The Greater Western Sydney GIANTS have won their second consecutive NEAFL match for 2011. A physical and wet induction left both the GIANTS and Tuggeranong Hawks scrambling for the lead throughout the match, however, the GIANTS dug deep in the final quarter to run out winners by 31 points.

Rain was pouring down as the game got underway for the GIANTS’ first home game of 2011. The GIANTS got off to a flying start with Jarrod Harding kicking the ball long to Jonathan Giles, who lined up and kicked the opening goal of the match. Stephen Clifton followed shortly after, snapping the ball across his body for the GIANTS second. The GIANTS midfield had to work hard to move the ball with the Hawks putting plenty of pressure around the stoppages. Curtly Hampton managed to seal an eight-point lead just before the first break.

The GIANTS continued to show glimpses throughout the second quarter with Jonathan Giles taking an impressive mark in the forward pocket and Israel Folau palming off two defenders before booting the ball up into the midfield but the GIANTS failed to convert their hard work on the score board. A tight contest left the scores even at the 24-minute mark of the second quarter before Ben Reid took a hard hit on the wing and had to leave the field but returned in the third quarter. After kicking a goal after the half time siren, the Hawks went into the second break leading by six points.

Kevin Sheedy urged his young side to find the strength to come out strong in trying conditions and use their fitness to out run their opponents. The GIANTS worked hard around the ground, putting their bodies on the line in the contests, but neither side was able to pull away in the third term. Following strong goals from Giles and Joe Redfern (GIANTS Academy member) the GIANTS held a three-point lead at the final break.

The GIANTS dug deep in the final term, continuing to enter the hard contests on the ground and in the air and managed to run away with their lead. Alex Carey kicked a goal as the ball rolled along the ground off Stephen Clifton’s boot to the cheers from the GIANTS fans in the crowd, putting the home team up by 17 points. Consecutive goals to Clifton and Academy member Harry Cunningham allowed the GIANTS to extend their lead and keep the Hawks goalless in the final term.

Clifton, who put in a best on ground performance, expressed his relief and excitement at the GIANTS ability to run away with their lead in the fourth quarter and produce their second win in a row.

“We’re wrapped and really pumped to come away with a win. The conditions were pretty tough, it was choppy out there and wet so the ball was getting very slippery. I think once we decided to kick the ball long and go for distance rather than possession I think that really worked well for us.

“The fourth quarter was great, I think that all of the boys are really happy with where their fitness is at and that really showed today,” Clifton said.

GIANTS head coach Kevin Sheedy commended his team on their outstanding performance in the final term and said that the lessons that the team would take out of playing in tough weather conditions would be invaluable.

“It was an exciting result, it was a really tough game and Tuggeranong to their credit put up a really hard, forward contest. The hard training that we did over the summer probably held us in good stead for the fourth quarter and allowed us to keep Tuggeranong from scoring a goal in the last term.

“At three quarter time we spoke about the fact that this was a game that we were really going to have to grunt out, particularly since we are a young side playing against some senior players, who are a lot bigger and stronger in some areas. At the moment we need to focus on being able to run over our opponents in the latter half of the match, which we were able to do well today.

“That’s the first time that we’ve ever really played in conditions like that as a team so we’ll get a lot out of that. Tuggeranong get a lot of players who play in the back half so tactically it’s something that our players will learn a lot from.

“We let them get ahead for a little while which was disappointing but the important thing is that we fought back,” Sheedy said.

The GIANT will now have a bye over the Easter Break, and will then travel to the MCG to take on the Northern Bullants in their first game of the Foxtel Cup on Saturday April 30.

GWS GIANTS

14.17.101

Tuggeranong

10.10.70

GIANTS Goal Kickers

Jonanthan Giles 3

Stephen Clifton 2

Andrew Phillips 1

Josh Bruce 1

Adam Flagg 1

Curtly Hampton 1

Anthony Miles 1

Joe Redfern 1

Simon Tunbridge 1

Alex Carey 1

Harry Cunningham 1

Bests

Clifton, Bugg, Phillips, Giles, Ugle