Roswell Rebels vs Midtown Bombers 5/7/2011

The Roswell Rebels have powered their way into the Grand Final with a hard fought victory over the Midtown Bombers. On a glorious day for football and both sides fielding full strength teams, what the fans got was local footy at its best.

With league goal kicking leader Chris Moerman up front for Roswell and a powerful line up of runners for Midtown, ...

... the game started with a flurry of bruising tackles, quickfire handpasses and long penetrating kicks, mostly in favor of the Rebels. This led to the first 4 goals for Moerman and gave them the early lead. Moerman’s opponent, Dean Morfitt, knew he was in for a long day and the ball was moved quickly down the star forward. With perfect judgment, Moerman was able to out maneuver his shorter opponent to take some strong marks. After the initial onslaught, Midtown was able to get back into the game with goals to (first year player) Josh Trombley, Curtis Jones and Carson Olsheski. Olsheski, a Canadian, was having an epic battle against James Noonan with both players tall, strong and really getting to know the game well. Defenders on both teams were fully involved, with Eric Baker and Rob Schierholz repelling Midtown attacks and Jeff Sidabras and Jared Batten doing the job for Midtown.

At the first break, it was Roswell leading Midtown 4.4 (28) to 3.1 (19).

With both teams going flat out for the win and Kookas-like tackling the norm, you could tell that both teams were really looking for the spot, that the winner of today’s game would get, in the Grand Final. The result of the intensity was that accuracy went astray in the second quarter. It’s hard to kick straight when you’ve got your opponent draped all over you. Midtown will be kicking themselves after scoring only 7 points in this stanza. Roswell had the same number of scoring shots, but were able to register 2 goals, through Moerman and Captain Mick Frost. Frost was battling Russ Barner in the ruck and winning about 50 percent of the contests against his bigger opponent. With Frost doing so well in the ruck, this allowed the Roswell midfielders Daniel Searle and Carl Garofalo their fair share of the ball. Battling against Ben Crist and Jones, the passing of Searle towards Moerman was proving to be key to Roswell maintaining and then increasing their slim lead. 

At the half, Roswell had opened up a 3 goal lead over Midtown, 6.9 (45) to 3.8 (26).

The third quarter was some of the best local footy, this correspondent has seen. Back and forth play, quick fire handballing, long leading kicks and intense tackling. The umpire was letting the players play and play they did. Midtown’s Simon Davis (acting captain owing to Joey Costyn’s absence) was using his speed to get open and move the ball towards Olsheski. The big O was having a torrid battle with Noonan and both players were having success. Both players took strong marks, one to repel attacks and the other to score a goal and open up play for his teammates. One of those players was Davis, who scored 2 fine goals; the others were Jones and Trombley, who scored 1 each. This was countered at the other end with 2 more goals to Moerman, 1 to (another first year player) John Thrash and a fourth (for the quarter) to Searle. It was end to end footy with all players giving it their all.

When the smoke cleared at three quarter time, Midtown had pegged Roswell back, but not significantly. Roswell still had the lead 10.12 (72) to Midtown 8.9 (57).

Midtown came out firing in the last quarter, taking it to their opponents and banging in quick goals to tie the game up at 10 goals 12 a piece. With Crist and Jones getting the ball out of the middle, it gave Olsheski a chance to get the better of Noonan and score 2 quick goals, his third and fourth for the game. Another goal to Davis gave Midtown their first lead of the game, but rather than being the catalyst to forge ahead, it only inspired Roswell to come back with goals to Searle, Frost and the runaway goal kicking leader Chris Moerman. With his uncanny ability to get where the ball is, Moerman banged in 4 more for the quarter and, once Roswell had regained the lead, they never gave it up again. Getting back into the game (and the lead) seemed to take it all out of the Midtown Bombers and they had no answer in the dying minutes. Roswell pulled away at the end and when Moerman scored his eleventh goal of the game, it was all over bar the shouting.

The final score line showed Roswell 16.13 (109), comfortable 5 goal winners over Midtown 11.12 (78).

For Roswell, it’s a valuable weeks rest and knowledge that they are the team to beat in the Grand Final. For Midtown, it’s a week to prepare for the Western Bulldogs and, although they should not overlook the winless Western team, they must surely be trying to work out how to stop the goal scoring machine in Roswell’s forward line. The bookies will have Midtown favored to win against the Bulldogs, but Roswell must now be very short on favorites to take the title on May 21^st.

The regular goal scoring title goes to Chris Moermen with 49 goals in his 6 games and, if you do the math, that’s slightly more than 8 goals a game and exactly half of his team’s goals. Next came Simon Davis, who’s had an excellent season for Midtown, roaming up and down the field and still scoring 18 goals. Then came Carson Olsheski, who is proving a strong focal point of attack for Midtown, with 16 goals. A special mention must be made of young Chase Trujillo. This 14-year-old boy, competing with men twice (and more) his age, finished fourth his first season with 12 goals, a truly great performance.

So next weekend sees the play off game between the Western Bulldogs and the Midtown Bombers; one team looking for redemption and their first win, the other team looking for a chance to avenge today’s loss. See you at Dekalb Memorial Park next Saturday – 5/14 @ 11:00am

Best players:

Roswell: Moerman, Searle, M. Frost, Noonan, Baker,

Midtown: Davis, C. Jones, Trombley, Crist, Morfitt

Goal Kickers:

Roswell: Moerman 11, M. Frost 2, Searle 2, Thrash 1

Midtown: Olsheski 4, Davis 3, Trombley 2, C. Jones 2