Sandy Springs v Chastain

The first-ever game of the AARFL Women's division unfortunately was a forfeit, as the Sandy Springs Sheilas did not turn up with the minimum number of players to take the field as per league rules, handing the Chastain Chicks an automatic 60-0 victory. This was a real shame, as there were three new recruits out for their first run. The players who did show up were split into two even teams and played a shortened practice match instead. Hopefully we can get the first actual competitive game in next weekend!

Roswell Rebels               1.4  3.6    4.9     8.13  (61)
Druid Hills Highlanders    5.4  8.7  12.9   14.11  (95)

Report

The first game of the day was the highly-anticipated matchup of the AARFL's two undefeated teams, the Druid Hills Highlanders and the Roswell Rebels. But even with sole possession of first place on the ladder on the line, Druid Hills only managed to turn with with the exact minimum numbers of players needed to play an official game per league rules, and narrowly avoided a forfeit. Having to play with the minimum number of players on the field meant that Roswell had three players on the interchange bench, which would appear to be an advantage, being able to sub in fresh legs all game long. However, that was not to be the case, as most of the Druid Hills players that turned up were among the fittest players in the league, and showed that they certainly could run all day long.

The Rebels had problems manning up with the fast Highlanders players almost the entire game, leaving them seemingly always open around the field for quality passes and easy marks. "Disco" Dave Monsour started things off for Druid Hills with three goals to send his team out to a 5.4.34 to 1.4.10 quarter-time lead. Roswell battled to stay in the game in the second, with Mike Frost's second goal and one to Wayne Kraska, only being outscored for the term by one behind, but still trailing 8.7.55 to 3.6.24. Marc Buhaj, having an outstanding game, slotted through his second and third goals of the game in the third quarter, as Roswell had trouble finding the goals, and could only manage the one to Kraska, falling further behind at three quarter time, 12.9.81 to 4.9.33.

The lack of an interchange bench did finally catch up to Druid Hills in the fourth, as Roswell outscored them 4.4 to 2.2 for the term, but it was much too little, much too late, as the Highlanders ran out comfortable winners, 14.11.95 to Roswell's 8.13.61.

ROSWELL:
Goals: Frost, Kraska (2 each), Diamond, Gilkey, O'Sullivan, Sach (1 each)
Best: Sach, Diamond, Kraska, Frost

DRUID HILLS:
Goals: Monsour (6), Rotell (4), Buhaj (3), Kewley
Best: Buhaj, Kewley, Monsour, Rotell, Mobley

Midtown Bombers         2.3  4.4  6.9   13.14  (92)
Decatur Devils              0.4  5.8  8.13   9.15  (69)

Report

In the battle of the winless teams, the Decatur Devils also narrowly managed to avoid a forfeit to the Midtown Bombers, by barely having enough players (plus one "guest appearance" -- more on that later). The only difference in the two teams in the first quarter was one scoring shot, but Midtown was far more accurate for goal, as they jumped out to a 2.3.15 to 0.4.4 lead. Decatur then came out on fire in the second, as they were winning the battles all over the ground. Mike "Danger" Powers put through two goals to end the quarter with the Devils outscoring the Bombers 5.4 to 2.1, to storm to a halftime lead of 5.8.38 to 4.4.28. Midtown came right back in the third, but it was their turn to be inaccurate kicking for goal, only mustering two from Damien Sheehan. Meanwhile, David Sullivan, who had been having a ripper of a game for Decatur, went down with a dislocated kneecap and had to leave the game, after kicking two for the term himself. The three quarter time score: Decatur 8.13.61, to Midtown's 6.9.45.

The fourth quarter was the Darren Fagan show, as he kicked three straight goals, to give Midtown the lead. Curtis Jones also contributed with two goals, as well as one to Greg Cave, and Sheehan's fifth. Decatur, however, just couldn't seem to get things going without "Sully's" skills out there. Although they are probably the hardest-playing team in the comp, and never give up, they could only manage to score 1.2 in the final quarter to Midtown's merciless onslaught of 7.5, as Midtown rolled in the end to their first victory of the season, 13.14.92 to 9.15.69. Special mention must be made of Judith Stein, one of the women's players, who had not had enough footy in the women's practice match and was allowed to suit up for the Devils. She responded by kicking the team-leading score of 2.4, and played an excellent game against the fellas.

MIDTOWN:
Goals: Sheehan (5), Fagan (4), Jones (2), Batten, Cave
Best: Sheehan, Jones, Fagan, Cave, Mitchell

DECATUR:
Goals: Powers, Stein, Sullivan, Thickins (2 each), Roberson
Best: Sullivan, Roberson, Stein, Thickins