Port Douglas Crocs staged another thrilling spectacle at the Croc Pit on Saturday night when they played host to Manunda Hawks in their first twilight game.  

Conditions were near perfect for football and the large crowd in attendance was treated to some flashes of brilliant play.
 
The Crocs won the toss and opted to kick to the clubhouse end with the aid of a slight breeze.  In the early stages the Crocs had heaps of inside 50s but goals were as scarce as hens' teeth.

Finally, Ben Young popped through a cheeky goal to open the Crocs' account.  It was quickly followed by Craig Shaw leading out well, marking, and across to captain Adam "Daniel" Boone for their second major.  

Lukas Teasdale was dominating the hitouts and providing the Crocs' midfielders with heaps of opportunities to force the ball forward.  The irrepressible Adam Boone slotted a lovely over the shouder goal to maintain the momentum.
 
The Hawks lifted their intensity and started to blanket the Crocs' forwards.  Their two quick goals meant it was a two-goal ball game.
 
Crocs coach Brad Cooper was savage in his quarter-time address telling his players to get in front and stop giving away stupid free kicks.  Obviously his advice worked because for the rest of the game the Crocs proved far superior to their opponents and ran away with the match.  
 
The Crocs skill level lifted all over the ground.  Field kicking became more precise.  Quick leads put the Croc boys in perfect position, hand passing was crisper and the scoreboard ticked over like the USA debt clock.  
 
A gutsy mark by Braddon Kazakoff running with the flight of the ball deserved a better result.  The Crocs' persistence was terrific - a complete refusal to let the ball out of their forward zone.  
A flashing chain of handpasses resulted in Mark Nuggin dobbing a goal at top speed.  Scott Roberts was repelling mid-field attacks, And Dylan Wearmouth delivering long bombs to his forwards.  

The Crocs' great play maker Kurt Bradshaw was constantly providing his team mates with possessions and Ben McCartney and Ben Herbert were showing how run-on football denies the opponents the use of the ball. Exciting footy to watch.  

A clever dribble goal by Tom Bowring, who was having a great game and finished with five, kept the pressure on.  It was raining goals. A tremendous work ethic was on show.  
 
The Crocs deserved their runaway win and have made a truly impressive start to the season.

Final Scores:  Port Douglas 23-13-151 def. Manunda Hawks 6-11-47
 
Goal Kickers: T. Bowring 5, A. Boone 4, K. Bradshaw 3, B. Kazakoff 2, S. Roberts 2, J. Backway , D. Wearmouth , B. McCartney , B. Young , S. Teakle , M. Nuggin , C. Shaw

Best Players: M. Nuggin, K. Bradshaw, A. Boone, L. Teasdale, A. Bendle, B. McCartney
 
RESERVES


 
The Crocs' Reserves also continued on their winning way and proved much too good for their Hawks opponents.

The boys produced some lovely flowing play with Chad Bertram showing out, Sam Evans doing well at full back, and Kerrod Andrews was in and under the packs.  

Chasely Nandy copped a wild punch to the head but got up, played on and kicked a nice goal.  Corey Barter was in everything.  Crocs coach Heff insisted in his three-quarter time speech that the boys persist to the very end and this was carried out precisely.  

Tom Long slotted through a long goal and Nathan Evans jagged his first goal in Senior footy.  Another excellent game from the Magoos.  
 
Next Saturday we journey to North Cairns to do battle with the strong Tigers brigade.  Try to get along.  

Final Scores: Port Douglas 18-14-122 def Manunda 4-5-29
 
Goal Kickers: J. Wilkie 5.  C. Nandy 4.  M. McKeown 2.  J. Caswell .  J. Lowe.  N. Evans.  A. Macleod.  P. Barnett.

Best Players: C. Barter.  C.  Nandy.  J. Lowe.  C.  Bertram.  M. Gard.  W. Ratcliffe.

GO CROCS!