Under 12-1 2009

Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5 Game 6 Game 7 Game 8 Game 9 Game 10 Game 11 Game 12 Game 13 Game 14 Game 15

Game 5

Beverley Hills 5.5 9.11 14.13 17.17 119

Fitzroy 0.0 0.0 2.1 3.2 20

The under 12 Gold's traveled to Paul Roos' territory to take on the reigning premier Beverley Hills. Lucien was captain for the day, the ground was rough and patchy, and Fitzroy were kicking to the breeze favoured but uphill northern end.

The first quarter started as a bit of an arm wrestle, but then a transformation came over the game as Beverley Hills delivered slick handballs to loose players running past and kicked accurately to deep leading forwards. Beverley Hills' number 16, who looked like he should be shaving every day, was creating mayhem with 3 goals off his own boot. This necessitated coach Michael placing both Eddie and Declan on him. The umpire was hot on encroaching over the mark even though the Fitzroy defenders were following the practice of scratching the mark then taking steps back, before running up to the mark as the kick was being taken. Noah was tried out in ruck, and with his impressive spring was winning the majority of the taps, but this was not translating into clearances.

The coach's positional moves succeeded in shutting number 16 down, but in his place there were many other Beverley Hills forwards seemingly loose in the hot spot. Notable efforts in the second quarter came from Robbie with a great smother, Angus with a series of tackles, and Noah with a tough but fair hip and shoulder. To add to Fitzroy's woes Gus limped off the ground in this quarter.

Things had to get better for the 'Roy boys in the third quarter, and they did. Noah took a specky, then Chas marked and kicked a goal from 40 metres. The good work was somewhat undone when Beverley Hills scored two goals from one mark when the umpire deemed that the mark had been encroached on, again. A shot from Noah registered a behind, but then from the kick in Lucien marked, ran 10 metres and drilled a goal. Late in the quarter Lucien effected a great tackle, but Andrej had to take the resulting free kick, when Lucien left the ground with a bruised hip.

The improved effort from Fitzroy continued in the last quarter. Charles had got his mojo back, and along with Noah, Ben and Arki were creating forward pressure. Charles delivered to Noah along the wing, the ball came to Ben who kicked to goal square where Noah had followed up, took a great mark and converted. The attrition rate also continued with both Harry H. and Otis succumbing to injuries that forced them from the field. Charles had another good run along the wing, from where the ball found its way to Noah who handballed to Jim who mistook the posts and confidently planted a behind.

Chas who was playing his second game of the weekend, and had been up all night, won the medal awarded by Beverley Hills to the best opposition player.

Next we play our old adversaries Greythorn at a home ground we have never seen. Go 'Roys!

"Chicken Smallhorn" (the ghost of Fitzroy past)