IT was a soggy Saturday 3 July and the Nambucca Valley Lions travelled to Coffs Harbour to take on ladder leaders Coffs Breakers for Round 10 of the North Coast AFL.

The Lions have been battling all season and coming up against the Breakers, who have only lost one game this year, was going to be a tough task.

A group of lesser men may have crumbled before the Breakers attack but the lads from the Nambucca Valley showed once again why they are a team not to be taken lightly.

On paper, it looked like an easy win for the Breakers, a team with one loss, versing a team with one win, but the mighty Lions roared and fought hard all game and at the halftime whistle, the Breakers were rocked, heads down, walking into the sheds leading by only 11 points.

If you had walked into the Lions’ change room at half time, you’d be lulled into thinking that they were the team in front.

The lads were pumped, here they were, at the Breakers home ground, taking on the best team in the competition and absolutely giving it to them.

Any second thoughts about not belonging in first grade had vanished.

The Nambucca Lions are here to stay and the way they’ve played in the last couple of weeks has them licking their lips at future prospects.

Towards the end of the game, the Breakers managed to find some extra gears as the Lions began to tire and a few easy goals pulled the Breakers across the line but it was not the easy victory they were hoping for.

The final result was 16.14 (110) – 11.6 (72).

Honourable mentions go to Lions veterans Jimmy Angel, Dylan Creaser and Eric Linares, blokes who prove time and time again that age is no barrier.

The Player’s Player award went to Hamish Bird, an absolute weapon in the Lions arsenal.

Goals went to J Angel, A Welsh, E Linares, A Clarke, J McGregor and H Bird.

Go Lions!

 

By Jacob NEWBURY