The rains have brought a plethora of wins for Uni as 6 teams brought home the W from the 8 games over the weekend while the Peacocks enjoyed a dry bye. The Laurie Keene and Phil Scott colts continued their winning ways while the Brett Jones colts were beaten by a strong Wanneroo side.
The Stormers managed a miraculous one point win against one of the more experienced A-Grade sides, buoyed by some important mid-season inclusions.
Over at Nollamara, the Dingoes pulled off an impressive performance before the rain truly set in. Despite the experience in the wet and wild open sea, the Pirates were unable to overcome a spirited Nollamara, lead by West Coast Eagles Champion Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls.
Back at home, our senior sides had arguably their most important results of the season, taking down the inform Trinity Aquinas and truly sending out a warning to the competition. The Reserve Poodle Bush Pigs are still outside the top 5, despite a positive 8-6 record and need to keep winning in order to secure a finals berth.
Steinepreis Paganin A-Grade
University 7.7 49 defeated Trinity Aquinas 3.5 23
The league side extended their win streak to 6 games with a hard fought victory over 2nd place Trinity Aquinas.
All week the Saturday forecast looked grim, but we remained hopeful that there would be at least some form of sunshine during the game. That was wishful thinking. It poured from start to finish. The weather certainly didn’t deter us from keeping consistent with our game style and endeavour that we’ve shown over the last 6 games, but Trinity Aquinas proved another huge test as both sides slugged it out in the wet during a relatively uneventful first quarter. Both midfield’s were trying to prove their worth by winning the contested ball and gaining territory their way. The game was a stalemate until the final few minutes with Isaac Barton kicking a clever snap to spark some life into the Uni side as we entered the first break 1.0 to 0.2.
The second quarter started very well with swingman Brent Evans kicking an early goal from a set shot and Jack Durward capitalising on a free kick halfway through the term. Trinity Aquinas were not to be counted out as they were able to wrestle back momentum and kick 2 quick goals in the last 6-7 minutes to end the half only 4 points down.
We were able to set-up the win in the third quarter. Considering the conditions, the midfield was able to be relatively clean with the football and give our forwards plenty of opportunity to score. Wingmen Ryan Murphy & Ben Miller were impressive as they gathered plenty of the ball and put it in good spots. Lachy “Bull” McKay had the highlight of the quarter, kicking a set shot goal from basically 50m out when the ball was a brick. We finished the term 3 goals ahead as the backline held very strong through the combative efforts of Tom Bertola and Tim O’Hara.
Trinity has been one of the best teams all year, so Coach McDonald placed particular importance on the first 7-8 minutes of the last quarter, as being able to continue making the game a grind would get us the win. Leigh Kohlman kicked an impressive checkside within the first minute, but that was short lived as TA’s responded immediately with a goal down the other end. The side did want the coaching staff advised and slugged out the game with plenty of stoppages to run out 26 point victors.
The victory allowed us to get back into the top 5 with a 8-5 record. Next week is another big game for the A Grade side. We head up the freeway to take on Kingsway, who we’ve had numerous close battles with over the last couple of seasons.
Best: Murphy, Blakely, Bertola, Harding, Davies, Miller
Goals: Trombetta, Blakely, Barton, Kohlman, Durward, McKay, Evans
4 Pines A-Reserves
University 8.10 58 defeated Trinity Aquinas 4.6 30
The Ressies game started in incredible fashion, with Kurt Crudeli crumbing and slotting a left foot snap for goal within 10 seconds of the opening bounce. With TA’s proceeding to kick a a goal immediately from the next centre bound and the score 6-6 after 40 seconds of footy, we thought we were set for one of the all time shoot-outs. However, team scored for the remainder of the quarter. The remaining highlights from the term were Charlie Mitchell’s high-flying acrobatics. Chuck’s aerial efforts and theatrics had the Uni crowd (James Kelly, Alex Ninkov, and Pat Wilson) roaring for more, with many labelling him our answer to Hugh Jackman’s “The Greatest Showman” – a film Charlie has seen many times.
Uni opened up a 4 goal lead going into the main break, with the midfield asserting its dominance over the contest. The forward line benefited from some quality ball out of the middle, while the backline commanded the game by setting up behind the play. It was good to see the side make the most of a strong breeze, setting Uni up well for the second half. With Big Fitz going down early, Captain Creature Josh Hopkinson stood up at centre half back, taking a number of marks and displaying his trademark manoeuvre of playing on into traffic several times, much to the delight of the onlooking fans and coaches.
Uni kicked a quick goal, which proved to be very important as the breeze continued to pick up. The backline was as shrewd and competitive as ever, holding TA’s to a single goal despite the conditions. Sam West began to dominate the game in the air, while young Jack ‘Frosty’ Mentink showed great determination and work rate, racking up a number of touches in the third.
