Match Report

Round 14

FJFC U-14 Blue 9.11 (65) d St Marys 6.10 (46) at Ramsden St, July 24, 2010 Top of the table clash: one versus two, Roys versus St Marys at the Roys' home ground: both teams in solid form going in to the game, although St Marys, perhaps aided by some Roy Boy inaccuracy in front of goal, had won the last match between the two earlier in the season. Sun was out, the sky was clear and there was a hint of spring in the air. Which way would this one go? Diggers and Kieran were back after several games away and the Roys looked like they were up and about early, registering the first score of the match, a behind in the opening minutes. The pace was there but so too was the contest: the intensity was up a notch, like someone had squeezed the pressure gauge just that little bit harder. The key elements of the Roys' play started to emerge: the teamwork, where players looked for each other; a sense of purpose, and calm self-belief. Patrick won a 15m penalty, found Connor who dished it off to Ahmed who goalled for the Roys' first. Yet St Marys raced the ball through the middle and kicked three quick goals in reply before the Roys steadied. The boys went about their business in a focussed way. The scoreboard did not trouble them. Luke was at the bottom of packs, winning the hard ball, Jaquan made a massive smother to halt a St Marys centre break and Digby, in an eye-catching first term, made a desperate lunge to punch the ball over the line when St Marys' threatened again. Charlie, who was giving away a few centimetres in the ruck against his opponent, goalled from a free, and then Ahmed set in train a chain of possessions that led to Digby goalling. It was tight footy and then St Mary's added their fourth before some precise handballs found Wiz alone, and his left-foot put the Roys in front at the first change. The game resumed at a quicker pace. This felt like a real contest between the two heavyweights of the competition. Both backlines were under pressure and like the best sides, each forward line tried to lock the ball in their offensive zone. The Roys managed to break through twice - once when Wiz dobbed a goal from a free and then Kent, who looped one over the pack. St Marys managed three behinds, but there was a sense that the game had plenty of legs in it even though the half-time break had Fitzroy 13 points up. The third quarter is not called the "championship quarter' for nothing. It is often when good sides split matches open: it's about choosing the right moment to challenge. Pick the right time and you will squeeze the resistance out of your opponent. Go too soon, or not go far enough, and the door remains open in the last quarter. St Marys decided to seize their chance in the third and immediately got the ball out of the middle to set up a goal in a blink of an eye. The Roys had struggled to get the ball out of the centre all day, and once more they couldn't stop the St Marys' surge. Another goal followed, and the Roys' possession rate dropped. When the siren sounded, St Marys had a one-point lead. Was the door still open for the Roys to sneak through? Richard told the boys that St Marys had been due for a good quarter. Now it was Fitzroy's turn. "''Let's have a bit more talk, a bit more desire,'' he said. The boys were quiet. The game was still in the balance. In the opening minute, Connor rolled through a point to level the score. Soon after the skipper found Mo, who kicked the goal that put the Roys back in front. Down back, Pat went hard at the contest, was flattened and had to go off. But the Roys had seen enough: they wanted it now. The momentum was shifting. St Marys rattled through a couple of behinds but great defence from Mu, spoiling on the last line, and Kent's hard-nut tackling, kept the pressure on the visitors. When Mo kicked his second for the quarter, St Marys looked to be struggling. A succession of points stretched the lead and when Mo dobbed his third, St Marys 'resistance was all but gone. It had been a hard game but a great test of character. The boys had stood up against a tough and talented opponent. The win was a well-deserved 19 points.

All Match Reports

Round 01    Round 02    Round 03    Round 04    Round 05    Round 06    Round 07    Round 08    Round 09    Round 10    Round 11    Round 12    Round 13    Round 14    Round 15    Round 16    Semi final    The grand final