By Casey OÇonnor
The Warwick Gardens Galore Redbacks continued their impressive start to 2023 the AFL Darling Downs season with a win over the South Toowoomba Bombers in their round two match at WCU Oval on Saturday.
The Redbacks scored a comfortable 10.11 (71) – 7.8. (50) victory giving them back-to-back wins to open the season.
They sit in second place on the ladder.
It is only early in the season however following the game the Redbacks coach Tyhe Clarkson said he was pleased with the way his side was playing.
“We are happy with our performance, we had to change up our plan a little bit with the way Souths set up around the ground, but the boys handled it well,” he said.
“The key message for us was definitely to back ourselves in and take on the tough kicks. “It paid off”.
The Bombers won the toss and were first to hit the scoreboard. Using his pace, Souths Troy Rissman managed to break through the middle and put on the first points.
The Redbacks hit back almost immediately. A clever banana kick from the pocket found Lintenbrink and his kick put the home side in front by four points at quarter time.
The Redbacks dominated the second term piling on three goals to one and looked to take the game away from the bombers. Full forward Tom Allison found form and slotted his second goal.
While Josh White was building into the game with his ferocious attack, Andrew Politch was winding back the clock in defence. Politch repelled the Bombers forwards at will guiding the Redbacks to the main break with a 17-point lead over last year’s Grand finalists.
No surprise that the Bombers came out flying after the main break blasting four goals to three as they looked to take the game away from the home team.
Reddies’ Robert Blood kicked two goals and Sam Platz chipped in with one of his own to keep the Redbacks on top heading into the last quarter with an 11 point lead.
Team mate Will Jamieson found plenty of footy and used his speed to get out of trouble Alex Dwan impressed in his debut in the top grade. Dwan took some strong marks, spoils and nailed his passing in what was a very handy performance.
The Reddies dominated possession in the final quarter however their conversion rate inside the 50 caused some concern.
Samson Lowney started the Ferrari in the last quarter, finding plenty of the ball and kicked a huge 55m goal sending chills down the spines of his opposition and the Reddies supporters into a frenzy.
The Redbacks kicked two goals and five behinds in the final quarter and finished the game with a 21 point win over a well drilled South Toowoomba outfit.
In a good all-round team effort Blood; White; Politch; Lintenbrink Read and Lowney had standout performances.
Goals : Blood (3); Lowney (2); Allison (2); Lintenbrink (1);J White (1); Platz (1) .
The game was a solid hit out with both teams showing good signs early in 2023 season”.
Round three will be a real litmus test for the Redbacks. They travel to Toowoomba for their first away game of the season and clash with reigning premiers Coolaroo in a top of the table clash at Rockville Oval.
