Match Report - u11 Blacks vs Beaumaris

Written by Don Hollick | 06 July 2011

Match Report

StKilda City Saints Under 11s East v Beaumaris Sharks July 3rd 12.45pm
 
Approach the game with no preset agendas and you'll probably come away surprised at your overall efforts.
Phil Jackson
 
The civilised late start at 12.45pm saw the day typically cold and grey with a brisk north westerly favouring the beach end of Wattie Watson. This game saw our boys pitted against a strong top four side in the Sharks and Coach Mick emphasised the need to attack and carry the ball wherever possible and only be defensive when we had to. We set up with "Hugos paddock" and instructions were to kick to him as our main target.
 
First Quarter:
 
After losing the toss and kicking against the wind to the city end we started well with Oscar and Connor leaping high winning taps to Joel and Kye showing dash and running well with the ball. Marco got three kicks and Oliver showed his pace. Beaumaris had a height advantage in a number of positions and soon scored a major and a couple of behinds. Oscar was proving a handful with his height and fantastic marking ability. Just as it was starting to look a bit one sided, St Kilda City attacked hard through Bobby and Curtis and Connor took a mark at half forward. Perhaps inspired by his mighty Bombers the night before, Dylan lead well into space and took a nice mark above his head 20 metres out on a 45 degree angle.  He went back and sent  a drop punt straight through for a valuable goal against the wind. Beaumaris scored a goal in reply and we had to defend. Similar to other quarters this year where we have had to defend against big winds, this was a very good quarter for us and the boys went in with confidence that with the wind favouring us in the 2nd quarter, we could set up a lead if we continued to build attacks.
 
StKilda City 1-0-6 Beaumaris 1-2-8 
 
Second Quarter:
 
It was expected that we would do well but Beaumaris got the loose man going and ran hard with the ball, drawing tackles and continually handballing to a man in space. Their full forward was given plenty of room and managed to put some early goals through and didnt mind telling our team manager watching from the near forward pocket how many goals he had scored, complete with hand gestures after each one. They were starting to play well and we needed to be getting back and helping Adam at full back who really had his hands full. Will did repel two attacks with timely marks and Max and Declan did some fine bullocking work in the packs. Nicholas won a free kick and continued his improvement as his opponent found kicks hard to come by. Kye got some possessions and Mac was playing well and took some trademark athletic marks followed by long kicks. Elliot and Joel were working well together with one effort by Elliot to tap the ball through an opponents legs to Oscar in the clear showed courage. Curtis was trying hard, getting to the bottom of the packs but our kicking needed to be more precise and Beaumaris scored four goals for the quarter. Hugo managed to stem some of the flow down back but we hardly had it in our forward line. Cam presented well and got a couple of kicks but the bigger bodied Sharks played well and taught us a lesson in what running is required for us to improve.  

StKilda City 1-0-6 Beaumaris 5-5-35

 
Third Quarter
 
We came out pumped after a rev from Coach Mick and  immediately the tempo rose with Oscar dominating with his tackling and marking standing out. Oliver and Max won frees in the back pocket and skipper Joel was throwing his body in to inspire the team. Curtis got four kicks in this quarter and was trying hard. Bobby got some clearances and this was a better quarter as young Joseph and Paddy Twigg helped us out (as we were four players down) and got a kick. Adam attacked the ball hard and showed character fighting back from the previous quarter. Connor was providing drive as were Kye and Cam and we were really causing the Sharks to get frustrated as we played well to instructions using the defensive wing. The athletic Mac was running hard with the ball and Dylan got a couple of kicks but we couldnt get the scores on the board.
 
StKilda City 1-0-8  Beaumaris 5-8-38
 
Fouth Quarter
 
Oscar got the ball out to the running Joel who put it down the throat of Connor who duly converted and we still thought we were a chance if we played this quarter with commitment to each other. Kye managed to hit the post with a set shot and once again, although Oscar was on a big strong opponent, he managed to take some towering marks. Our physical pressure was causing stoppages and Bobby, Elliot and Curtis worked hard on the ball. Cameron got a couple of kicks as did Dylan. Declan won some hard earned frees in defense and with the improving Oliver and Will they repelled many an attack. Marco went in hard got the tap out to Kye and Joel continued to pump the ball forward, but unfortunately we gave a free away in their goal square and they kicked another to seal the match. Hugo and Adam did well to close down the cocky full forward and at the end of the match handshakes were shared as we went in to the rooms with heads up. We knew we had done our best against a good side and perhaps had only let ourselves down in the second quarter.
 
Mick gave the coaches award to Oscar as the best player after his ten marks and his big efforts and the most courageous to Declan.
Special mention was made of Curtis, Cameron, Marco and Will. Bobby was awarded a brick award as was big Max.
 
StKilda City 2-1-13 Beaumaris 9-8-62