NELSON Bay Marlins are still a force to be reckoned with in the AFL Hunter Central Coast Senior Black Diamond Cup Men’s finals mix.
After back-to-back losses to Warners Bay Bulldogs and Terrigal Avoca Panthers, the Marlins bounced back to the winners list with a spirited 10.8 (68) to 5.14 (44) triumph over the Cardiff Hawks at Dick Burwell Oval.
Spearheaded by super boot and inspirational skipper Billy Barton, the Nelson Bay men produced a final quarter revival to sink the Hawks and consolidate fourth spot on the premiership ladder.
Barton kicked five of the Marlins’ ten goals to spark a spirited comeback victory for the Port Stephens-based club.
Cardiff led 19-6 at the end of the first quarter and 33-25 at the half time break before Nelson Bay hit back to trail 42-41 at the conclusion of the third quarter.
In a scintillating display, the Marlins booted four major six pointers and restricted the Hawks to only two behinds in the final term to secure their fourth win of the season and four valuable competition points.
Newcastle City Blues lead the competition with eight victories from ten fixtures on 32 points followed by second placed Terrigal-Avoca and third ranked Warners Bay, who are equal on 28 points.
Newly promoted Nelson Bay have played six matches and make up the top four on sixteen points.
Other Nelson Bay players to shine in a lion-hearted team effort were Baeden Clements, Zane Grant, Jayden Baldwin-Rymer, Jason Carey and Mitchell Walls.
Mark Spencer grabbed a goal double for the Marlins with Baldwin-Rymer, coach Wayd Blackburne and Mitchell Hall also potting six pointers on the day.
Nelson Bay women’s AFL team can hold their heads high after a hard fought 27-14 loss to undefeated premiership pacesetters Maitland Saints in the Black Diamond Women’s Plate at Max McMahon Oval.
The Saints had to fight tooth and nail to stave off the Marlins challenge and were restricted to only three goals and nine behinds by the courageous Nelson Bay line up.
Nelita Sherrin Bob booted two goals for Maitland with Sophie Forge grabbing her team’s third while Liana Sostarko and Sophie Elliott kicked the Marlins’ two six pointers in a low scoring tussle.
In a super defensive display the Nelson Bay women showed they can match it with the big guns with Olivia Feldman, Scarlett Lack, Catalina Labraknox, Chaeli Callaghan, Mikaela Burrows and Kaitlyn Mamotte all producing stand out performances.
Maitland were best served by Skyla Dunn, Tahneisha Walls, Georgia Jenkins, Jenna Stevens, Jodie Eagar and Charli Jackson and remained undefeated on 40 points with ten victories from as many games.
The Marlins are in fourth spot on 28 points and host Muswellbrook Cats on Saturday July 19 at Dick Burwell Oval from 10am.
Nelson Bay men’s team square off with Maitland Saints on July 19 at Max McMahon Oval at 2pm.
By Chris KARAS
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