General News
19 May, 2021
Bombers continue winning ways
A STRONG first half helped Cobden extend its winning streak on Saturday.
A STRONG first half helped Cobden extend its winning streak on Saturday.
The Bombers recorded its fifth successive win of 2021 with a 60-40 triumph over Hamilton Kangaroos.
The home side jumped out of the blocks to open up a 15-8 lead, before it extended its buffer with a dominant second term.
The Bombers scored 18 goals to six to blow the margin out to a commanding 19 goals.
The match was then an even affair in the second half, with the Bombers outscoring the Kangaroos.
However, it’s first half performance ensured it secured a comfortable 20 goal win, with Emily Finch (41 goals), Remeny McCann and Amy Hammond the victors’ best performers.
Coach Sophie Hinkley said her side tinkered with its attacking strategy to great effect in the victory.
“We had a great first half. We won it by 19 and then only won the second by one but we’d been working on taking a more direct line to the goal ring,”
“That allowed Emily to be isolated in the goal ring and we usually struck better centre passes into our goal ring to her.
“It was really good to execute a different game play and it allowed us to mix it up and use our strengths a little more.
“In the first half we also had a huge amount of turnovers. A lot of them were from Rem and others were from whole team defensive pressure and our attacking end also had a couple of intercepts which also showed they had a good defensive work rate.”
Hinkley said she could not pinpoint anything specific as to why the contest was more even after half time.
She said a change to Hamilton’s line-up as well as less intercepts and turnovers in defence were two possibilities but she added it was not too much of a concern thanks to their fast start.
The Bombers also used the second half to unveil Holly Duynhoven at wing defence and goal keeper.
Hinkley said the emerging junior acquitted herself well on debut.
“It was great to have another junior come through and get exposure at open level,” she said.
“Holly played wing defence and goal keeper and she did not look out of place.
“Lara Taylor made sure her spot wasn’t going anywhere by playing an awesome first half, and then Holly came on in the second and did the job she was asked to do which showed the consistent messaging across the club is really helping.
“Not only did she step up to open, she fitted in seamlessly.”
The Bombers are now preparing for a road trip to Portland (3.15pm) this Saturday.
Hinkley said her side would be wary of a Tigers side coming off a strong victory, but was eager to use the contest to continue developing its own game.
We’ll be looking at consolidating some of the stuff we’ve been working on,” she said.
“Last week was the first time we’d worked through our attacking structure so it will be about consolidating that and having an opportunity to work on a few different things, particularly defensively.
“Whether we’re able to have a bit more of a zone defence (is one thing), we’ve been playing mainly a one-on-one defence so this week gives us a chance to work through a few things.”
Meanwhile, the senior football side slumped to its fifth consecutive defeat.
The Kangaroos started strongly and controlled the scoreboard for the remainder of the contest to record a 13.9 (87) to 6.12 (48) victory.
Jack Hutt was Cobden’s best player in his return from injury, while Patrick Smith, Jesse Williamson, Ben Berry, Sam Darcy and Ryleigh McVilly all performed strongly.
The Bombers will meet Portland (5pm) in a twilight contest this Saturday.