The UWS GIANTS recorded their first win of the 2012 NEAFL season with an impressive 41 point win over the Sydney Hills Eagles at Blacktown International Sportspark on Sunday evening.
The GIANTS sprinted out of the blocks and booted seven goals in the opening term to race away from the Eagles early.
Nathan Wilson led the GIANTS forward line impressively and helped himself to a couple of first quarter goals, as the GIANTS matched their attacking potency with iron like defence to keep the Eagles goalless at the quarter time break.
The GIANTS wasted little time opening the second quarter with Anthony Miles clearing from the centre and finding Nathan Wilson for the opening goal of the term after just fifteen seconds.
The Eagles rallied hard and kept the GIANTS at bay momentarily before Nathan Wilson continued his day out with the GIANTS second goal for the quarter.
Setanta O’hAilpin followed next with the GIANTS third of the term, with his first kick of the footy for season 2012 having spent much of the early rounds out injured.
Anthony Miles popped up soon after to kick the GIANTS fourth, before Setanta O’hAilpin showed some great dash late in the term as he out raced two defenders before unselfishly dishing it off for Craig Moeller to goal.
Minutes later O’hAilpin impressed again kicking the GIANTS sixth goal of the term, showcasing soccer skills that fellow Irishman Robbie Keane would be proud of right on the half time siren to take the GIANTS to the main break with a 36 point lead.
The opening minutes of the third were somewhat of a stalemate before the Eagles opened the scoring for the half. Nathan Wilson replied with the GIANTS first for the term soon after in what was a good team movement that included several players.
The Giants were somewhat wasteful in front of goal in the third term and didn’t make the most of their opportunities despite a clear advantage of inside 50’s, with the GIANTS registering only the one goal from eight scoring shots. The Eagles were resilient though as they fought hard to go take the quarter three goals to two.
The GIANTS no doubt received a rocket from Coach, Brett Hand at three quarter time for their wayward finishing and started the fourth quarter on fire kicking the first two goals in the opening couple of minutes.
Gerald Ugle kicked an opportunist goal after he was the only player not to give up on a ball seemingly destined to bounce through for a behind.
Anthony Miles kicked impressively from beyond the fifty for the second time of the afternoon to stretch the GIANTS margin further.
GIANTS Coach, Brett Hand said he was happy to get a win on the board, and praised the efforts of GIANTS forward, Nathan Wilson who bagged six goals.
“It was a good response from him to come back and kick six goals, he was on the end of some nice passages of play and some of the other goals he got were well fought out, so it was a good effort.”
Hand also praised the work of Ruckman, Andrew Phillips and defender, Josh Bruce.
“Andrew Phillips was fantastic in the ruck and gave our midfielders first use of the ball. I thought Josh Bruce was magnificent down back, he was solid and wasn’t out marked and gave us some rebound and some great tackles back there,” said Hand.
Hand was also pleased with the work of Setanta O’hAilpin, following the Irishman’s first match in a GIANTS Guernsey.
“It was great to see Setanta get through a game, he has had a long pre-season and he hasn’t had any luck, he has got through a game now and will be all the better for it. He did a couple of useful things and he provides us with a great avenue towards goal up forward,” Hand said.
The GIANTS meet Queanbeyan next weekend at Blacktown International Sportspark and Hand said it would be a good opportunity for the GIANTS to measure themselves against one of the competition heavyweights.
GIANTS Midfielder, Anthony Miles was again a standout winning a lot of the football and said the sides electric start was a key focus throughout the week.
“We thought we had an advantage in the Centre Square, through our ruckman and our tall guys. We wanted to get on top early and start well, it’s been a major focus for us and I think we did that today and get off to a really good start,” said Miles.
Miles credited the competition for senior positions at the club as the key to the strong performances of late of many of the UWS GIANTS players.
“In the back of your mind you always have the thought of senior selection there but I think if you play your role as part of the team that stands out. I think everyone playing in the NEAFL at the moment, their main goal is to play senior footy. For the guys playing seniors at the moment they’re happy with the competition coming up and its good for the club to have some depth and really pushing for selection.”
UWS GIANTS 19.16 135
Hills Eagles 13.16 94
GIANTS GOAL KICKERS Wilson 6, O’hAilpin 3, Miles 3, Downie 2, Ugle, Edwards, Gold, Moeller, Sumner
BEST Bruce, Miles, Phillips, Wilson, Schulz, Adams
