Spill Crew A Grade
University 15.4 94 defeated North Beach 8.5 53
Ladder Position: 5th Place (10-6)
The side trained well in preparation for our most important game of the season. A win would put us in a strong position to secure a finals spot with only a couple of games remaining.
The focus was returning back to our pressure which had unfortunately dropped off in previous weeks. The first half had positive signs with the side showing willingness to attack the ball carrier and defend the ground. North Beach made the most of their opportunities in front of goal, heading into the break with a 10 point lead.
The third quarter was a change in mindset and we flicked the switch to produce an eye catching 6 goal flurry in 11 minutes. West Love went up a gear providing us clearance after clearance. Captain Tim O’Hara marked everything his way and chimed in with 3 majors to lead the way up forward, along with Kurt Crudeli with a couple.
To the coaches delightful, we finished off the second half with the same positivity, turning a 10 point deficit into a 41 point victory.
There is still lots of work to be done with a home elimination final up for grabs if we can win our last 2 fixtures against Mt Lawley & Kingsway.
Best: Crudeli (5), Colvin (4), Love (3), Upson (2), Lloyd (2) Donaldson (2), West (1), Angelkov (1)
Goals: Crudeli 4, O’Hara 3, Daylight, Donaldson 2, Gray, Lloyd, Love, Howard
Steinepreis Paganin A Reserves
University 3.7 25 defeated by North Beach 14.6 90
Ladder Position: 4th Place (9-6-1)
The Reserves have suffered a third straight loss to North Beach over the weekend. A few changes to the side included Harry McCracken and Olly Sanderson (jumping off the plane from Europe just 24 hours prior).
North Beach took control in the first half of the game playing a very precise brand of football. Their ability to move the ball across the ground was very noticeable.
To our boys credit we cracked in in the second half with Texxy Garstone being relentless forward, Matty Moroney providing run off half back and Andy Diamond being as polished as ever.
The third quarter was a particularly good performance and goes to show that the group can hold their own against the best teams.
The 2s need to win one of their last 2 to secure a birth in the elimination final.
Votes – Tex (5); Matt (4); Diamo (3); Olli & Milney (2); Cheese & Smally (1)
Goals – Brogs, Smally & Lowey (1)
Red Cloud A Colts
University 7.8 50 defeated by North Beach 8.4 52
Ladder Position: 3rd Place (12-4)
Bike Bar Stormers
University 2.2 14 drew with Curtin 2.2 14
Ladder Position: 4th Place (8-6-1)
Elimination final @Home v Rossmoyne 10:30am this Saturday
GPA Engineering Peacocks
University 6.13 49 defeated Warnbro 1.2 8
Ladder Position: 3rd Place (12-4)
Qualifying final @TA’s 4:30pm this Saturday
4 Pines Pirates
University 10.12 72 defeated Maddington 11.3 69
Ladder Position: 8th Place (5-12)
The Pirates set sail for Harmony Field, on the streets of Pamplona (Maddington) to take on the mighty Bulls. In the first clash this year, the side had an injury crisis with 14 fit players by the end of the match and a 150+ drubbing on the scoreboard.
Walking out to the game, there was a sense of optimism as we knew the Bulls would be seeing red but were not prepared for the tricks and turns we had in store for them.
The Pirates started off on fire, dominating in the ruck and providing first use to a midfield of Ric, Big Al and Frenchy. The side were in complete control for the first 20 minutes and the Bulls had no answer to the firepower around the ground. The opposition kicked a couple of goals late in the quarter but we went into the break full of confidence.
The second quarter was more of an arm wrestle as Harps could not be stopped, kicking 5 goals in the half and creating a number of other opportunities. All around the ground, the young powder monkeys stood up, winning their contests and showing maturity beyond their years.
After the main break, the boys were raring to go, sensing an opportunity to knock off one of the top sides. It was a seesawing affair, with Ric standing out as the difference – being dragged down and held back by multiple players at every contest and still managing to break through over and over again.
In the last quarter tempers began to flare as the mood in the game shifted. The Pirates had nothing to lose and were fighting hard while the Bulls looked scared of losing and were reluctant to take risks. The backline of the Pirates stood strong, led by Gus and Big Red, with the run of Barbs and Dasher breaking the lines.
With 10 minutes to go, the Bulls hit the front and the Pirates looked like men possessed. The boys pressured and pressured with repeat stoppages wearing everyone down.
We finally managed to break the ball free of the pack, bobbling forward to an open SPP who turned and slotted the goal from 80m out on a tight angle (25m, directly in front). The Adelaide import and cousin of Big Al kicked the goal of the year to put the team in front with 90 seconds on the clock.
After a long and challenging year where we’ve fielded over 100 players and averaged 10+ changes every week, the win was a reward for effort against a very strong League side in Maddington. The win also moves us back into 8th place and safe from relegation, pending results in our upcoming clash against 2nd placed Osborne Park.
COYP
Goals: (5) Harps, (1) Frase, Robbie, Blake, Ric, SPP
Best: (5) Ric, (4) SPP (3) Frenchy, Harps (2) Dasher (1) Frase, Big Al, Gus
Byfields Dingoes
University 19.8 122 defeated Maddington 3.3 21
Ladder Position: 2nd Place (13-4)
Subiaco Hotel C-Gulls
University 13.14 92 defeated Collegians 0.1 1
Ladder Position: 1st Place (14-1)
Despite the rather lopsided scoreline, Collies put up one of the best fights we have seen all year. Being burdened pregame with the task of playing for not only themselves, but also their mates who were not fortunate enough to be selected, the boys were keen to leave it all out there and have a real crack.
This was seen from the first bounce, with an undeniable hunger and attack on the footy, led by Maso. Uncharacteristically, our ball use and class were not anywhere near standard as we repeatedly missed important final chain handballs and kicks, causing our entries to be shallow and easily repelled.
Collies were lead by some lil unit with epic sideburns, who was spending his week off of East Perth Ressies in Brett Jones Colts. After accumulating probably 15-20 touches in the first quarter, his physicality and agility were providing serious headaches for our midfielders and giving the opposing team some confidence. Nek Minit…
A Coach Heavy masterstroke, sparked by his weekly 5-Powerades-Before-10am program, saw the Gull’s resident loser, Tim ‘Fish’ Gillman, sent into the middle to tag their pesky sideburn man. Fish took Sideburn Man into his own underwater world, giving him the world’s biggest bath. Tim held “Mr Burns” to, maybe, 5 more touches for the rest of the game, while accumulating and intercepting defensively himself. The entire team pitched in as well, checking his run and providing extra bodies around the contest. The tagging performance was summed up well when he complained to the umpire that he was “terrified of him”.
Fish’s brilliance allowed our usual suspects in Bowlsey, Pago and Hodgey to run rampant, kicking 3 goals between them and setting up a bunch more. Breales, Shea and Blacky were crucial all day, repelling what few attacks Collies could manage.
I would like to thank Bowlsey’s Dad for inspiring me to write a few more match reports.
BEST: 5 Fish, 4 Pago, 3 Hodgey, Bowlsey, 2 Collins, Toughy, Maso 1 Shea, Breales, Blacky,
GOALS: Wheat, Collins, Pago (2), Dowling, Maso, Hodgey, Justy, Toughy, Oscar (1)