GIPPSLAND POWER - MEDIA RELEASE
BY BRYAN MITCHELL
In a showcase of the best under 18 footballers in country Victoria, Gippsland Power continued to add to their impressive start to the TAC Cup season withy a strong win over the Bendigo Pioneers. The game was one of three played at the picturesque Queen Elizabeth oval and the Power side were given the opportunity to play under lights and in front of a sizeable and very knowledgeable crowd.
In the opening minutes of the game the Power made their intentions known with some effective and aggressive team work culminating in goals. They then began to squander their opportunities with sloppy finishing and by the first change led by 20 points but had had 13 scoring shots to the Pioneers 3. Paul Hudson didn't panic about their inaccuracy but simply urged the boys to reward their hard work on with scoreboard pressure.
They lifted their work rate in the second term and the goals began to flow. The wind was a factor with the Power having the advantage and the forwards were being well serviced with long, quick and direct attacking moves. Paul was using his bench astutely to rotate his players as he was acutely aware that they were on a 5 day turnaround from their previous match against the Rebels. By the half time siren they led by 39 points and had the game well under control.
The Pioneers were not to be outdone in the opening minutes of the third term and they served notice that there was a contest for the four premiership points. The Power responded well and once again began to craft goals from committed team football. They were again wasteful of their hard work and could only manage 7 goals from their 18 scoring shots for the term. Marc Truscio put his stamp of the game in this term with 4 goals in 10 minutes with a combination of pace, skill and clever crumbing.. Their lead had extended out to 73 points and no matter who was in the midfield mix, they were dominating the contest.
As the cold wind began to strengthen, the last term was somewhat of an anticlimax. Neither side could create flowing team work and the game became very scrambly as a result. The Pioneers were having a real go and forced the Power into error despite the disparity on the scoreboard. By the final siren the margin had extended to 81 points.
Final scores Gippsland Power 20 goals 23 behinds 143 points, defeated Bendigo Pioneers 9 goals 8 behinds 62 points. Goal kickers Marc Truscio 4, Jay Neagle 3, Beau Vernon, Ben Fraser, Nathan Lieshout and Ricky Delphine 2, Dale Thomas, Scott Pendlebury, Lachlan Hansen, Zac Vansittart, and Rob Eddy 1.
Best Players were Dynamic rover Ricky Delphine, the dominant ruckman Trent West , inspirational captain Steve O'Bryan, hard working backman Tom Dowd, will-o-the whisp Marc Truscio and hard running midfielder Chris Dunne.
The boys now face the strong Eastern Ranges side at Morwell next Sunday commencing at 12.00 noon. The Ranges have started the season impressively and will give Paul and his coaching panel an accurate measuring stick of the boys' true position in terms of the top TAC Cup sides. They will not be able to be as inaccurate against such quality opposition and will need to continue to play their special brand of uncompromising, hard-nosed team football that has been so impressive this season.
Last Modified on 21/05/2008 17:30