2014 – The Year of the Rover

State Cup wasn’t a priority for our boys when we started our campaign. We have two goals this year win the league and give the BDAFA Cup a shake. That being said a few wins in and we are all starting to get a sniff of the big one! Being in the final 16 is a very big positive for the boys after already knocking out some very respectable opponents and progressing further then the 2013 champions, Lilli Pilli. Most of the lads have been relishing in the two games a week but it hasn’t taken long for the injury toll to being to add up, although with 8 days off we are looking strong heading into what we are calling our Grand Final 1 of the season!

Preliminary Round – St Marys Band Camp What a slow start to what we were hoping was a long campaign… The first obstacle to be avoided was he absence of a neutral match official. We where left to the decision to abandon the match or allow a St Mary's affiliate referee the match. Seeing as we had come halfway across the globe to play, we were not leaving without a victory so we accepted the referee. Lets just not talk about the first half, it was 1-1 after conceding a very scrappy goal from a cross along the ground into the middle of the 6 yard area. We then came out after a harsh half time talk and put the game to what we thought was out of reach 3-1. However with some decisions against (we had made our bed, now we had to sleep in it) us a penalty and some lazy defending Rovers let them back into the game and with 10 minuted to go St Marys had drawn at 3-3. In the dying minutes a cheeky moment of brilliance from Daniel Le Cerf saw him chip the keeper and put the game out of their reach. Rovers go on to win 4-3 and progress into Round 1 of the State Cup!! TE (To Easy)

Round 1 – West Ryde Rovers A few week prior to this match our squad had already beaten west ryde 3-2 in the Warratah Cup knocking them out of the first comp of the season. However this was a different story. Coming off the back of some solid league wins we had finally begun to find our stride. Naturally The Public Figure (Sean Robertson) was causing all kinds of issues for the defenders and after a brilliant header from a magnificent cross from Daniel O’Shea Rovers went up 1-0. It wasn’t long before we settled and were moving the ball to feet then in the space of 5 minutes sean had completed his hat trick turning the defenders inside out and beating the keeper at far post both times. After half time the game became very routine and we sat back absorbed a lot of what they had to throw at us leaving the field 4-1 victors and this is where it begins!! Thanks for coming West Ryde but remember; there is only one true ROVERS and they ply their trade in Revesby!

Round 2 – West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook – WOW – What a journey (especially for the boys from the shire)!! The Prelude to this match was a night out with the Holland Twins for their birthday … Need I say more?? On the back of 2 hours sleep for some, COPIOUS amounts of alcohol and a late night FA Cup victory for Arsenal we begun our trek up to the North-West. With a few pit spots to drive the porcelain bus, We finally arrive 1 hour before our game looking very worse for wear. However this does not stop a ROVER!! With a quick 20 minute warm up and a few players still under the weather we took the field only to score a quick early goal making it 1-0, thanks to a brilliant finish from Matthew Spears… But this was our turning point 35 minutes later we walked off the field 2-1 down. This was the first time in 12 games we were behind at half time. Fear not, this squad does not take losing lightly and we turned around the deficit to level the scores shortly after halftime. Definitely not one of our best displays due to the self-inflicted bodily harm we treated ourselves to the preceding evening but we managed to turn the game on its head and it was clear to see one team was pushing harder for the victory than the other. We did not need to look far for motivation, the WPH cheer squad were beating their drums and not o politely asking ask to leave their ground. But like most games this season we did leave, with a VICTORY. Two late goals saw the Black and Whites progress to the final 16 of the Bill Cullinan State Cup! There was one proud coach on the sideline! BL (Bad Luck) West Pennant Hills

Round 3 - Brookvale (Manly-Waaringah) Match details; Sunday 1st of June, AMOUR Park, 9am Rover elite, please come to the mighty Amour Park and create a fortress like atmosphere to support the boys against Brookvale in the final 16 of the tournament. Undoubtably this will be the toughest assignment to date with Brookvale defeating last seasons champions Lilli-Pilli in the previous round. It will be a tough assignment but one in which we will cherish because the mood in the camp at the moment is 'the sky is the limit' and if we can defeat this opposition the belief will turn to becoming the 2014 - State Cup CHAMPIONS!!!

Always remember; THIS IS AMOUR #levasaid #Rovers #StateCup2014

Regards,

Anthony Leva

Club Captain