The Peninsula VLine Under 15 boys travelled together as a team from Frankston for Game 1 of the carnival at Morwell.
Pitted against one of the strong Gippsland Power teams, the 24 players were an even split of boys from the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula junior football leagues. Coached by Stingrays Development Coach Brent Clinnick, the team arrived in Morwell to be greeted by perfect sunny conditions.
The first quarter saw the Peninsula team taking time to adjust and familiarise themselves with both each other and the structures put in place by the coaching panel. As a result the Gippsland boys jumped out to an early two goal lead before our midfielders started to get back on top with two late goals to the Stingrays to grab the lead back at the first change.
Gippsland Power continued their impressive accuracy in the second term with 5 straight goals, whilst despite plenty of possession the Peninsula boys could only manage the one major for the term through midfield star Ishak Bashir. Some good ball movement was undone at times with some turnovers by both foot and hand as the boys continued to develop the knowledge of playing together. At half time the boys had similar inside 50's and scoring shots but the Power accuracy had them in the lead 7.0.42 to 3.5.23
Peninsula Coach Brent Clinnick swung some changes in the second half with Edithvale-Aspendale midfielder James Hickey having to be replaced with soreness in his recently injured collar bone. His Edithvale-Aspendale teammate, Steve Tapolczay was swung forward in the second half with Seaford tall Bailey Schmidt swapping down back. Both moves proving valuable with the Peninsula Stingrays totally dominated the third quarter possession rate and driving the ball impressively through quick hands and accurate kicking into the forward 50. The result was a 6 goal to 1 third term with majors to twins Reid and Jai Nanscawen, the high marking Tapolczay, speedster Jai Taylor and two to Pearcedale-Baxter midfielder Matthew Cottrell.
Despite lapsing at the start of the final quarter to allow unanswered Power goals, the Stingrays again fought back to take the lead again in the dying stages largely due to the midfield efforts of Bashir, Berenger, Mt Eliza's Finlay Bayne, Balnarring's Tristan Bitters and the versatile Dan Frampton (Red Hill JFC) playing deep in defence. A hasty tackle by Frampton in the dying seconds saw a free kick paid to Power who converted to steal the game.
A great effort first up by the team who will now rest up before taking on North East Border 1 in Moe on Wednesday 1:30pm.
GIPPSLAND POWER 1 v. PENINSULA STINGRAYS
Round 1 - 28/09/2015
Gippsland Power 1 2.0, 7.0, 8.2, 13.2 (80)
Peninsula Stingrays 2.2, 3.5, 9.7, 11.9 (75)
GOALS, Gippsland Power 1 :
Sam Flanders 2, Irving Mosquito 2, Kyle Reid 2, Cameron Olden 2, Benjamin McKinnon 1, Kyle Dunkley 1,
Mitchell Leek 1, Lochlan Scott 1, Xavier Duursma 1
Peninsula Stingrays :
Jai Nanscawen 2, Ishak Bashir 2, Matthew Cottrell 2, Steven Tapolczay 1, Bailey Schmidt 1, Finlay Bayne 1,
Reid Nanscawen 1, Jai Taylor 1
BEST, Gippsland Power 1 :
Benjamin McKinnon, Harrison Pepper, Xavier Duursma, Brock Smith, Caleb Serong, Lochlan Scott
Peninsula Stingrays :
Ishak Bashir, Finlay Bayne, Daniel Frampton, Jai Nanscawen, Josh Berenger, Matthew Cottrell
Last Modified on 29/09/2015 15:06