|
06 June 2011
| Date: 5/6/2011 Ground: Highett |
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Kilda City u12 Team | Goals | Behinds | Points | Goals | Behinds | Points | The opposition |
|
| Q1 | ||||||||
| Q2 | ||||||||
| Q3 | ||||||||
| Q4 | ||||||||
| 8 | 4 | 52 | Full Time | 6 | 3 | 39 | ||
Match Report
Rd 7 vs Highett
A big test this week, with numbers down, others carrying injury and our opposition fighting for a spot in the top four. Although we started with only 16 players, captain Charlie Hicks won the toss and on his birthday kicked with the aid of the breeze. On a huge Highett ground this proved decisive as the ball spent a lot of time in the Saints forward line. Connor arrived from umpiring duties and brother Patrick from the under 9’s, but even before they came on, Callum, still suffering from the flu, had kicked two goals. Charlie Williams suffered a shoulder injury late in the quarter and had to come off briefly, but Matty Mac chimed in with another to leave the Saints ahead at quarter time 3 goals 3 behinds to Highett 1 goal straight.
The Saints fought hard in the second quarter, bottling up play and keeping Highett to a solitary goal for the quarter. Dae again battled hard in the ruck and when not flying for a tap out was on his knees at the bottom of the packs. Sam Day, Howie and Matty Mac roamed the back line repelling Highett attacks and Daniel Botic laid some great smother s and tackles. At half time the Saints were in front by a goal.
The forward line was bolstered for what was ‘expected’ to be an all out assault with the wind in the third quarter to give the Saints an insurmountable lead. Oliver Woods went to full forward and Dae and Lije shared the rucking and centre half back duties. Unfortunately Highett didn’t come to the party and dominated to the extent that they kicked three goals for the quarter. Andrew and Alexander on one wing and Bailey and Dan Hocking on the other spent the quarter trying to clear from the backline, but Highett had lifted a gear and were winning the ball with ease. Henry and Connor in the last line kept the Saints in the game with solid defence and another Callum goal on the siren gave the Saints a sniff.
As the wind reached gale strength during the three quarter time break, Rob moved his team about for a ‘last ditch’ all out effort in the final quarter. There must have been something in the oranges as Howie and Dae led the attack on the ball that was picked up by all Saints players. Similar to the third quarter, although this time it was the Saints dominating. An early goal by Matty Mac and another point put the Saints ahead and the question asked ‘how long left??’. A goal by Howie put us two kicks ahead, but a quick response from Highett closed the gap again. Too early for the final siren, but the writing was on the wall as first Sam Champion marked and layed it off to Bailey and then Patrick cut off a belated Highett thrust. It was fitting that captain Charlie Hicks sealed the victory with a long goal from the pocket, before the storming Saints, with the by now near terminally ill Callum Welsh kicking his fourth for the day, finished 13 points up at the final siren.
Rob was delighted with the team effort and incredible comeback and the song was sung with gusto by players and supporters alike in the rooms after the game.
Final Score: St Kilda City 8 goals 4 behinds 52 pts
Highett 6 goals 3 behinds 39 pts
Goal kickers: Callum 4, Matty Mac 2, Charlie Hicks and Howie and 1 each.
Go City!