Blues bounce back with first half blitz

Fraser Duryea gets a handball away for Northern Beaches against Sawtell/Toormina. Photo: @capturedby_kj

HAVING kicked just two goals in 200 minutes, Northern Beaches found form in front of the big sticks to record its first win of the season over Sawtell/Toormina.

The Blues battle to kick goals became a thing of the past on Saturday as they kicked eight goals to three in the first half at Richardson Park to open up what became a match winning 31 point lead.

The Duryea brothers led the way for the Blues with Evan booting seven majors and Fraser, who spent less time in the midfield this match, kicked four.

Northern Beaches coach Jim Angel said having players return to the team to allow Fraser the freedom to play closer to goal was the missing ingredient in the team’s two losses.

“Having Fraser back in the forward line takes the acid off Evan,” Angel said.

“The structure is slowly getting back to what we expected it to be during pre-season. We always knew the first two rounds were going to be hard.

“It was just good to get some players back. We’ll be fine, we just need to curb some disciplinary issues we have like arguing with umpires. When our discipline improves we’ll be even better.”

GETTING goals on the board early was the winning recipe for Northern Beaches as it was the same story for the Blues’ women’s team.

Northern Beaches kicked seven unanswered goals in the first half to build an unassailable lead.

Freya Hickey, Gabby Boyle, Madeleine Watson and Laura Hill were among the best players for the Blues but it was the Saints who dug deep after the main break to win the second half by four points to cit the final margin to 42.

Northern Beaches playing coach Alana Hanson said the first half was impressive but admitted she’s probably more of a glass half-empty kind of coach.

“I’m never happy because it’s not perfect. I’m always thinking we can improve,” she joked about herself.

“Overall though I’m really happy with the team. There’s a lot of new girls in the team and they’re relatively inexperienced. The group has actually exceeded my expectations which is a pat on the back for how well they’ve played so far.”

MATCH SCORES

SENIOR MEN

NORTHERN BEACHES 4.2  8.5  10.8  14.11 (95)

SAWTELL/TOORMINA 1.3  3.4  5.7  8.10 (58)

Goals – N.B: E.Duryea 7, F.Duryea 4, R. Evans, K.Latham, M.Pearce. Saw: T.Fagan 2, J.Bowd 2, B.Lee, T.Neal, C.Perks, C.Smith.

Reserves – Sawtell/Toormina 9.14 (68) def Northern Beaches 5.5 (35)

SENIOR WOMEN

NORTHERN BEACHES 3.4  7.6  7.9  8.9  (57)

SAWTELL/TOORMINA 0.0  0.2  1.2  2.3 (15)

Goals – N.B: K.Basset 3, F.Hickey 2, L.Hill, B.Schofield, G.Boyle. Saw: B.Minichilli, E.Thornycroft.

ROUND 4 MATCHES – Saturday, May 14

NORTHERN BEACHES v PORT MACQUARIE at Centennial Oval, Woolgoolga

(11.50am – Women, 1.20pm – Reserves, 2.50pm – Men)

COFFS BREAKERS v SAWTELL/TOORMINA at Fitzroy Oval, Coffs Harbour

(10am – Under-17s; 11.50am – Women, 1.20pm – Reserves, 2.50pm – Men)