Round 4 - Match Reports

 U16A
St Bernards 29.25.199 def Wyndhamvale Juniors 0.2.2
Goals: Andrew Grosso 9, Matthew Stapleton 5, Luke Sullivan 4, Jonathon Rose, Jordan Schroder & David Wall 2, Bradley Cooper, Kieran Farrell, Thomas Liberatore, Harry Overman & Tom Sullivan
Best: Kieran Farrell, Andrew Grosso, Jonathon Rose, Matthew Stapleton, Jordan Schroder & Luke Sullivan.

No match report received.

U16D
St Bernards 7.21.63 lost Williamstown Juniors 17.13.115
Goals: Charles Connelly, Andrew Graham & James Weir 2 each, Luke Larsen
Best: Michael Hughes, Alex Horton, Luke Larsen, Jake Van Meel, James Weir, James De Leur & Charles Connelly

In blusterly conditions down at Williamstown the boys had a real crack. The scoreboard is not a true indication of how much play we had. Once again our goalkicking let us down-2 goals 10 in the third quarter was a big pill to swallow as we constantly went forward and had 90% of the play. At full strength and on a nice sunny day at the pit I reckon we can easily reverse this result. Michael Hughes was once again a standout along with Andrew Graham, James De Leur, Luke Larsen and James Weir.

U14A
St Bernards 5.8.38 lost Williamstown 11.11.77
Goals: John Ianello 2, James Lynch 1, James Riley 1, Seamus Whelan 1.
Best: Taylor Bisognano, Michael Iacobaccio, Nic Madden, Sam Payne, Liam Whelan, Max Paoli, Lachlan Jowett, Connor Morgan and John Ianello.

Our first quarter start was a well structured, organised and committed display of team football as we went into the first break even with 1 goal each. It was during the second quarter when we lost focus and concentration that they outscored us by 5 goals to take a strong lead. It is during these times when the opposition get the run of the ball that we all must think like footballers and get back to basics and man up to stem the flow.
Our third and fourth quarter was an even contest as we worked our way back into the game, through determination and fitness base to finish strongly. We never gave up at any stage with lots of courage shown by many players during the game. We will continue to stick together and work hard as a team as genuine improvement is showing through. We look forward to our round 5 game next week. Note: It is becoming clearly obvious that the players that put the most into their training and preparations before game day are improving and playing the best football. You get out of football what you put in!!!

U14C
ST Bernards 12  -13 - 85  def    Sunshine  6 – 5 – 41
GOALS: Jeremy Sullivan 6, Robert Berezdecky 2, Conor Utri 2, Simon Walshe 1, Lachlan Appleby 1.
 
BEST: Jeremy Sullivan, Tom Saundry, Conor Utri, Thomas Madden, Sam Woods, Edward Connelly, Lachlan Appleby
 
A great team effort .We  have a side with 90% bottom aged players and last week we looked a little  hesitant to put our heads over the ball and tackle with purpose. To anyone who was at the game we were the complete opposite, even though they were a much bigger side.  It was a credit to all players that we stuck to what will make us a good team - leg speed, physical pressure on the ball carrier, running in numbers and tackling with purpose.  After the game co captains were appointed in Ed Connelly and Conor Utri. We also have a leadership group which stood up when Sunshine put us under pressure. Good teams have good leaders.  Re training on Fridays, with school football and other sports and if  we all make the effort to get to training on Wednesday and train hard, it will not be necessary. Lets look forward to next week and take one game at a time. You cannot buy  confidence, you earn it by hard work          


U12A
St. Bernard's 7.15.57 def. Point Cook 2.6.18
Best: Jaggard, Isaacs, Sullivan, Deleur, Wallis, Gilmore, Iermano, Baker, Utri, Tormey and all the rest.
Goals: Disipio, Wallis & Deleur 2each, Gilmore

Can we play all of our games at home? The boys were fired up for our first contest at home, and they were superb. Our opponents had won 3 on the trot in B grade, earning the right to play in 12A. And what a welcome we gave them to 'the pit'. Today we kicked more goals than we had in the first 3 rounds. And we missed plenty that we should have slotted.
Needless to say, the leg injuries continue to plague us. The Great Leg Injury Enquiry of '08 has been broadened to include non playing personnel.  Umpires Tony Caven (field) and John O'Bree (boundary) were both unavailable due to,yep, leg injuries(L I). Chris Sullivan took the field umpy job. And would you believe...........did his hammy within 5 minutes. To his credit he whistled on, but is doubtful for next week.
On the playing side we welcomed back skipper Marcus Deleur but lost Edyn Sibbald (L I). Marcus and Will Isaacs were dominant big men around the ground. Marcus Disipio showed his tremendous strength up forward. Again our little blokes were brave with Max Jaggard winning the hard balls, Jack Gilmore dashing up and down the ground and Lachie Sullivan laying fierce tackles on any opponent who dared grab the footy. Josh Wallis showed his class all day, making position all over the ground. Point Cook attacked us hard and our back line held firm. Fergal Utri played his best game, Nick Swan backs his judgement, Lukas Steel ran straight at the ball, Jayden Ristevski took some great marks and Jack Rennex was solid at both ends of the ground. Lucas Adorno was a dangerous forward, and Dominic Iermano really went in hard. Ethan Baker played a beaut fist game and Michael Sauro improves with confidence.
But we won because everybody contributed and boys who have not seen much of the footy got kicks, took marks, tackled, smothered, shepherded and dived into packs. Next week is another home game. Let's get another win.

