Quake took on Club Championship front runners Magic last Saturday and fared a little better than we did in our first round matches against them. This time around we secured 3 wins – 2 of them against previously undefeated teams – and showed great fight in other games.

Brief reports follow and I apologise up front if some of the details are sketchy as I had other business to attend to for some of the games.

 

 

 

Academy: Proudly Sponsored by Xtreme Locksmiths

The lads were simply terrific this time around against Magic. They held their bigger, older opponents for 35 of the 40 minutes but run out of legs in the end. The way these boys have developed is a real credit to them and Brett. Their passing and movement is great to watch and they are dogged in defence. Another big tick for these guys.

12 Boys: Proudly Sponsored by 40 Winks Campbelltown: Quake 2 (Angelo Kalamvokis and Aaron O’Mahony 1) def Magic 1

Wow! These boys just get better and better. Needing to win against the undefeated leaders the lads didn’t let a 1-6 result from the first round game intimidate them. They worked hard but fell behind halfway through the first period to a goal that didn’t really look like coming from Magic. But the lads didn’t panic and got an equaliser to set up a tense finish. They had to win to stay in the finals race and they took their chance when Steven chased a ball down the right flank and did what he was supposed do by hitting it across goals where it was met by Aaron who busted a gut to get to the back post to knock it in. The lads need to win next game and are relying on a winning score line in the Rovers/Vipers match to squeeze past one of those teams into the semis.

12 Girls: Proudly Sponsored by JR Electrical: Quake 3 (Rosie Galea 3) def by Magic 7

The girls gave Magic a big fright last time around and were confident they could do so again this game but things just didn’t fall for them. They found themselves down 0-4 at the break without having played badly. Perhaps it was due to a lot of the girls playing for the first time since the break and our policy of equal time for all the squad having an effect on rotations. The 2^nd half started much the same as the first and in no time the girls were down 0-7. Anson then made some great changes and put out a combination that had played Nationals and the last round together and bang, bang, bang they smashed in 3 in 4 minutes. It just proved that the girls can be competitive and that they never give up. In the end a decent result against a team that has won 13 from 13.

14 Boys: Proudly Sponsored by Capital Steel Buildings Southwest: Quake1 (Anthony Haddad) def by Magic 3

Not a good week to serve up one of the team’s poorest performances. The lads were just off and were out enthused by Magic. No great highlights or performances to mention. We know the boys are better than this. A win against Boomerangs will ensure they finish 4^th and play finals football and at their best they are a very good chance of taking the title. Win and you’re in boys!

14 Girls: Proudly Sponsored by Clintons Toyota: Quake 2 (Rosie Galea, Ash Norman) def by Magic 6

Almost a carbon copy of the 12 Girls with Quake falling behind 0-6 but rallying late with 2 goals. The second by Ash Norman is a contender for goal of the year with a line drive from the sideline 15 metres out almost tearing the net off the goals. Young Tiff Craig did well in goals in the first half with Erin playing well in goals in the 2^nd. The girls are showing potential in games and next year should see them develop nicely.

16 Boys: Proudly Sponsored by Einhell Australia: Quake 3 (Anson Gilligan, Marko Filipovic, Lachlan Roberts) def by Magic 4

The boys needed to win this game to have a realistic chance to make the finals and were gone at 0-4 but dug deep to claw their way back and give themselves a chance. The scenario now is that the lads need to beat 2^nd placed Boomerangs next week and rely on 6^th placed Dural to beat 4^th placed Magic – not inconceivable as Dural will be desperate for Club Championship points.

16 Girls: Proudly Sponsored by Macarthur Marble & Granite: Quake 2 (Logan Garard, Elise Sherry) def Magic 0

I’m sorry I missed this one as our girls showed their true potential by inflicting 2nd placed Magic’s first loss of the season. This result is a case of what could have been and reminds us that with most of the squad coming back for 16s next year that they will be one of the teams to watch in 2014.

Youth Proudly Sponsored by A.H. Beard: Quake 4 (Shannon Fielding 3, Marko Filipovic) def Magic 0

This game was severely impacted by the start of the PL Preseason Cup with Quake missing 4 players and Magic just as many. Quake started the match with three 16 year olds and a 14 year old on the field and relied on a welcome return to form from Shannon Fielding to take the points (luckily Shannon’s PL game was washed out). Mathematically the team can make the 4 but the scenario is so convoluted, relying on results and disciplinary hearings, that we won’t go into it. Fingers crossed lads.

Women: Proudly Sponsored by Bella Arts Graphic Design: Quake 0 def by Magic 1

The girls just didn’t show the spark they are capable of. Perhaps it was the trip to Melbourne last week but they seemed flat. They did finish strongly when they were looking for the winner and it was only good keeping a little wasteful finishing that denied them the draw. When the girls put the foot to the pedal and zip the ball around they look far more intimidating than when they slow the game to the opposition’s pace. Still, they’re in the finals and are good enough to take the title again this year.

Men: Proudly Sponsored by United Tools Liverpool: Quake 3 (Josh Curtain, Mark Symington, Danny Martinez) def by Magic 6

At 0-3 down at halftime and not playing well the boys could have turned it up but stormed back into the game with 3 quick goals to tie things up. But 30 seconds later the score was 3-4 and the lads lost momentum and couldn’t come back. Just like last year it looks like the winner of the Quake/Boomerangs game will make the semis and the winner will have to hang up the boots.