The final quarter was a slog in very wet and windy conditions. The boys managed to maintain concentration and grind out the contest, albeit with TA’s kicking a few late goals to reduce the margain. An interesting moment came in the last term when Tom Gajewski paused his run up in an approach to goal to appeal to the umpire for a 50m penalty, claiming the man was moving on the mark. When the umpire denied the appeal, Tom proceeded to take his shot off one step rather than restarting his run up, slotting it straight through the middle.
Overall it was probably the best performance from the ressies this year. Our finals hopes remain alive, with the equation being simple enough – Just Win Baby.
Goals: 2 Crudeli, 1 Dent, Angelkov, Gajewski, T Culloton, H Donovan, Mitchell
Best: Mentink, West, Gajewski, Hopkinson, Orr, Crudeli, Dent, Lantzke, H Donovan, Mitchell
Phil Scott Colts
University 15. 9 99 defeated Trinity Aquinas 3.4 22
Crossing Law A-Grade Women Stormers
University 4.5 29 defeated Piara Waters 3.10 28
There was blood in the (Piara) Waters on Saturday as UWA clung to an extremely stressful but important one-point victory away from home.
The 4.5 (29) to 3.10 (28) took until the final seconds to secure and Jesus heckin christ on behalf of all the defenders, let’s never do that again.
Things weren’t looking good for the Stormers early when vice-captain Molly Goldacre did her ankle in the warm up, something that you really don’t see that often ngl.
But UWA gathered their thoughts and came out firing, kicking two goals in the first quarter, including an absolute belter from Betty which was as artistic as the series of disco self-time shots of herself and Nikko in the Chooty changerooms which ended up on Instagram on Saturday neither.
Just when it looked like UWA had the game on their terms, Piara Waters hit back as the female equivalent of Mason Cox decided to kick two goals and take like 8 marks. Even their runner made the journey from the bench to full forward to celebrate one of her goals, the Falcon later conceding to me “I’m usually a shit kick” so like why did you decide to tear us a new one today? Who hurt you?
Piara Waters were eager to pile on more pain, and legit were back on the field set up ready to roll after a 5 minute half time break.
They kicked the first goal after half time to put UWA on the ropes set up by a literal mother who was 12 weeks post-birth and legit told me she breast fed her kid at half-time.
But hold the phone, UWA flicked the switch and wrestled back control and the lead with the two next goals, including a delightful long bomb from fresh inclusion Adele Arnup who’s still infected by #flagmont fever.
It set up a massive fourth quarter and with Piara boasting a wind advantage, they lined up for one last big swing.
Like so many times this season, UWA’s relentless defence survived immense pressure and three shots on goal to secure another four points as we all racked up serious kms running from the goal square to the 50 several times to set up.
But dead serious let’s never do that again.
Steinepris c2-Grade Women Peacocks
Bye
Brewhub C4-Grade Pirates
University 4.7 31 defeated by Nollamara 6.11 47
BDO C4-Reserves Dingoes
University 20.10 130 defeated Nollamara 4.4 28
After a disappointing loss to North Beach and a scrappy encounter with TA’s, the Dingoes were keen to start their period of three games away from home with a solid win. The first quarter started well for uni, kicking 6 unanswered goals. The second quarter produced a scrappy affair, with Nollamara booting two goals to swing the some momentum back their way, with tireless efforts in the backline from Gus Garland and Harry Leo revitalising the uni outfit. In the second half the dingoes replied with a well put together period of footy, piling on 11 goals to lead Nollamara by 102 points at the final siren-with 6 goals for Mitchell Tatam and a solid performance down back from Zachary Parnell.
Brett Jones Colts
University 5.4 34 defeated by Wanneroo 15.9 99
Subi Hotel Laurie Keene Colts C-Gulls
University 10.16 76 defeated Coolbinia 2.3 15
The Gulls continued their sublime form with a 61 point win over their fellow bird of prey, the Coolbina Falcons.
Kirky took the mantle as skipper for the day and led a disciplined and creative backline who sparked our ball movement early. After a dominant but inaccurate first term, the Gulls took the game away in the second. The trio of debutants, Sauce, Rava and Brearley got right on top in the midfield while Barbs was cutting the game to pieces, even after a hard tag was sent to him. The competitive beasts Dez and Yomma set the tone for a forward line which brought the ball to ground all day and tackled well. This was exemplified by Andy who put his body on the line time and time again, even using his scone to smother a ball.
After a bit of a slump in the third, it was an impressive last term. Dez and Davies finished off some slick passages of play to kick their 4th and 3rd respectively. Foz put on an intercept mark clinic and used the ball beautifully to earn himself the Saturn Players Player.
The performance was made all the more impressive considering we were down to 0 on the bench for most of the game. The Gulls continue through the uni break unscathed and will look to continue that out at Warnbro next week.
Goals – Randall 4, Davies 3, Malone, Miller, Foster