Round 5 Wrap: Swans Soar, Roos Struggle & Hawks-Lions Heat Up the Ladder

Saturday saw my longest trip of the season, as I skipped off down the M25 and M4 to Kings Meadow, home of Men's Social side the Reading Kangaroos. For my visit the Roos were hosting the Sussex Swans, in a battle of the two AFL London outlying teams. Co-incidentally my trip to Reading last season, just one week shy of a year to the day also saw me shoot the Roos and the Swans - so it was very much a case of deja-vu. This time I paid more attention to the traffic, and fortunately turned up before kick off - a good hour before this time, instead of at the end of the first quarter.

The Roos had been competitive in their first couple of games but were still searching for that elusive first win, whilst the Swans had bounced back from an opening day defeat to put in back to back wins.

The Swans opened strongly, and effectively took the game away from the Roos in the first quarter. The Swans opened the scoring, when Bradley Ginns scored from a set shot at a tight angle, and followed that up with a quickfire double from Joshua Mailey, firstly intercepting a Roos clearance to slot home and then capitalising on a Roos spoil and firing home soccer style from the floor. A needless 50 metre penalty marched Luke Cowling to edge of the goal square for the easiest of set shots. Scoring was wrapped up in the half through Callum Newsom. The Swans went into the quarter break with a 5.3.33 to 0.0.0 lead

The Roos showed some of their fighting spirit in the second and third quarters, and in a tight second got themselves on the board with a behind from the experienced Adam Bennett. The Swans added a couple of behinds of their own, to give them a half time lead of 5.5.35 to 0.1.1, after a brief premature end to the quarter after only nine minutes - cue much confusion, before play continued.

The Roos added another behind in the third quarter, but an early goal from Thomas Irps pulled the Swans further clear, and after a clash in the air, Cowling was on hand to fire home his second. The Swans led 7.8.50 to 0.2.2

It's safe to say that a fair percentage of the Roos are in the latter stages of their careers, but where better to get some game time than in the socials, and there was a high quality battle between the Roos Glynn Elves, and Swans coach Dominic McInerney, with the Swan being kept relatively quiet until the final quarter. And it was those ageing legs, against a youthful Swans side, that saw the visitors mirror their first quarter performance with another five goals.

With Swans Seann Walsh lookalike Llywyllyn McDonald dominating in the middle of the park, the Swans put the Roos to the sword. A launched ball forward found Oliver Rees, and a neat cut inside saw him fire home, and shortly after McInerney fired a set shot between the uprights. For me the goal of the game followed, with the livewire Bryce Drowley collecting the ball off a ruck and firing home on the run. Further goals followed, Jim Cochran effort fell just short, the ball reaching Steven Welton who scored from close range. McInerney was foiled by a superb defensive block by Roos Matt Woodhouse, before Patrick Borg rounded off the scoring late on.

At the full time siren, the Swans ran out 12.11.83 to 0.2.2 winners, which moved them up to second in the table.

Elsewhere it was all action in Wimbledon as the Hawks took on the London Swans in the Men's and Women's Conference and the Men's Social; whilst over at Bounds Green a double header saw the North London Lions go head to head with the South East London Giants.

In the Men's Conference, a thrilling encounter saw the Hawks and Swans trade blows in the first half, with the Swans taking a 26-23 lead into the half time break. The visitors then stretched their lead from three points to a game breaking 19 points by the end of the third quarter, and by the final siren, the Swans picked up a 9.10.64 to 6.7.43 win. The Swans sit top of the table, whilst the Hawks are in third spot.

In the Men's Socials, the powerful Swans proved far too strong for the Hawks "Aubergine Machine" easing to a 8.8.56 to 1.3.9 win. The Swans are well placed for a finals place, with the Hawks looking for a second win to get them back into contention.

In the Women's Conference, the Hawks women moved into second spot in the table, and are breathing down the necks of the league leading North London Lions, courtesy of a 4.8.32 to 0.3.3 win over their Swans counterparts. The Swans are in a battle with the Giants for a place in the play offs.

Finally at Bounds Green, and the North London Lions had a double header against the Giants. In the Men's Socials the Lions proved far too strong for the Giants, and eased to an 8.10.58 to 1.1.7 win. The Lions have a eight points and sit in fourth spot, whilst the Giants are one of three teams on four points.

In the Women's Conference it was a tight contest which saw the Lions come out on top, in a low scoring encounter. The Lions winning 3.2.20 to 1.2.8 and sit top of the pile, with three wins from three.

Another fantastic weekend of footy, and thankfully the predicted thunderstorms, and weather warning never really materialised.