An open discussion at the mid-way break of the season has seen a struggling reserves side aim up and make the remaining games count. Coach Daniel Holdsworth called on input from the entire training squad during the week off for a frank assessment of the first half of the season, which had a second last position, horror 1-8 record listed on the ladder. The reserves squad had been training hard all season for little result on the field and it stung a few of the players pride for the game and the Kenmore club. A steely resolve amongst the squad that night paved way for a planned 3 wins from our next 4 games, and then another assessment to close the season.
It started with the return match against Robina which showed the reserves had a different attitude to playing for each other and Kenmore. The reserves were behind at every change but a determined second half which saw Robina kick only 8 points, and the ball trapped in the Bears forward half of the field where Robina flooded players back behind the ball made it hard to score points. Adrian Murphy finished the game with 3 goals including the kick that sealed a draw from a contested mark on an acute angle. From the ensuing ball up Robina looked to steal victory sending the ball into that attacking zone to be foiled by the Kenmore backline and the siren in the background leaving the scores locked at 45 each.
The next game was the biggest challenge in Yeronga at Yeronga, but despite a strong first quarter with a lot of ball there was no conversion inside our attacking half and Yeronga snuck away with some soft goals to lead at the first break. A determined effort in the second quarter saw both teams kick 5 goals showing the Bears could match it on the field before falling away to lose by an 11 goal margin.
Our next match was the return match of Strathpine with both reserve and senior sides dirty on the results of the round 3 clash which saw the sides lose by 18 and 20 points respectively. A home game that unfortunately had to be played out of Coorparoo the day could not have started any better with the reserves exacting revenge with an 89 point turnaround, thrashing Strathpine 83-12. Steve Ferguson & Scott Matthews (in a cameo) both finished with 3 goals. Unfortunately during third quarter, the team lost Ash Jamieson with a knee injury that will see him miss the rest of the season just as he was starting to play consistent football week to week.
Finally last week, the return match against Caboolture was a game the Reserves could not afford to let slip as Caboolture was the 1 win early in the season. A strong first quarter and a return to the forward line for Josh Bretherton saw the Bears jump out to a four goal lead. Caboolture showed they were not going to go away with some early second quarter goals before another horrific knee injury had one of the reserves most consistent players for the season in Mick Liehr taken off. Constantly getting the ball going forward all day saw Glen Ferguson finish the match with 3 goals and Ben Pollitt take out best on ground for his tagging role in the middle. Bretherton bagged four and Ashley Bone & Stu Bradshaw got two each as the final score proved a good win 12.6 78 - 6.7 43.
Last Modified on 02/02/2008 10:29