Last Saturday the weather on the drive up to Bendigo looked like it could be bleak, but in the course of the afternoon, it turned out to be perfect conditions to play lacrosse in: overcast, cold, but with no rain until about 10 minutes after the game finished.
The Warhawks had 14 players to start, Caulfield had 12. Last time we’d played Caulfield we’d been slow to score and had only just won the game by a goal in a come-back, with Angus and Alex saving us with some late goals. So with Angus out and Alex looking a little poorly, this game was going to be interesting.
Bendigo got away to a solid start. Possession was reasonably even, and both sides were a little rushed to start with in attack, but the Warhawk defence was solid from the opening whistle and while the Caulfield forwards were able to move the ball around the outside, they made little inroad to goal and were kept scoreless in the first term. The Warhawk centres won the draw most times throughout the game and the attacking middies often found themselves with fairly straightforward ground balls to collect to take them into attack. Ian Lock scored first with a crisply recovered rebound from a goalie fumble off an Alex Orr shot. Brett Ruiz scored a great goal on the crease with quick hands, showing that persistent practising at training pays off. Mason Matheson scored a nice goal from a dodging run to goal giving the Warhawks a 3 - 0 lead at quarter time.
The second quarter saw Bendigo build their lead, with settled forward play creating opportunities and stick work looking very sharp. Will Kenny threw a nice goal, I think it was from one of Wookie’s three assists for the day. Alex Orr beat a couple of defenders and netted one nicely and Jarrod Topp-Lowe ran the ball out of defence and did the team thing; drew a defender and passed nicely to John Webb who scored (fortunately, as it happens, as the latter DIDN’T do the team thing and shot through a defender, while Ian Lock was absolutely on his own for a pass. Lucky it went in). Caulfield were able to beat the Warhawk defence twice for the quarter, taking us to half time at 6 to 2.
Bendigo opened up the throttle in the third, with the attack finding the back of the net six times. Alex scored twice for the quarter (sorry, but I lose track of what goals looked like with you multiple scorers – unless I was involved) and Will scored another from a run out of the midfield. Tim Davis took a long pass cleanly and threw a great long-pole goal from the left side after great cutting and player movement had the Caulfield defence committed to the right; Nick Goddard ripped one in after cool-headedly taking an extra step around a defender from the right and delivering with his trademark underarm and Russell Crofts showed quick hands in front of goal off a good pass (Wookie again?) to get the Warhawk sixth for the term. The Bendigo defence repelled all Caulfield’s attempts to score, including a couple of excellent saves from Gino, and put huge pressure on Caulfield stick skills, and the Warhawks went to the last quarter up 12 -2
In the last term, Caulfield were again kept scoreless, while Bendigo’s main scorers, Alex and Will put in a goal each to round out the day. I remember Will’s because I managed to put a ball into his stick as he bullocked through the Caulfield defence to give him the shot. The Warhawks had a big win with the final score 14-2. This was (Gino tells me) the club’s best ever margin and our highest score since 2011 (when we managed 16 against Malvern, but only won by 2). There are great things to note: nine different goal scorers, six assists (four of them by defenders who were offered and then honoured, good leads from attackers). It was a wonderful team effort and we didn’t let up for the whole game.
Votes went to Tim Davis (3 club votes and 2 Association) who has found his niche as an energetic and quick long pole defensive middy, Will Kenny was awarded 2 club votes and one Association vote for his ability to come out of a pack with the ball and, along with Alex, his role as a “go to” man for feeders on the forward line. Mark Reader got a single club vote with his run out of defence and play-making up front.
I should mention that Nick Goddard played his 50th game for the club. Great stuff, Nick! He kind of flies under the radar on and off the paddock, but he’s a good handler of the ball and something to fear when he shoots. Also note that Vince Fitzpatrick plays his 50th in 2 weeks against Uni. Thanks again to Pat Kenny for scoring and to Lester Young for being our ref.
I was going to say something about how my trip overseas went, but I’m too pleased with how the game went to be bothered with travel stories. Suffice to say, it was great to be back.
John Webb, senior player.
Last Modified on 07/08/2017 20:45