the day saw the Swans, who narrowly missed out on a Grand Final spot host the newly promoted Wimbledon Hawks in the Women's Premiership. With the Hawks having lost a few of the side from last year, with players returning home and injuries they were put to the sword by an excellent Swans side who will no doubt go close again this season.

There was little to indicate the final scoreline in a fairly tight opening quarter. Admittedly the Hawks were forced into a rear guard action but they were holding their own until an impressive run by Saskia Taylor-Doyle led to pressure from Chelsea Fisher forcing a mistake and Tara Barratt converted for the opening goal of the game and the Swans went into the break 1.5.11 to 0.0.0 to the good.

Fisher took a superb low mark and found Jamiee Wittervan who in turn found Alexis Smith who fired home her opening goal of the game, and a fixed effort by Maddie Sorrenti was collected on the bounce by Smith who fired home (for the stats nerds amongst you...no just me...this equalled the number of goals the Hawks conceded all last season). Barratt scored twice in quick succession to record her hat-trick and a set shot from Smith, for her hat-trick, ended the scoring for the half, with the Swans going in 6.5.41 to 0.0.0 ahead.

There was no let up in the third quarter, despite the battling efforts of an outgunned Hawks defence. Wittervan scored her first of the day early on in the quarter and a barnstorming Fisher run saw her find Chelsea Lewis who in turn found Smith who scored from close range. Wittervan and Barratt then linked up to set up Wittervan for another goal and a weaving run and finish from Taylor-Doyle stretched the lead. Wittervan and Lewis then combined to set up Wittervan for her third, and there were two other goals from Taylor-Doyle and Smith to round off a fabulous quarter for the Swans who led 13.8.86 to 0.0.0

It was a much quieter final period, Lewis struck early in the quarter and a great run by Taylor-Doyle saw her find Smith who, on the turn scored her sixth to give a final scoreline of 15.15.105 to 0.0.0 in favour of the Swans

Credit to the Hawks for never throwing in the towel.

Elsewhere and on a massive day for the league, there were another six games; four at the Oliver Tambo Rec (three North London Lions games v the Wandsworth Demons and one West London Wildcats v Demons clash); and one each in Reading and Brighton.

The Lions and Demons met in the Women's Conference, and it was a strong performance from the Lions recording their second win on the spin as they eased to a 7.7.49 to 1.1.7 win. Goals for the Lions coming from Meg Cauduro with four and one each from Kerryn Musson, Brooke Elias and Emma Baker. The sole Demon response from the clubs female Vice President Hannah Boyd.

It was a tight and tense clash in the Men's Socials, with the Lions outlasting the Demons by 4.3.27 to 2.5.17 with the game in the balance all the way to the end. The Lions bouncing back from their opening day defeat and scoring through Luke Hickey, Ben Kanka, Benjamin Wright and David Sheehan; with Dominic Oday and Lachie McKenzie replying for the Demons.

Finally another tight and tense encounter took place in the Men's Premiership, where the Lions again squeezed past the D's in a close contest 10.15.75 to 10.9.69. The D's will no doubt be hoping for a repeat of last season where a narrow loss to the Lions was their only one of the season as they sealed the Premiership. The Lions led this encounter at the end of each quarter, with goals from Daniel Beddison and Conor Jacoby both with two goals and Ryan Cox, Mark Dennigan, Rhys Evans, Lachlan Treverton, Jake Whatman and Marcus Colby doing the damage. On target for the D's were Tobias Lawler and Mason Ness with two each, James Lynne, Joel Comito, Isaac Conway, Kyle Cooper, Jonathan Harvey and Damien Holland all with one each

It's safe to say last season wasn't the best for the Wildcats, with only the Ealing Emus picking up any wins. However they have made a dominant start to this season, with both the Emus (in the Socials) and the Raiders (in the Conference) recording wins. Remarkably both teams recorded identical points 12.10.82

The Shepherds Bush Raiders were in action at the Oliver Tambo and took on the Wandsworth Demons (who finished second in the regular season but fell at the first play off hurdle) and turned in a fantastic performance, on their way to a 12.10.82 to 4.7.31 win. Goals for the Raiders coming from Darcy Judd-Smith 3, Will Richmond 2, Sam McInerney 2, Jack Burton, Noah Crosling, Bailey Neate, Harley Waddell and Jasper Krushka, with a Mike Jones hat-trick and Zach Rollason responding for the Demons

Over in Reading it was the Men's Social clash and this time the Ealing Emus ran out 12.10.82 to 7.2.44 winners. Congrats to the Emus, who found the target through Hamish Shaw 3, Thomas Robb, Daniel Bloch and Jonno Carter with two each and Jack Spremic, Patrick Riley and Joe Facey; responding for the Roos were Adam Bennett with two, plus one each for Alex Toogood, Andrew Whiteaker, Simon Royle, Michael McCombe and Matthew Woodhouse , and in a big positive for the Reading side, there were four debutants in action Sean Rode, Greg Brown, Remy Cox and Josh Jones which is fantastic to see and bodes well for the future.

Finally Waterhall Playing Fields was the venue for the Women's Premiership clash between the Sussex Swans and the Wandsworth Demons. A tight encounter ensued with the Demons outlasting the Swans to pick up a 2.6.18 to 1.6.12 win to leave Swans with an 0-2 record this season.

Goals for the Demons came from Em Rota and Lol Viska, with Elizabeth Thoms replying for the hosts.

That's it, and a wrap on the Week 2 Round-up - it was a brilliant day in the sun, well looked after by the Swans, and all three clubs are top people to be around. What I love about this sport is whilst it is a battle on the pitch, the off-field camaraderie is strong - highlighted by talking to a beaten player to be told "yeah, it was great fun though" - that doesn't happen in other sports I photograph.

Next stop for me is Week 3 at Chiswick Rugby Club and a catch up with the many West London Wildcat sides - make sure you all have neat trims and are looking your best.