In years to come when kids Google or search Wikipedia for âthe worst game ever playedâ there is a possibility that Saturdayâs match at Sandringham Vs Beaumaris may well have a video link. While that might be open to conjecture one thing is certain â we won and they didnât! The Bloods of 2007 may well have not been able to get over the line and once again the intestinal fortitude of our 2008 boys cannot be questioned.
On a pleasant winterâs afternoon the Throng journeyed to the picturesque green of the Trevor Barker oval. The Oracle had noted the VAFA scribe had signalled that Beauy would be on full attack and with a few of their VFL list back it was never going to be easy. In the first quarter Tommy T went down with a sickening jaw injury and the mood was subdued as he went to hospital. The Bloods were squandering their opportunities and it was left to Jonno to kick our only major for the term. Spectators turning up late may well have been unsure if they were watching soccer or Aussie rules as the quarter time board read 1.4 to Beaumarisâ 0.0!
Those hoping the quality of footy would improve in the second stanza were sadly disappointed. Beauy were playing a set game plan down the Beach Road wing and we were finding it hard to break their resistance. Chances went begging and despite Paddyâs dominance in the ruck the running game of the Sharks was upsetting the Bloods and many errors occurred in general play. Vossy was getting plenty of the ball as was Frogger and in defence it was terrific to see Ferg back in charge. Secc missed a sitter and it was left to Sammy to get a major for us. Lance was looking dangerous and Laz was prominent. Vossy marked and converted on the siren, much to the displeasure of the Beauy boys on and off the ground and pleasantries were exchanged as we left the arena with a 3.7 to 2.5 goal line at the main break.
As expected Beauy cam out firing in the third quarter and poured on several goals. For a 10 minute period we couldnât get the ball past half back. Paddy journeyed into defence and the patience and fitness of Ferg, Hammer and Co was truly tested for most of the quarter. Coach Shannasâ positional changes worked and with the Hyphen now on the ball and Critta running free we saw the momentum change. Crittaâs long run and bounces followed by a terrific goal was the changing point and when Lance got one we found ourselves a point down at the final stanza. Thommo was back on in defence and Paddy was again the centre.
The final quarter was nail-biter and with Sammy proving some valuable clearances we found Dave Mason a target at CHF. He marked several times in the opening minutes and it lead to Laz kicking a fine goal from 45 metres out. Mistakes were still happening and Beauy had plenty of opportunities to capitalise but stout defence from Ferg, Vossy and Jonno saw us hold true. Nothing was going our way in the centre and every time Paddy breathed the whistle would go. It was like her was activating a sensor light! Morro, now up forward broke through the pack and kicked a super bouncing goal. Sensible footy found Benny on the boundary line and despite looking to hand it off he went back to convert.
Beauy werenât finished some herculean efforts from Vossy saw the ball up forward again. Jonno took a mark at CHF and his bomb only just fell short. The Sharks attacked again but the siren beat them. The Oracle and the Throng were exhausted and what was expected to be a comfortable day in bayside resembled some form of a Stephen King novel.
But the toughness of the boys could not be dismissed. Vossy was superb all day. Sammy lead from the front and provided fine leadership when it counted. Frog was Frog and Ferg has a hatred of loosing only a dictionary could define. Buggered and bruised in the change rooms Coach Shannas signalled that for the first time in a ling time all three teams had won. Fresh faced recruits Boffa and Lappage had run amuck in the twos and All Johnson had bagged 7 for the U/19s. Three matches are left before the finals and two of them are home games. The biggest challenge is next week when the Melways come out as we venture to St Bernards.
As frosties were consumed later in the safe surrounds of Kyatts the Oracle was left to philosophise that this time last year our team was winless. In 2008 we have now won 11 games and despite the quality of todayâs game none of us should ever forget that.
Last Modified on 08/04/2009 00:18