After a week off, with the annoying niggles, sprains and contusions of a fortnight previous becoming a mere painful memory, the Warhawks arrived at Maiden Gully feeling refreshed and ready to play. The weather was fairly bleak, but we had few moments in the sun during the day and it was a good day for lacrosse. The ground was a bit muddy from a junior football fixture held earlier.
The Caulfield team arrived in a staged fashion and started with 10, but eventually had 11 players. Bendigo, on the other hand, saw the return of Mike Bell, Mason Matheson and James Dawson to the side, and were able to boast 14.
Bendigo began strongly, with Russell Crofts and Brett Ruiz clearly dominant in the centre and providing the Warhawks with possession early. The addition of experienced players to the side meant that the forward line was able to move the ball, keep it in attack and settle into a wide structure. It took a while for the team to score, but the first came from a nice long shot from Mason Matheson who skidded one off the mud and past the goalie. We went to the first break with the score: Bendigo 1 and Caulfield yet to score.
In the second quarter, Caulfield began to take it up to the Warhawk defence and put in three, while Bendigo were able to match them with three goals of their own: one from Mike Bell, who provides the forward line with formidable drive on the goal, a nice one from Alex Orr and another hard long shot from Mason Matheson that found the net. The reader should note that my description of goals may be a little less vivid this week, because there were so many of them, and none my own! At half time, the score was 4 to 3 and the Warhawks were looking confident.
The third term saw the Bendigo side cut loose and with the Caulfield defence beginning to tire for want of subs, the ball was moving out of the Warhawk defence and into attack MUCH more cleanly than I’ve seen it do all year and the older Warhawk forwards were able to move the ball wide, find cutting midfielders with passes and score goals: three to Alex Orr, who had his tail up and was the guy to look for with a pass; a nice one from Nick Goddard, who with a little room on the crease, took a quick pass from John Webb and spun and put it in the goal; and a classic Mike Bell effort, charging at goal on a long run and yelling to Mark Reader for the ball, who in turn obliged with a lovely long pass and a goal resulted. We went to the last quarter with a lead of 6, Caulfield being held scoreless for the term.
The last quarter saw Caulfield score one more time for the day, and the Warhawks built on their lead with two: another to Alex, who rounded out the day muddy, tired yet happy with five to his name; and another great shot and goal to Mason Matheson, to give him a “welcome back” three to finish. A great morale-boosting win to the Bendigo side: 11 to 4.
This was a great game, and the addition of experienced players and a bench of four meant that new players were not put under the same pressure as in past weeks and the ball was able to be held better in attack. Caulfield defenders tended not to follow forwards far away from goal, so that the Bendigo transition from the backline to the forward line could be done with a pass from a Warhawk defender to a forward with little pressure, and then the ball could be held to allow midfielders to get into position and rest before launching the attack. The forwards operated wide and with little pressure and were able to wait for midfielders to cut and then feed. Caulfield were always going to have trouble when four Bendigo players scored and two others got assists.
The votes are illustrative. It’s a nice change to have our defenders not forced into the position where they are constantly under the ref’s eye and earning votes, especially Gino Iuliano in goals, who could actually relax for minutes at a time this week (it indeed tells a sorry story of a team’s season if the goalie wins best and fairest). This week the midfield deservedly scooped the votes, with Alex Orr being named best on ground with three Association and three club votes, Russ Crofts picking up two club votes and one Association vote for owning the face-off for most of the day, and Mike Bell earning one club vote for his energy, stickwork and endeavour.
A great game lads! For my own part, I had a shot or two and then settled into the role of feeder. It was great to see lots of team goals coming from everywhere and not just meagre numbers from old forwards risking their geriatric necks with foolhardy individual efforts. Much safer (and stacks more fun!) for all concerned.
I should mention that Roy Preece, my old team-mate from Uni from a few decades back, did a great job of reffing for us, in Lester’s absence, and I should warmly thank him on the club’s behalf here. He may also be the reason why my two assists were marked on the scoresheet. Don’t worry, I check every week.
John Webb, Senior Player.
Last Modified on 20/06/2016 15:59