Although the scoreline of 44 – 0 shows a one sided game, the Swords Premiers portrayed themselves as a credible football team throughout the 2013 Season. Perennial easy beats, the Swords notched up their first ever win against the Mid-Central Vipers and put on an entertaining match on TV, against the Wellington Orcas, coming within a couple of referee calls to being able to win the game.
Sunday, against the top of the Table Falcons was always going to be a tough ask, backing up with key injuries to Innocent Tuimavave (broken leg), Jarom Wihongi – Henare (broken jaw), Nick Schuster (torn bicep) and Captain Michael Ukakau-Gawn and Tui Tipene were also ruled out with injuries. However, Jim Larkin has built a solid squad and they improved on last year’s 68 – 10 defeat and for more parts competed well with the Falcons.
The key for the Swords progression across all grades, will be how they develop from season to season. 2013 has set a benchmark and a standard, showing that they can compete at the national level. The key is for us not to go backward.
Final Score – Northern Swords (0) v Akarana Falcons (44)
