Cats overcome Joeys

Geelong   86 defeated Kangaroos   60

Geelong has stormed into the semi finals of the 2006 NAB Cup after a four goal to one final quarter against the Kangaroos to defeat them by 26 points in a lacklustre encounter at Cazaly Stadium in Cairns.

After Daniel Harris brought the margin back to 11 points at the nine minute mark of the last quarter, two quick goals to Shannon Byrnes and Matthew Spencer quickly grabbed the ascendancy back to the Cats and saw them finish much stronger than their undermanned opponents.

The win has come at a cost for Geelong, with Kent Kingsley leaving the ground in the 3rd quarter holding his hamstring, while Jared Rooke was carted off the ground on a stretcher in the dying moments after hitting his head solidly with the turf.

Byrnes bagged two goals for the victors, including an unexpected supergoal by the rover, as goals were shared this week after Kingsley’s bag of nine against Carlton last week. Cameron Ling and Gary Ablett both amassed 21 possessions, while Jimmy Bartel and Kane Tenace collected 20 possessions each.

For the Kangaroos, makeshift captain Brady Rawlings managed 24 possessions, while father-son recruit Jesse Smith worked hard on the wings with 18 possessions.

Despite Geelong going into this match as raging hot favourites given Dean Laidley’s decision to rest a number of his stars, it was the Kangaroos that started the stronger of the sides in the first quarter, going into the first break four points ahead after Brent Le Cras bagged two goals, and Saverio Rocca provided a strong target up forward, booting one.

The second quarter was not one that should be replayed, as it took 16 minutes before there was a score on the board as each team traded possession between the 50 metre arcs. Finally former Cat Cam Thurley booted a goal to stretch the lead to 10 points before Bartel replied almost instantly as he waltzed into an unguarded goal. The ‘roos still held a three point lead come half time.

The game became more open after the main break, despite the oppressive conditions of 27 degrees and 78% humidity throughout the game. Daniel Pratt made his way down from the backline to slot the first super goal of the game to take the lead to 10 points, but within seven minutes, a Darren Milburn goal, and Byrnes super goal saw the lead swing the Cats way to the tune of seven points.

And when Paul Koulouriotis accepted a soft free kick from 40 metres out, the Cats looked to be running away with the game in time on of the third quarter. However two late goals to Rocca kept the Kangaroos in touch and saw them trail by only four points at the last change.

Geelong came out like a team that had plenty left to give at the start of the last quarter, with goals to James Kelly, and Nathan Ablett seeing the lead stretch out to 17 points, Harris’ goal kept the Kangaroos within striking distance, but their chance of progressing was snuffed out by Shannon Byrnes and Matthew Spencer as Geelong completed a comfortable win.

Geelong will play the winner of tomorrow’s battle between Fremantle and Collingwood next Saturday night to see who will progress to the final of the NAB Cup whilst the Kangaroos will be hitting the highways, playing the rest of the pre-season in regional areas.

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