Men’s Division 3, Bendigo vs Uni/Brunswick, 29/6/19 at Maiden Gully
The heavens opened on Friday night and by the time Warhawks arrived at Maiden Gully for an early start (1:30) on Saturday, the ground was awash. Bouncing back from the disappointment of having to give a walkover the week before, Bendigo had 15 to start, while Uni/Brunswick eventually put 14 on the paddock with a few late arrivals.
The game began with a very early goal from the Warhawks, coming from a great shot by Dylan Le Clercq from the left side that skidded off the standing water and beat the goalie, who seemed to spend the rest of the game annoyed about it. The play then became end-to-end, with Uni/Brunswick held out by the Bendigo defence and being limited to long shots and no score in the first term. At the Warhawk attack, play was not overly structured, but the chaos was effective, with some good ball and player movement leading to some good shots. However, the Uni/Brunswick goalie was equal to most shots and Bendigo only scored one more for the quarter, when John Webb found Alex Orr’s stick with a pass and the latter drove in and found the back of the net.
Bendigo up 2-0 at the first break.
The second quarter was more even and Uni Brunswick found some chinks in the armour of the defence and scored twice. Bendigo continued to threaten up forward and a goal came from Mark Reader, with a great scoring run that started from the defence. Mason Matheson chipped in with a hard shot from in front of goal that skidded in the wet, kept low and deceived the goalie. At the long break the score was 4-2 Bendigo’s way.
The rain had been holding off for much of the game but in the third term, dark clouds threatened and showers swept in. Uni/Brunswick were again held scoreless for a quarter, though they were not without chances that were thwarted by great defence and some great stops by Gino Iuliano in goal. Bendigo managed one goal in the tough conditions with Ian Lock slotting a goal off a John Webb assist. 5-2 at last drinks.
In the last quarter, thunder and lightning added to the wind and rain and Uni/Brunswick scored once, as did Bendigo (through the fearsome assault on the defence by Mark Reader), before referees conferred, the lightning was declared a clear and present danger and the game was called off with 13 minutes left on the clock. Bendigo ran out (well, waded really) victors and added to a winning run of five games in a row. We sit fourth on the ladder and are looking good for finals!
Votes were awarded to Alex Orr (3 Association and 3 club) showing that his prowess extends to aquatic conditions. Tim Davis was given 1 Association and 2 club votes for a big day at both ends including a score assist that I think was for one of Wookie’s goals. Mark Reader attracted the refs’ eyes for one club vote for ability to turn defence into attack.
Thanks to Tracey O’Meara for scoring for us again and to Lester Young for reffing in the wet.
I should mention that having healthy numbers on the bench and some fit young players in our ranks meant that Uni/Brunswick couldn’t trade on youthfulness and a Bendigo fade late in the game, in the way they have in the past.
Anyhow, next week we play Camberwell at Camberwell, where we have the opportunity to consolidate spot in the four.
John Webb,
Senior Player
U15 boys
MCC 16 def Brunswick/Melb Uni 1
Matt Saxon 4 goals
Christian Iuliano 3 goals and 3 assists
MCC had 11 players compared to BMU who fielded 10 players. It was a convincing victory with the match virtually over at half time. Matty was a bit under the weather and was instructed to stay in the forward line. He stood next to the goals and scored 4 great goals. Christian after the first quarter was placed in the centre and near looked back. Although he was pulled up a couple of times, because the ball wouldn't come out of the back of his stick when he won the face-offs. In the final quarter the coaches varied plays to see what the boys were capable of doing.
The quarter by quarter scores were 4 to 0, 10 to 1, 14 to 1, and 16 to 1.
Senior Women
MCC/Bendigo lost 12 to Chadstone 14
This was expected to be a tight game as they were on equal standings on the ladder separated by percentage. How enthralling it was to spectate.
Bendigo had Abbey, Abigail, Jessica and Morgan support the team, which fielded 10 players. Everyone had to put in as there was no bench. Chadstone also had 10 players.
The weather was better than Saturday with sunshine all game time.
The match started very well with MCC scoring the first two goals before Chadstone rallied to score the next 3 to lead at the first break by 1. Chadstone were very physical and wasn't the team MCC faced last year, which MCC won by more than 7 goals. Chaddy had 3 to 4 players that were very accomplished. This was evident in the second quarter when they piled on 6 goals to MCC/Bendigo's 3. However, there was a Chadstone player on a yellow card, which meant that she was off for 2 minutes. At the main break Chadstone lead 9 to 5. Abigail scored a great goal to increase her tally for the season to 3 goals.
The girls seemed a bit down, which can be explained but I won't bore you with the details. The third quarter was going bad with Chadstone scoring 2 quick goals. This changed when the same Chaddy player was given another yellow card, which meant this time the player was off for 5 minutes and couldn't return. Chaddy didn't have a bench so they were down 1 player for the rest of the match. During the rest of the quarter MCC scored twice with many opportunities by Abbey and Morgan in front of goals but were left empty handed. However, Chaddy did score another goal against the run of play and at the final break Chadstone were leading 12 goals to 7.
Rosie Awad, MCC senior player, said at the break they could win this game and challenged everyone in the team. The match resumed with both teams scoring a goal before another Chaddy player was sent to the bench with a yellow card. Therefore MCC/Bendigo had a two-player advantage for a couple of minutes. The MCC ladies scored one goal before the Chaddy player returned. With half a quarter to go the girls were still down by 4 goals. However, Chaddy replied quickly to restore the lead to 5 goals.
MCC power switch went on and they dominated the last 7 minutes of the game, while Chaddy was trying to run the clock down. Three goals were scored with Jessica faking low and hitting the top left corner to score. She later admitted that she was aiming at the feet of the goal keeper.
At that stage of the match, the crowd though there was only one goal in it. With two minutes left on the clock, the centre draw as won by Chaddy but desperate play by Rosie, Jasmine and Eloise got the ball back. MCC's Jazz ran to the Chaddy goal but missed with the final whistle sounded seconds late.
Wow, they were that close, but it was bitter sweet pill to swallow, as they got back into it, but they left it too late.
All the Bendigo ladies were in the action and did their bit. The difference between the teams were the Chaddy goalkeeper, she saved heaps of goals as MCC/Bendigo had twice as many shots on goal compared to Chaddy.
Fran Nichols, MCC first lady's coach and now retired, was impressed with the Bendigo girls' skills. She mentioned that they need to practise changing hands, left to right, right to left so they have more opportunities in front of goal.
Thanks also to Paula Saxon for doing the scoring
Well done ladies.
Gino Iuliano
Bendigo Lax
Last Modified on 04/07/2019 11:59