Match Report Rd 11 - u12 Team vs Ormond

Written by JK | 18 July 2011

Match Report

Last week of the school holidays and a few more players than the first week off, but still started with only 17. Our two injured warriors Lachy and Henry helped form part of the sidelines brain trust as the Saints were coming up against the premier side of the competition, currently undefeated Ormond.

Captain Alexander Scott won the toss and the Saints kicked with the breeze. Plenty of the play out of the middle with Dae and Howie battling hard and getting it forward. Ormond had a strong backline and managed to cut off most of the Saint attacks, running the ball with good teamwork against the wind. Lukas Rowe, on the wing this week, was getting plenty of touches and when Daniel Boltjic ran onto the ground we had our starting 18. The back line led by Bailey was repelling most of the Ormond attacks and Sam Day, as usual, was providing the in and under we needed to stifle the opposition. A communication breakdown led to an Ormond goal and at quarter time it was Ormond one goal to the Saints yet to get on the board.

Charlie Hicks, who had been on a morning flight from Sydney, made it to the ground at quarter time and was straight on. Patrick Bannister and teammate William helped form our bench. Rob was happy with the first quarter but needed to see some more teamwork to run the ball in the second. A great quarter by the Saints, although still failing to get on the board, we managed to hold Ormond to a single goal. Many times we got the ball forward and locked it in, but Ormond showed their class and broke our lines. The defence was again superb with Oliver taking some big marks, Max pumping the ball long distances and Howie taking on the opposition with some great runs. The forward line did their job with Elijah presenting well and Sam Champion keeping the pressure on the Ormond backmen.

Rob was very happy at half time and urged the players to keep fighting. Third quarter was to be long and direct. Again a good quarter by the Saints. Matty Mac took one off the pack to open the Saints account and Noah Rowe looked to have added our second shortly after, with only the goal umpire not thinking it was a goal. Dan Hocking took some good marks and Alexander Scott provided the link up on his wing as the Saints continued to attack. Ormond played the boundaries wisely and managed to square the ball up for a goal to counter the Saints. A turnover shortly after left Ormond with the numbers needed to slot home their second for the quarter.

Three goals down at three quarter time but the Saints had been great all day. Dae had been ferocious in the ruck and around the ground and received a knock to the head in the last quarter which required a couple of minutes on the bench. The Saints still attacked starting to put together some great running pieces, with Dan Parish involved in getting the ball out and Charlie Williams continuing to provide run to end up with the first of the Bannister goals for the quarter, this time to Connor. Ormond replied to put the game out of reach but the Saints kept running. The terriers, Patrick and William, came on for part of the last quarter and were straight into it, with Patrick teaming up with brother Connor to kick his first goal in the under 12’s and the Saints third for the day.

Rob was delighted with the effort by the whole team and congratulated the players. Definitely a beatable side and with Lachy and Henry chaffing at the bit and Andrew and Callum to return  we look forward to playing them again in the finals.

Final Score:         St Kilda City 3 goals 1 behinds 19 pts

                               Ormond 6 goals 7 behinds 43 pts

Goal kickers:  Matty Mac 1, Connor Bannister 1 and Patrick Bannister 1.

At this stage of the season the Saints are 7 wins and 4 losses and are fourth on the ladder with three games to go.

Go City!