Seniors - With the Toc chicks on their way to a good time upstairs - all was set for our senior action. As always the opposition are going to come out and show their wares. Once we settled down to hard running and backing up we were soon on the scoreboard. With plenty of drive out of the guts - our forwards found plenty of the ball with Matt Robertson and Glenn Dundovic being very mobile targets. Interestingly we hit the post twice from set shots in the first quarter.
The second quarter started similar - with the Toc chicks getting right into it!! Good team play and hard running from our midfield group gave more footy to our forwards. Our opponents made our boys work hard though. Kicking 6.4 - 3 points doesn't reflect on the work from across the board. Should we straighten up when free - we'll really give the goal tally a shake!!
After the main break we took off where we left off. Good hard gut running saw us out to 18.13 - 2.4 at orange time. Is Ben Phelan the hardest CHF in Murray League?
The final stanza would see Echuca take it away with 3 majors for the term. However - our use of the footy could have improved should we straighten up. Overall it was a good team win. We hope "Pica's" shoulder and "Shielsy's" arm aren't too serious.
Very good players over four quarters for Toc would be Michael Hare, Jarrod Kelly, Ben Phelan, Dave Farrell and Matt Robertson.
Special mention to "Tha Toc Chicks" - the glass panels stayed in and Jess took a screamer over the umpire!
Reserves - The "Lunch Time Show" kicked off with a couple of very senior players on board. Our boys took it up to the much higher rated opposition up unto the first half. Losing "Big Red" (Travis Haynes) through injury threw our ruck stocks astray. "Big Red" would have been knocking on the door for a later start. Hard running off half back from Ben Wilson and Jesse Knight kept us going O.K. with Jossy making inroads out of the centre - our boys did look promising. However - due to some lack of discipline and respect for the umpire - we let ourselves down. We let our much fancied opponent off the hook in the second half. We should all learn from this.
Good players for Toc were - Ben Wilson, Ryan McGrath, Tim Brunskill, Jesse Knight and "Big Red" until injured.
Under 17's - With only 12 regular U/17 players available Pica had to recruit a lot of the U/14 players to step up.
The first quarter saw some great tackling and marks taken from Robbie Pyle, Liam Dakin and Ash Pollard. Jordan Haynes rucked well winning a lot of the tap outs from the centre. Unfortunately our forward line didn't see much action.
Matt Sould worked effortlessly in the backline never giving up with the defence under immense pressure. Our forward line still didn't see much action but to their credit they tried hard when the ball was there for them.
In the third quarter Dean Keleher retired hurt which allowed Jack Thompson to take his position on the ground and tried hard as every opportunity presented itself.
The fourth quarter was a replica of the first three. The boys should give themselves a pat on the back as they never gave up all game.
Big thanks to all the Under 14 boys that came up and gave it their best shot.
Congratulations to Tim Garlick and Ashley Pollard in representing the MFL Under 16 team and Stephen Patten in the Under 14 MFL team last weekend in Moama. They all did the club proud with Tim Garlick being named MFL Under 16 Best Player for the day. Well done to all the boys.
After a weeks rest we should be all raring to go today at Tongala. Congratulations to Dennis Pedemont on playing his 50th senior game for Tocumwal today.
GO BLOODS!!!
