Round two saw us venture to South Road at Brighton Beach. Conditions were again absolutely perfect for what was sure to be a spirited contest. This side had the better of us last year and we were excited to take them on with a more even playing group. There was a lot of enjoyment last year, for both players and parents, in watching boys play their 50th games. This week was another banner episode with Mikey P and Harry B logging the milestone. After some confusion, because I forgot this important fact, the boys were made Captains for the day.
A big focus of our pre-game for this year is to get the boys into footy mode and get away to the best start in every game. Good starts will always give us the best chance to win games. Harry W decided he was going to get right onto the goal kicking leader board. He booted two for the quarter and would add another in the last. Huddy J was instrumental in getting the ball forward early. He looks to have found some new tricks in getting the ball away from opposition ruckman. Keegan was prominent up forward providing more than a handy option. Benny H, was his usual amazing self and slotted our third goal to get us away to a solid start. Oscar M had been down with tonsillitis all week and got out of bed to give us his
all on the wing.
We were starting to have winning pieces of play all over the ground. Sandro’s pressure act numbers, throughout the course of a game, are outstanding. Max L is reading the play exceptionally well at both ends of the ground. James H continued on from last week and was superb at the contest. Matt B was running hard off half back. His deft little passes look great when they hit their targets. Ollie E had an outstanding quarter. He backs himself whenever he’s near the contest and usually wins possession.
Huddy and Mikey P kicked our two goals for the quarter and we had a nice five goal buffer at half time.
The third term saw us take the foot of the peddle. Our backline became a little loose and the opposition seized the moment to get on top. They matched us on the score board. There were still some positives to come out the term. Mitch R scored a ripper goal to see us keep some momentum. Wes S had been great since being switched on in the rooms at half time. Ryan P was tasked with falling a kick behind play and without knowing it was getting to the exact spots we expected. Seven goals to one was still a handy lead going into the last quarter but we just reminded the boys of being in front and manning up in the back half at the final change.
Wowee didn’t that talk have immediate effect! We banged on six goals in the final term. Mitch added two and was dangerous whenever he got his hands on the ball. Benny W got on the end of some great work up the field by Giddy Z and Ollie S. They look to show every week that they can run all day. Freddie S did the job when asked to go back. Harry BG has grown in confidence so much thus far this year. His marking and rebound when in defence has been super. Max L went forward and got one as did Huddy. Harry W finished it off with another and we had almost scored as much in the quarter as we had the previous three.
Now we find ourselves up against AJAX this week at home. The crowd should be huge and the expectation for our boys will be really positive. Well train well and be ready and raring to go on Sunday. Let the fun and good times keep rolling on.
Go Hampton Rovers, best mates!
Wayne Powell – Coach
