The Benalla & DJFL under-14s finished runners up at the recent 2016 North East Junior Interleague Carnival.
Under-14
Benalla and Mansfield’s up-and-coming footballers went up against the best young footballers from across north east Victoria at the 2016 Junior Interleague Carnival in Wangaratta during the weekend.
Representing the Benalla and District Junior Football League (BDJFL) the side played six other teams from as far south as Seymour and north to Albury.
Game one: BDJFL players had a tough first game lining up against Albury Black and as expected the pace was at a level considerably higher than the home and away football they are use to.
BDJFL were up to the task with strong players across all lines and Albury would soon have its hands full with both ruckman James Laco and Nathan Davies kicking early goals.
The half backline was solid as a rock with Kyle Berger, Nick Watson and David Button dominating, add the talent of Chelton Orchard, Sam Thomson and Reagan Williams and it was no surprise the game one went the BDJFL’s way with a 15-point win.
Game two: Taking on a well-balanced Seymour, the intensity was up from the first bounce.
But it was bottom-age player Bode Stevens who set the bar high with a wonderful tackle that had Seymour on the back foot from the get go.
Tommy Dunstan the smallest player on the field was also setting an example owning the far wing in the first half. Oskar Major had lifted his tempo from the first game as had Harry Mahoney, Isaac Murray and Max Scott while Tom Leby took two well-read goals.
Josh Highland who is normally a forward was sent to the fullback position and his strength helped to hold Seymour to one solitary goal as BDJFL posted a handy 26-point win, which placed it straight into the grand final as the only undefeated side.
Game three: The BDJFL played off for the carnival honours against Albury Red.
With full run and carry, speed and want for the ball the Albury side got off to an early lead.
The BDJFL boys were playing loose football and under pressure as the ball rarely left the Albury forward line and soon after half-time the lead had blown out to almost five goals.
Coach Ken Murray decided enough was enough as strongmanWatson was thrown into the middle in a great move.
The impact was immediate as it allowed support for midfielders Orchard, Rory Wapling and Williams and before long the BDJFL had put on four unanswered goals.
Scott and Geordie McLennan were getting busy as was Ben Wheeler who played well all carnival, but the clock ran out of time and the BDJFL fell short by six points.
These under-14 boys can hold their head high they played wonderful football, worked well as a team and were only one kick away from taking out the Interleague Carnival.
Under-16s
The BDJFL Under-16s had a tough day at the office at Sunday’s 2016 AFL North East Border Junior Carnival.
The team, which comprised representatives from Benalla and Mansfield, were handed a difficult draw playing traditionally strong Albury Wodonga sides in its two pool games.
Game one: The day was off to an early start with the BDJFL playing Albury Wodonga Black at 9.30am.
Disaster struck the BDJFL with gun ruckman Mark Marriot struck down by an ankle injury within the first two minutes of the game.
The Under-16s Bushrangers representative would take no further part in the carnival.
The BDJFL was kept scoreless in the first 15-minute half, while Albury Wodonga kicked one goal, one.
The second half saw Patrick Warner kick a goal for the BDJFL, but Albury Wodonga added a further two to claim a 16-point win.
Better players for the BDJFL were Warner who starred in the midfield, Joel Sandford on a half-back-flank, Oli Sladdin on a wing and backman Pat Smith.
Game two: The BDJFL was outplayed in the second game by the eventual competition winners Albury Wodonga Red.
The slick Reds kicked 7.3 (45) to the BDJFL’s 2.0 (12).
Goal kickers for the BDJFL were Tom Rigby and Wil Christopher.
Warner was again named best for the BDJFL.
Campbell McCoy and Riley Johnson battled valiantly to combat an impressive Albury Wodonga side.
For it to make the finals, the BDJFL needed Wangaratta White to thrash the Tallangatta Junior Football League, but it was not to be with the Benalla and Mansfield boys day coming to an early end.
http://www.mmg.com.au/local-news/benalla/benalla-footballers-perform-at-interleague-1.110331
Last Modified on 28/05/2016 21:48