Lacrosse report. Division 3 Bendigo vs Eltham at Eltham 16/4/16.
On Saturday morning the Bendigo team boarded the mini-bus to Eltham for an early start (12:30) at Lower Eltham Park. It was always going to be a big day. We played Eltham at Eltham as our last game of last season, and with depleted numbers, we were roundly thrashed. So we had been practicing hard with that in mind and we hoped to make amends. We were also fairly keyed up with a sense of occasion, as this time we would be playing for a commemorative perpetual trophy to honour (I’m extremely proud to say) my father, Graham Webb who passed away last November and was one of three people who founded the Eltham club, and also to celebrate his family connection to the Bendigo club, through my six years of being part of this club and its great people. Long may the Webb Family Trophy be played for and let’s hope it can be at State League level some day. Soon.
The weather was perfect for lacrosse, with light overcast conditions and a nice temperature. The ground was immaculate (there’s a term that isn’t applied to Lower Eltham Park very often!). Bendigo lined up with 13 players, Eltham with 14.
Bendigo began the game well and the first score for Eltham was fairly slow to come. Our defenders held the Eltham forward line to long shots to start with and the play was fairly even end-to-end. Then Eltham stepped up their play and cut out passing errors and began to possess the ball in the forward line. Bendigo were able to score twice in the first quarter, through John Webb (the Eltham goalie must have thought we were going to set up a play and looked away for a sec) and then another from Ian Lock who managed to control a deflected pass from John Webb as he cut into goal and put in a nice shot. Eltham, however, found the net 7 times in the first quarter and for the rest of the game dominated play, with 5 goals in the second quarter and 8 on the third. In the last quarter, Bendigo were able to control things better in the backline (again, showing that the club never capitulates) and Eltham were limited to 3 goals. Bendigo did not score again, and were simply overpowered.
The final score line of 23 to 2 indeed looks bleak on paper, but there are many positives that we can take away from the game. There were some very good scoring attempts from Bendigo and the forward line is showing much more movement and structure with the return of Joel Evans to the side and some great pre-season training. The Bendigo goalie was Mike Bell, who was battered all day by players with hard, accurate shots and withstood many, many more than were let in. If ever there was a baptism of fire, this was it, and he was admirable in his first game in the role. Bendigo was also reasonably short of players (with three of our more-experienced midfielders unable to play) and had two players playing their first ever game of lacrosse. I suppose we can all remember the apprehension felt playing our first ever games, but I guess Matt Muir and Will Kenny have more reason than most to remember theirs. Neither panicked under the relentless pressure, and were able to handle the ball and get into the game. Well done!
The Bendigo backline was as reliable as always, with Gino Iuliano taking up a long pole to join Mark Reader and Ty Griffin. The backs and middies in defence for Bendigo caused Eltham to miss many shots. We should also note that despite the hammering, the defence kept their heads and the Bendigo penalty count on the scoresheet is ZERO (Eltham got five). Our centres Russell Crofts and Brett Ruiz won often in the face-off, but the sharp stick work of Eltham robbed us of possession.
In other words, it could have been MUCH worse and I feel there is promise for the coming season.
The club votes for Bendigo went to Mark Reader (3) in his 50th game for the club (well done!), for his usual controlled and fearless work in defence, and trying to juggle that with coaching. Alex Orr was awarded two for being everywhere he’s needed and making life difficult for opposition, and Joel Evans was given one for his usual cool head and control in attack. Good to have him back.
The only bloke who I haven’t mentioned here is Vince Fitzpatrick. Vince always puts everything into a game, and his ability to keep running with fast opposition players saves us many fast breaks and he personifies the “never say die” positive attitude of the Bendigo club.
After the game, there was a nicely-done presentation of the Webb Family Trophy to the Eltham team. We assured them that Bendigo would return some day to take that trophy back.
John Webb
Senior Player
Last Modified on 18/04/2016 16:10