Chris Yeend
Riddell is celebrating long and hard after taking home the RDFL Under 18.5s premiership with a 23-point win over Wallan. The Bombers were instrumental from the outset as they kicked away after quarter-time to prevail in epic fashion in a fast-paced, action-packed game.
BIG NAME MISSING
Wallan star Ben Schraven was relegated to runner duties after he had over qualified to play in the decider. His absence from the team was crucial. He had played too many games in the senior team. Riddell's Matt Darby had made the cut with more than enough games to qualify for the team after a strong start to the year in the seniors. He would prove vital at centre half-forward as the grand final went on.
CASTLE MANIA
The Bombers got off to the dream start in sunny conditions. Ruckman Dan Campbell won the tap from the opening bounce and the Riddell onballers kicked the ball to powerhouse young forward, Luke Castle, who marked within range in the opening minute. The strong left-footer kicked truly to put his team up by six points. The Riddell midfield worked brilliantly all over the ground, around stoppages during the early stages with Jaxon Barton gathering plenty of disposals across the outer wing and right half-forward and captain Lachlan Mosele sharking Campbell's brilliant ruck work. The Pies were wasteful in front of goal early when Rhys Frost missed a shot from around the body at the three-minute mark and Josh Barber missed consecutive shots on the run four minutes later as the Pies trailed by three points. Mosele kicked a brilliant goal on the run from 30 metres out to extend the Bombers' margin to 10 points midway through the term. Both sides continued to waste chances in front of goal as the Bombers were the offenders late in the term. Barber marked and goaled for his first and Alex Borell levelled the scores just before the quarter-time siren.
BOMBERS PROGRESS
Luke Castle started the second term as he did in the first, a mark and a goal to put his team six points ahead. Brandon Muldoon won plenty of the ball across centre wing and team mate Damien Korp was unstoppable in the middle as the Pies hit the front by a point at the four-minute mark thanks to Muldoon's handy goal. From there, Riddell took control. Cam Lee was handy across half-back alongside Torey Hodgson who did some very clever things. Brenton Standcombe took the game on and Harrison Taylor was virtually unstoppable with his run and dash between the arcs. Luke Castle marked 35 metres out in the right forward pocket, turned his man inside out, curled around onto his favoured left foot and kicked truly from 25 to the roar of the crowd at the 16-minute mark. He let his opponent Adam Suban know all about his brilliant effort that sparked a small argument between a handful of players. Riddell's Luke Lever had a shot after the siren that just missed as they headed into half-time 17 points ahead and full of running.
MISSED CHANCES
Wallan's Kale Frost and Jack Drainer worked hard across half-back but their efforts could not be rewarded up forward with crucial misses. Barber kicked his fourth behind of the game at the four-minute mark and in typical fashion, the ball went up the other end to Luke Castle and he kicked his fourth to break the game out to a 17-point lead. Jake Tidswell goaled just minutes later to put the margin out to a game high 23 points. Riddell's Hayden Castle and Wallan's Brad Jenner were both red-carded at the 14-minute mark of the term as the tension spiced up. Barber was finally able to find his kicking boot at the 20-minute mark as he gathered the ball on the bounce 35 metres out, was forced onto his right foot and while it wasn't the prettiest of kicks, it floated through waste-high for his second and the margin was back to 13 points in the Bombers' favour. Keenan Borell goaled either side of team-mate, Barber but Campbell and Jarryd Barclay were quick to reply for Riddell who led by 19 points at three-quarter time.
JAXON IS A STAR
Jaxon Barton was just about unstoppable all over the ground. His timely runs were essential to the Bombers' forward line pressure. His efforts were similar to Phil Manassa and Ricky Barham of Collingwood, such was his great dash. He had more than eight inside 50s and kept Castle, Matt Darby and Eden Gallus very busy. When Castle kicked his fifth at the six-minute mark of the final term, the margin was out to a game-high 31 points. Gallus had been quiet for much of the day but found his step with two goals in eight minutes, the first on the run in the left forward pocket with a strong left foot that sailed through with ease as the Bombers celebrated a memorable 23-point win. Riddell's Matt Darby was awarded the Rainey Medal for best on ground.
Riddell 2.4, 6.6, 10.10, 14.11 (95) defeated Wallan 2.4, 3.7, 7.9, 10.12 (72)
Goals: (Riddell) L Castle 5, E Gallus 2, M Darby, L Mosele, H Castle, D Campbell, B Stancombe, J Tidswell, J Barclay 1. (Wallan) J Barber 4, B Carlisle, R Frost, A Borell, M George, B Muldoon, K Borell 1.
Best: (Riddell) J Barton, M Darby, L Castle, T Hodgson, H Taylor, L Mosele. (Wallan) D Korp, T Webb, B Harris, B Muldoon, K Frost, L Bird.
Last Modified on 25/09/2012 11:38