The Lismore Swans have produced an outstanding and inspirational performance to defeat the Tweed Coast Tigers to break their premiership drought. The Lismore Swans came into this match as big underdogs but the feeling around the club was one of strength and belief. A brilliant 7 goal final term saw the Swans come from behind and break the hoodoo and abolish all those years of pain and bring together one of the best performances of the Lismore Swans history with all players members and supporters joinging in the celebrations.
The first term was goal for goal, the Swans tried hard but were evenly matched by a skillful Tweed Coast side. Big Shaun Wadwell kicked a thumping goal from the square before Chris fielder thumped one through from beyond the arc. Chris Devonish looked dangerous and Tom Merrett was outstanding through the middle. The Swans trailed by 5 points at quarter time.
The second quarter was solid by the Swans as the backline stood strong led by Captain Simon Howard and best on ground performance by Ben Hughes, while at the other end Jak Johnson and Chris Devonish continued to provide big options up foward. The Swans midfield provided the Tigers plenty of headaches as Jason Bevan and Shaun Wadwell worked tirelessly in the ruck providing Rhyce Lavery, Daniel Moloney and Daniel Bruce plenty of the ball. A strong 4 goal to 2 second term put the Swans up by 7 points at the main break.
The third quarter started well for the Swans kicking goals early but as all good teams do Tweed Coast came back at the Swans with 5 consecutive goals to finish the quarter with a 12 point lead over the Swans. The Swans needed something inspirational for the final term as the Swans had been in this position too many times too often and what an amazing, gutsy and inspirational final term it was.
The final term commenced Jason Bevan tap to the running Westy, kick to the forwardline and Jak marked and goaled in the first 10 seconds of the term which lifted the Swans team and all of its supporters. The Tigers held on to a 6 point lead for the first 10 minutes of the final term before Oxy domination began in the ruck and Jak Johnson turned it on to be back to his best and destroying the Tigers upforward, well supported by Chris Devonish and the running Daniel Bruce. But it was the backline who continued to stand up and fight as Ben Hughes continued to drive the ball out of the backline.
An outstanding win and one that will be treasured forever by all of the Swans players and supporters. The Lismore Swans 2011 premiership will go down in history as one of the greatest if not the greatest accomplishments of the clubs history and first Swans premiership in 27 years.
Best for the day were Chris Devonish, Tom Merrett, Jason Bevan, Ben Hughes, Simon Howard, and Jak Johnson.
Goals were kicked by Chris Devonish with 6, Jak Johnson with 5, 2 to Daniel Bruce and singles were kicked by Steve Smith, Shaun Wadwell, Chris Fielder and Dean Webb.
Congratiulations to everyone who was involved in the day, in what was a very emotional and deserving victory.
Cheer Cheer the Red and the White in 2011!!!
Lismore 4.2 8.6 11.7 17.10-112
Tweed 5.1 7.5 13.7 16.8-104
Last Modified on 08/09/2011 21:45