Weekend Sports Wrap – Week 4

31 March 2025

By James Mullan

The Bombers and Bears basketball are back for the 2025 season, with both clubs ringing in the new season with great performances. Meanwhile, the North Sydney Bears finally had a chance to sing the team song after a win in Kogarah.

North Shore Bombers

Despite the awful weather, there was no rain on the Bombers’ parade in their opening round of the AFL Sydney Premier Division. After refreshing the score sheet webpage several times, the Sun was confident to report that the women’s side indeed won 134-0 against Pennant Hills.

That’s not a mistake. The Bombers managed to not only put up triple figures on the scoreboard but held the opposition scoreless. Not a bad way to start the season!

It wasn’t even close as North Shore booted four goals in the first quarter. Both Adrienne Keeffe and Heidi de Saxe had doubles by half-time, with the duo combining for nine goals between them by the full-time siren. The game was over by half-time thanks to a 56-point lead. Things got embarrassing by the fourth quarter, as the Bombers booted seven goals in the final quarter. Charlotte Tidemann, Lucy Yates, and Sophie Kavanagh also had impressive performances, in what was a walk in the park.

The men’s match-up was much more of a contest. Coming out of the gates strong, booting the first three goals for an unanswered 18-0 start thanks to goals from Matt Buskariol, Felix Rodgers, and James Tidemann over a quick five-minute run. At the end of the first quarter, the Bombers had a 20-12 lead.

Pennant Hills did start to claw things back early in the second quarter, but a late flurry by the Bombers, including another goal from Matt Buskariol and captain Ned Campbell, gave the side a solid 34-14 lead at half-time. The match became closer in the third quarter as a lone goal to Bombers’ Finn Chambers kept the home side ahead 44-37. Behind would prove to be the difference in the end with a goal each way in the fourth quarter allowing the Bombers to hold on for victory. Aside from the goal scorers, William Giacometti, Thomas Drum, and Max Toohey were stand-outs for their side.

Next week, the Bombers will have a men’s Grand Final rematch against rivals Manly Warringah away.

Norths Bears Basketball

After a promising pre-season, both Norths’ squads were feeling confident heading into their season openers away at Bankstown.

It was a slow start for the women’s, getting off to an uncharacteristic start with only 24 points in the first half. Luckily for the Bears, Bankstown were also in cold form, only managing 25 points. After the half, and no doubt some stern words from Coach Renae Garlepp, Norths pulled away by outscoring their first-half points in just the third quarter alone.

WNBL talent Carla Pitman led the way, finishing the game with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 steals. The Bears turned the screws in the final quarter, posting 29 points for a 52-79 win, in what was a game of two halves.

Heading into the men’s game, all eyes were on Bankstown Bruins’ star signing, Jason Cadee, who brings 422 NBL games worth of experience back to his junior club.

The Bears managed to hang around in the first half with only an 11-point deficit at the half-time break. They held Cadee to only 10 points and 4 assists, yet the Bruins’ spread of scorers was enough to compensate.

Norths’ newest recruits led the way with returning junior Hunter Goodrick putting up an impressive 25 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Matt Wacher added 14 points.

Despite a late surge in the fourth quarter, the Bears fell 16 points short, 87-70.

Next up, Norths head across the Spit to take on rivals Manly Warringah.

North Sydney Bears

As the song goes, the big black Bears are back on the road again, they’ve had a victory now! After three disappointing losses to start their 2025 campaign, the side headed to Kogarah Oval to face the St. George-Illawarra Dragons.

In wet conditions, the Bears felt early on they were in for a miserable afternoon after conceding a try just one minute into the game, followed by another just six minutes later.

Matt Komolafe had been missing from the team since round 1 but was back in the line-up and back on the score sheet with a try off a floating Jonah Pezet pass.

A series of ensuing errors and mounting pressure from the Dragons led to another try for the home team in the 22nd minute. Compton Fuatimau would bring Norths back within four after finding a gap down the right flank and crossing for a converted try. Just 10 minutes later, Sean Vaivelata dragged three defenders over the line to wrestle his way to a try under the posts to make it 14-16, Bears lead at half-time.

An unconverted try by the Dragons in the 47th minute, only to be countered by a Bears penalty goal from Harradyn Wilson in the 52nd, had the scores locked at 18 apiece.

Just two minutes later, prop Ben Talty crossed for his third try of the season to make it 18-24. After a tense few sets, the Dragons would again respond by scoring in the 60th minute to tie the game again, 24-24.

With just six minutes left in the game, Matt Komolafe managed to avoid the sideline to cross for a try and ultimately win the game for Norths. At the full-time siren, Bears win, 24-28. A huge sigh of relief as the side finally gets a win on the board.

Next week, the side will venture out to Penrith to take on the 3rd placed Panthers.