CROWS ATTACK Vol 3  

Our First Night Game and we were left to turn out the Lights!!

All of us were primed for our first game of night footy. The Div 3 team played Rooty Hill Power prior to our game and with 40 something junior fliers around the ground doing their program we thought we could put on a good show for the crowd.

We were up against one of the strongest clubs, Camden who have been in the finals of U12 Div 1 for the last few years and were premiers last year.

The game started at a fast pace and this caught us a bit unaware as we are not the quickest out of the blocks. Camden banged in the first goal and followed with a second a few minutes after. While it shocked the coaching team the boys knew they were winding up and midday through the first quarter kicked our first goal after some good lead up work by the centres. The boys managed to kick back to back goals and then defend superbly as Camden applied pressure late in the quarter and kick 2 behinds. At the first break we were 2 points down and right in this contest.

The 2^nd quarter saw someone turn off our switch and we struggled with most things we tried to do. We lost our clean hands, dropping marks and handpasses and struggled to pick up the ball cleanly. In attack we rushed our decisions and missed our chances at goal. It was only our solid defensive tackling that restricted Camden who kicked 3 goals 1 behind to our 2 behinds.

At the long break we moved a few players around as a change is as good as a holiday. It is amazing sometimes how players can lift themselves if in a different position. This quarter although low scoring was one of the most entertaining this year as the ball travelled from end to end as the teams tried to get an advantage. Great last defence from both teams saved goals and the centres from both teams run what must of seemed like kms. At the last break we had pulled back a point kicking 1 goal 2 behinds to 1 goal 1 behind.

We asked for one huge effort for the last 15 mins. The team was struggling with fitness and we had a couple of our running players on the bench having a rest or nursing injuries. It was always going to be a big challenge to hold Camden and they showed what a great running side they are kicking 3 unanswered goals and 1 behind to our 0.0. All the team gave it everything they had until the end and again it was some great last ditch efforts that restricted their score.

Although we lost by 6 goals the game was a lot closer than that. Camden took advantage of every opportunity while we threw a few away that could have put scoreboard pressure on them. Special mention goes to MJ who ran himself into the ground, tackled every player bigger than himself and kicked 2 goals. Our backs all did a great job, Blake G, Mandev, Brock, Ryan, Daniel, Blake P, Cain and Tyler keep up the improved efforts

Our next game is Saturday 12^th May again at Cook Park St Marys. The game starts at 9am, players required by 8.15am please. We are playing the Emu Plains/Glenmore Park Lions Gold team who are undefeated after 3 games.

John, Geoff and Graham