CITY RESSIES STRIKE ANOTHER BLOW
The Newcastle City Reserve Grade continued their good form with a resounding 55 point win over Wyong at Tacoma in the round 8 clash.
In heavy conditions, the Ressies travelled down to Tacoma with one thing in mind – to continue with their desired playing style. Weekly improvement was evident with a more structured approach to their game that has really kicked the Ressies confidence along in recent weeks. The wet weather disrupted training during the week making this win all the more pleasing.
Another mass amount of changes (11 in all) were needed from the previous match, with the outs being Annesbury (work), Crace (away), Evans (injured), Finlayson (work), Hamilton (rotated), Kelly (work), McCosker (injured), O’Bryan (away), Robertson (work), Sullivan (injured) and Weir (work). Into this week’s squad came Akers (first game for 2011), Armagos, Baster (first game for 2011), Dalton, Dinneen, James, Miller, Parker, Ross, Tisdell (first game for 2011) and Webster. City’s depth has been a blessing in disguise!
So with half the team different from the previous match, the Ressies could be forgiven if play was a bit disjointed. That didn’t happen. The first quarter started in fantastic circumstances with two goals kicked very quickly, one of them most impressive with a coast to coast play through Grabham, Dalton, Baster, Webster, Thompson to Smith for a goal. That set the tone for the day as City went into the first break up 3-6 to 2-1. Inaccurate kicking was not too much of a concern as all attempts for goal were made in front of goal and not from the boundary. Martin Dinneen slipped into gear after a shaky start with 2 goals, the other to Smith.
The notorious slow starts dogged City again in the second term but positive play by Jackson Tisdell seemed to spark the Blues into gear, coupled with good linkage play by Parker and Baster. Webster was having a field day as with Thompson. City extended their lead going into the long break up 7-8 to 4-4 with 2 more goals to Dinneen and singles to Armagos and Smith. Clement came off with a hamstring injury during the term.
Pleas for a better start didn’t work with another slow period early in the 3rd term. Once the boys worked out they needed to lift, 4-4 was slammed on in quick time. Price was everywhere, throwing himself into numerous contests, enabling the ball to work into the City hands. Parker and Webster continued to work hard and set up goals to Dinneen (3) and Captain Ben Konetschnik. Scores at the last break were City 11-12 to Wyong 5-5.
The final term saw more of the same with 4-3 (Dinneen 2 and Ford 2) to round out a solid win 15-15 105 to 7-8 50.
Dinneen had a field day with 9, Smith with 2, Ford with 2 and singles to Konetschnik and Armagos. Best players being Price, Baster, Parker, Webster, Dinneen and Armagos. Most pleasing was the way Martin Dinneen gained in confidence after being unable to train due to work commitments for many weeks. His presentation was first rate and worked in very well with the improving Smith. With no less than 25 other players vying for a spot in the Ressies side, weekly improvement should occur as long as training attendances increase from a pretty lack-lustre couple of weeks. The bye for the long weekend will provide opportunity for competitive training in readiness for the Nelson Bay clash at No.1 on 18/6/11.
“True Blue”