U12 B
St Bernards 13.11 - 89  def  Sunshine 8.5.- 53
Goals: Nick K 6, Quade B 2, Nick C, Christian, Mick, Lewis R, Josh W 1 each.
Best: Nick K, Charlie V, Anthony E, Will B

A big day at the kennel with a number of games being played and a great chance to support some of our other junior teams.  We were drawn to play Sunshine and have a run on the No.1 oval.  Without doubt the best surface we have seen this season and a credit to the curator.
With a number of players away and strong opposition the boys had a big challenge in front of them.  The first half was pretty much goal for goal.  Despite the oppositions ‘gun’ ruckman our on ballers won more than their share of clearances.  All over the ground the boys were playing much more accountable football taking responsibility to pickup an opponent and to run off at every opportunity.
The third quarter we opened strongly and rattled on a few goals and had a handy break only for Sunshine to come back hard and close the gap at three quarter time to a few points.
Coach Vague reinforced to the boys the importance of not panicking in a close game and to concentrate on handling the ball cleanly and continuing to play our running game with lots of handballs and shepherds.
The last quarter saw a our boys finish a little better than Sunshine with some great defence from the backline and some good finishing up forward resulting in a great win, the final score not really reflecting how tight the contest was.
The boys continue to improve and great to see some of our first year players coming to grips with the tempo and getting more of the footy.  A big thanks to the boys who filled on the interchange bench, it showed great club spirit, well done.

U12D
St Bernard’s 0.5.5 lost Williamstown Juniors 1.4.10
Best: Ambroise Attard, Thomas Noonan, Lachlan Perryman, Ben McNamara, Matthew Bell, Christopher Williams, Liam Collins, Daniel Morabito & Liam Grech

Our third hard fought match in a row, and again we played a tall, skillful side which used the ball very well. Probably the bench mark side so far!
It was déjà vu, again we led for the majority of the game and to the boy’s credit kept the opposition goal less going into the last quarter, and it was the last minute maybe seconds the opposition kicked there first and only goal to win the game. This is the second week in a row it has happened to us, I will arrange a nurse or a doctor for the coaching staff, runners, helpers, parents and friends if this continues! What a heart pumping game, well done to all the boys.
We need to remind ourselves that we are playing teams that were playing U12 footy last year, we were playing U10!

All players need to be congratulated for not throwing in the towel at any stage during the game.
We are definately on the right track, we just need to work on a few bad habits that’s creeping into a game plan which we will address at next weeks training.
Remember TEAMWORK! More “on field” talk.
Congratulations to another first game player Alex Tsambardas, well done.
Injuries: players nil, only our runner Paul McNamara -hammy! Should be right for next week! Thanks again to all of our loyal match day workers and supporters.
 
U10 Red
St Bernard's 11-4-70 defeated Yarraville/Seddon 2-4-16

Goals: Lachlan M 2, James B 2, Henry J, 1, Luke H 1, Thomas L 1, Lachlan B 1, Ryan S 1, Aidan B 1, Nicholas D 1

With an early 8.30am start and some overnight rain made condition's a little slippery in the first quarter, and the boy's had to quickly adjust, get their bum's down, and trap the ball to get it going our way, Aiden B, Lachlan M, and Ash U, were giving us plenty of drive out of the middle, a 2 goal to 1 first quarter was quite a good start.
The second quarter the boys went BANG!! 6 straight goals to nil game over! James B (the G train) came off the bench with 2 goals and created a path way for the boys to slot through a few more, plenty of run and dash and long kicks into space from Luke B, Jack M, Charles B, kept the ball continually going forward Henry J, showed his class with some great passages of play. Cameron W held the backline together and kicked out well to the team's advantage.
With our large squad, players where given opportunities in different positions, this produced some great performances. Lachlan M & Lachlan B contested strongly all day in a variety of key positions, Jack M found plenty of the ball and enjoyed his run on the ball, Luke H & Ryan S ran and ran and ran, Julian V provided a target up forward, Charles B contested hard and linked up well with Nathan B and Jordan M.
Marcus B, Jyle F, Patrick M, Nicholas D, James W also contributed with hard running, shepherding and tackling. The team will continue it's focus on the 1 percenters (1%).
Another great team effort with every player working hard for one another.

U9 Red
St Bernards vs Williamstown Jnrs

Luckily the heavens opened up Saturday night to soften oval 2 for the boys first home game. With a slow but solid start the boys showed they were determined to have a win.
We were out gunned by bigger heavier boys but thanks to our small brigade (Domenic Caccamo) and fantastic tacklers (Joseph Tache) we faired well. The muddy conditions made it perfect for everyone “under instructions” to get as much mud on themselves to put a smile on Mums face.
Fantastic tackling, shepherding and bums down low. We held our positions better this week but still need to work on it. A magnificent run out of the backline from Joseph G to combine handballs and kicks with Joey, Jake to Kyle (who spilt some claret in the 1st quarter) for a great goal. Well done Pat W, Zac, William R. Keep up the great work boys!!
The boys won by 5 points.

U9 White
St Bernard’s 12.9.81 def Wyndamvale 1.1.7
Goals: Marcus 3, Connor 3, Nicholas D 2, Jordan 2, Myles 1, Domenic 1.

After an even and well-contested first quarter when both teams were 1 goal each our boys played great team football to convincingly win by 74 points. The boys are getting better at staying in their positions, which is very important. Excellent teamwork, sharing of the ball, and helping your mates by talking to them when they have the ball allows us to work the ball forward to kick goals. Our captain Jordan C played a great game. On ballers, Connor M, Myles G, Marcus H continually sent the ball our way. Lewis S, Oliver C, Ryan & Liam J, Grant & Stephen N stopped many of their attacks when in defence. Daniel T, Domenic P, Nick D and Nathan B were strong when forward and Fabin L, Josh S & Tom M competitive midfielders. Others who contributed well were James G, Lachlan G & S, Nick V. Great team win!

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