Bombers push through to finals

Mickitja Onus and Rodney Moore go hard at the ball under pressure from Crocs in the Whitehurst Cup game at Brockman Oval on 13 February.

THE Jabiru Bombers are through to the preliminary finals and it’s do or die. The local team come up against Nightcliff Spartans at TIO Stadium on Saturday 12 March, after a tightly contested win in the first semi-final against Southern Districts Crocs on Saturday 5 March.

The Bombers beat Crocs by six goals, but the final scoreline doesn’t reflect how hard the Bombers worked to secure the win. At half time, the Bombers were 5.4-34 to Districts 3-3-21 with both teams putting in every effort in the hard-fought game. The Bombers emerged victorious 12.5-77 to Southern Districts 6.6-42.

Bombers coach Ian Douglass said the team strategy was to “run Districts off their feet”.

“It was run-and-carry, speed, and playing on at all costs,” Douglass said. “We applied a degree of pressure with tackling and ultimately won through.”

Michael Gurruwiwi outstanding as centre-half back, he said.

“Hayden Managku, Kingsley Whitehurst and Nicholas and Craig Bangarr put in good performances, with Whitehurst kicking three goals,” Douglass said.

Big River Hawks assistant coach Leith Waterbury, speaking to The Wire at a Bombers training session, said individually, Bombers players were competing in four different grades of NT football.

“We have young players here who compete in the premier league, Under 18 Big River Hawks, as well as Nightcliff and Southern Districts,” Waterbury said. “Footballers who are under 15, who can’t compete in the senior league, will still come down here to Brockman Oval on Tuesdays and Thursdays anyway for the opportunity to train.”

Douglass said 14 of the current Bombers line-up hailed from Gunbalanya.

“The composition of the team is changing in line with the demographic of Jabiru, with three-quarters of the team from Gunbalanya,” he said. “These players train in Gunbalanya two nights per week.”

He said the Gunbalanya Sports and Social Club support for the players included funding flights to attend games.

“We appreciate the ongoing sponsorship of the GSSC, because without their support we would not be able to fill the team.”

The GSSC also give a great deal of support to sports in the Gunbalanya community, having recently spent $4690 on uniforms for the four local league teams. They have also recently provided footballs, basketballs and soccer balls worth $2600 for use in local sports.

Whitehurst Cup winners, Jabiru Bombers. PHOTO: KYLIE LINDNER

WHITEHURST CUP

In their Sponsors Day game at Brockman Oval on 12 February Bombers a hard-earned win over Southern Districts Crocs.

The teams were competing in the Dwayne Whitehurst Cup. Whitehurst, who died in a tragic accident in 2007, was a much-loved player for both the Crocs and the Bombers.

At half-time the Bombers led by a good margin, but the Crocs bit back sharply in the third. With fast hands and smart passages of play, the visitors booted quick goals to draw a couple of points ahead of the home team. The Bombers were starting to flag, and a couple of sloppy errors saw them paying the price.

The home side were strong in possession, but not always finding their mark with passing kicks. But the Bombers were not about to let this crucial game slip through their grasp.

Kingsley Whitehurst and Hayden Managku were standouts as the red-and-black went neck-and-neck in the final quarter.

In a brilliant passage of play, Dan Hill launched a long, accurate kick to pick out the man on the far wing and switch play across the ground. This was followed by two strong marks in the forward line, and the ball sailing through the big sticks, which put the Bombers right back in the game. When full-forward Scott Maralngurra scored a quick snap off his left boot under pressure, the home crowd were up on their feet. Another strong mark from big Scotty and his reliable kicking left the final outcome in no doubt.

RESULTS
TIO NTFL SENIOR MEN’S DIVISION 2

JABIRU v SOUTHERN DISTRICTS Semi-final, 3pm Sat 5 March
Jabiru 1 2.3-15 5.4-34 7.5-47 12.5-77
Crocs 11.2-8 3.3-21 5.5-35 6.6-42
Jabiru Goal Kickers: K. Whitehurst 3, B. Nalorlman 2, C.
Bangarr 2, N. Bangarr 2, J. Ganawa, K. Naborlhborlh, M.
Onus; Best Players: M. Gurruwiwi, B. Thorne, H. Manakgu,
D. Hill, K. May, S. Namarnyilk.

JABIRU v BANKS Qualifying final 2, 3pm Sat 27 February
Jabiru 0.0 1.0-6 1.2-8 2.3-15
Banks 3.1-19 6.4-40 9.7-61 11.10-76
Jabiru Goal Kickers: H. Manakgu, M. Gurruwiwi; Best
Players: G. Tobin, A. Reid, B. Thorne, K. May.

JABIRU v TRACY VILLAGE 2pm Sun 21 February
Tracy Village 0.0 1.0-6 1.0-6 1.1-7
Jabiru 5.4-34 8.8-56 12.13-85 18.19-127
Jabiru Goal Kickers: S. Maralngurra 4, H. Manakgu 3, M.
Gurruwiwi 2, N. Bangarr 2, J. Oddy 2, B. Nalorlman 2,
D. Nayinggal, K. Whitehurst, B. Thorne; Best Players: A.
Reid, D. Hill, H. Manakgu, M. Gurruwiwi, D. Nayinggal,
S. Gumurdul.

JABIRU v SOUTHERN DISTRICTS 2pm Sat 13 February, Brockman Oval
Jabiru 10.5.65
Southern Districts 7.9-51
Goal Kickers: B. Nalorlman 3, K. Whitehurst 3, S.
Maralngurra 2, K. Naborlhborlh, B. Narlorlman Best
Players: H. Manakgu, K. Whitehurst, C. Nangamu, B.
Thorne, M. Gurruwiwi, K. Naborlhborlh.