Round 6 saw the University A-Colts hit the frog and toad and head on down to Wyong Reserve to take on a very strong Curtin University Wesely team. In the A-Colts, Uni hadn’t beaten their respective university rival away from home in over 1000 days. A Curtin Uni Wesely team filled to the brim with WAFL colts’ players, vs an everlasting Phil Scott Colts heavy weight in University. Game of the round stuff coming up.
The first quarter saw University display some absolutely scintillating ball movement. Kicking into the breeze, the away side moved the ball from half-back, to half-forward with ease. However, for 10 minutes of sustained dominance, their poor forward entries meant they only put one goal on the board, courtesy of South Fremantle recruit Louis Poulson. Curtin Uni Wesley hit back hard, locking the ball in their front half and capitalising on some repeat entries, banging through two goals of their own to hold a handy 5-point margin going into the first change.
The second quarter was dominated by University. Kicking with the breeze, they took their ball movement to the next level, slicing through a well drilled Curtin Uni defence with ease. Their key users stood up, with Langsford and Gould biting off kicks into the corridor off half-back, and captain Cellier kicking two goals out of the midfield. The green and white piled on four behinds, complemented nicely by three goals. The home side was kept scoreless to see University hold a 17-point lead at half time.
The third term. Banfield missed the Round 5 home game against Whitfords after departing to Melbourne on rather short notice, but there was no doubt he was back and ready to go after his performance in the third quarter. Numerous marking contests I50 saw him not only bringing the ball to ground, but also getting himself on the end of two classy set shot goals. While Curtin Uni fired through two goals of their own during the quarter, it was Taskunas who stepped up and drilled a running snap goal to punch a dagger through the hearts of the home fans. Uni with a 24-point lead heading into the final 20.
The fourth quarter saw the game be put to bed within the first couple minutes of play. Messina put through his first goal of the match which was followed up by Poulson slotting through his second. Taskunas then capped off a fantastic game for him by kicking his second goal of the half, placing the game well out of reach of Curtin Uni Wesely with 10 minutes to play. The home side left the ground with some dignity, putting through two late goals to reduce the margin to 31-points at the final siren.
An emphatic victory for University, they break a 1052-day drought of not beating Curtin Uni Wesely on their home soil. This leaves the University A-Colts a perfect 6 from 6 to start the season. They will spend the next three weeks at home, as they host Scarborough next weekend, then a league-wide bye followed by Kingsway at home.
Best Players:
James Taskunas
Taskunas has cemented himself as an elite two-winger of the Phil Scott Colts competition. His speed and endurance allow him to get back and help the defence, while also being a very dangerous threat forward of centre. His two goals on the weekend, elevating his tally to four goals from his last two games, saw his name feature high in the votes.
Tyler Messina
Messi is the best half-forward in the comp and I won’t hear otherwise. And just like his namesake, he sets up his teammates to perfection. Playing the hardest position on the ground, Messina has proved that he can play the half forward role to a T. He gets up high to be a release target for Unis defenders, and is the team’s number one man for kicking the ball I50. His play against Curtin Uni Wesley saw him assisting on a number of goals and kicking one himself.
Nic Langsford
Langsford did a whole league pre-season and his play in the colts has reflectedthat. His running capacity and his strength in contests- both overhead and below the knees- is something to behold. Langers is University’s centre-half-back who shuts down his opponent, takes intercept marks, and is an established user on that booming left foot. He’ll be very close to a league debut if he keeps stringing performances like these together.
Curtin University Wesely def by University 6.1.37 to 10.8.68
Goal Kickers:
2. C. Cellier, L. Poulson, J. Taskunas, C. Banfield. 1. T. Messina, S. Arangio.
Best Players:
T. Messina, N. Langsford, J. Taskunas, C. Cellier, M. Turkich, H. Burbury