Blues gets the win despite Bombers late charge
CATANI broke through for its first win of the season, holding on to win despite Nilma-Darnum threatening with a late charge.
While the Blues showed superior run and carry early to set up a 24-point buffer at half time, the territory game that comes with persistent rain and wet conditions suited the Bombers better.
And it made for some nervous moments in the second half for the Blues camp, who were able to ultimately hold on by just nine points, 9-13 (67) to 9-4 (58).
With both sides eager for their first win, the players came out to warm up long before the umpires were due to emerge, such was the enthusiasm for the contest.
It saw the Bombers return to the rooms and the Blues seek some shelter at the interchange before they would come out and go again.
Catani showed good run and carry early, and it served them well, booting the first three goals of the match to establish an early buffer.
Brayden Kennedy scored first from a set shot before a high kick from Michael Ralph drifted in to finish an outside handball chain.
A kick from the pack had Bomber defenders scrambling and no one was able to lay a hand on the rolling shot as the Blues kicked clear.
The Blues would struggle to shake the Bombers the entire afternoon, as the Bombers found a clear path to goal to pull one back ahead of the first change.
The Blues began the second term well as Thomas Keily went long following a free kick, with the Blues able to scramble a goal from the pack in the goal square.
The Bombers responded with a clever soccer from the pocket to begin a goal for goal chain. This time Keily found himself on the end of it, finishing the long entry from Tom Williams.
It would be the Blues to find consecutive goals again, finishing a long snap from centre half forward from Chris Power.
The Bombers converted a long set shot to again draw close, but their hard work was undone at the other end as a Catani player was dealt with after he kicked to set up a certain goal from the square.
Malcolm Hunter made good from a set shot on the siren to close the margin to four goals at the long break.
With the rain continuing to fall as the players emerged, Catani were winning the long kick and territory game early in the third term but could only produce minor scores for their efforts.
It would turn mid-way through the quarter as Boeden Fries made certain a 50-metre penalty as the Bombers worked back into the contest.
This time it was the Catani defence scrambling as the Bombers bounced one through to close the margin to 17.
The relieving pressure came when the Blues converted from a free kick to re-establish their 24-point buffer.
Brett Williams, Nathaniel Rodda, William Mcgindle, James Williams, Dylan Williams and Kennedy led the efforts as the Blues looked to keep control.
Not to be denied the Bombers would lift the intensity, scoring the first goal of the final term with a snap from the pack as rain became heavier.
Nick Carrigy, Nathan Campbell, Hunter, Caiden Deppeler, Fries and Korey Carrison would lead the charge as the Bombers came home strongly.
Dylan Williams marked on the lead and kicked truly for a steadier for the Blues, but the Bombers would come again.
Repeat stoppages became order of the day as the skies became very dark, another snapped goal from the stoppage lifting the Bombers again.
Harley Lacunes had mastered the conditions as goals were hard to come by. He would finish with three majors as a mark in the goal square running back with the flight closed the margin to nine points.
Time was ultimately against the Bombers, as the Blues moved forward from a relieving free kick to hold on and score the first win of their season.