Floodlight failure leaves AFL in dark

The match was reaching its climax in the third quarter as Kildare snatched the lead from Mater Dei 10 minutes in, and Mater Dei fought back to claim possession and a succession of timely points.

Darkness brought high pitched squeals from school girl spectators, then heavy disappointment from both teams who were keen to play to the dying minutes.

After 20 minutes without lighting the game was abandoned, with Mater Dei Catholic College clinching a narrow victory over rivals Kildare Catholic College, 5.4 (34) to 4.6 (30).

Both coaches remarked that the lighting gaffe brought a disheartening end to an otherwise solid match.

The lighting was less than ideal from the get go as only five of six floodlights were working, casting a pocket of darkness over one sixth of the oval.

Member for the Riverina Michael McCormack proudly watched on as his son Nicholas scored the Mater Dei’s first goal, however, by the end of the match his frustration was palpable.

“It’s a shame, it was such a good game, it would have been a sensational finish,”  McCormack said.

“It’s farcical that the lights were running at half strength,” he added.

“It’s an occupational health and safety hazard.

“The boys go for it pretty hard, and they need to be able to see each other.”

Earlier in the night Kooringal High School were rewarded with a big win over Mount Austin High School, securing their debut match 23.25 (163) to 1.0 (6).

Mt Austin played defensively in the second half, slowing Kooringal’s momentum significantly.

Full-time

MATER DEI (34)

2.1 4.1 5.4

KILDARE (30)

0.4 1.6 4.6

Goals: (Mater Dei) B Morton 2, B Myers, N McCormack, M Geppert; (Kildare)L Nilsen, M McGowan, L Gaffney, B Kelly.

Best: (Mater Dei) L Cuthbert, B Morton, L Redfern, C Chambers, Z Walgers, B Peacock; (Kildare) L Gaffney, J Gunning, M McGowan, T Maher, B Kelly.

KOORINGAL (163)

8.6 15.10 21.18 23.25

MT AUSTIN (6)

1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Goals: (Kooringal) S Barlin 6, D Galvin 2, K Nickell 2, S McLay 2, B Hickey 2, J Scott 2, R Harrigan 2, K Cowper, M Clarke, A Skeers, L Kendall, J Quade; (Mt Austin) T Royle.

Best: (Kooringal) J Quade, S Barlin, R Harrigan, B Molloy, L Kendall, B Hickey; (Mt Austin) T Royle, J White, A Vickers, L Watkins, M Garvie, Z McCann-Dillon.