Penrith took the honours in all three grades on Sunday at
Marrickville in Round 16 of the Sydney AFL competition. The 18's cruised
to a 176 point win over East Coast in a record breaking victory whilst
the Reserves kept their slim finals hopes alive when they put paid to
Sydney University. In First Grade, Penrith had to stage a "come from
behind" win over a committed Sydney Uni in the 27 point win.
Under 18's V East Coast Eagles at Mahoney Park, Marrickville
An early 9:00 AM start for the 18's in the game moved from Blacktown
when they took on fifth placed East Coast Eagles. A few unavailable
players saw the team call on three Emu Plains/Glenmore Park Lions Under
16's players, Malen Watson, James Devlin and 15 year old Chris Nolan.
Credit to East Coast for fielding a full squad with both sides being
able to run 18 aside for the match.
The new ball on the dewy surface saw some early handling errors but
Penrith were able to post their first major in the second minute and
they continued to dominate the Eagles in posting a 6.6 quarter. A
similar score followed in the second term as the young guns continued to
steamroll their opponents and head to the sheds with an eighty four
point break.
With the backmen able to bask in the early morning sunshine, the team
had one less scoring shot in the third quarter but posted an impressive
7.4 session whilst keepeing the Eagles scoreboard stagnant. Finishing
the game off stoutly, the team kicked another 7.6 to record a massive
176 point to nil win.
Blue Mountains junior Joe Hunt had his best game to date whilst Tom
Noble was prominent throughout the day with clever play. Nathan Walker
continued his good form going hard onto the ball. The 16's trio of
Devlin, Watson and Nolan all impressed the coaching staff and will be
vital cogs in the Rams future. Full forward Ben McGovern again kicked 11
goals in the first three quarters and now holds a 21 goal lead in the
Sydney AFL Goalscorers list despite missing for games whilst Captain
Daniel Schroot chimed in with another six majors in the goalfest. James
Devlin, Gordon Howell and Jack Ponton all booted doubles whilst Brendan
Reed, Nathan Walker and a rare goal by fierce defender Jackson Swarbrick
added one each to the Rams tally. The team now has conceded just one
point in their last two games.
Next week the team plays their final match at home for the season
when they take on third placed Holroyd-Parramatta, a team they have
scored success against in both clashes this season.
Penrith Rams 26.22-176 defeated East Coast Eagle 0.0-0
PENRITH
Goal Kickers: B. McGovern 11, D. Schroot 6, J. Devlin 2, G. Howell 2, J. Ponton 2, N. Walker , B. Reed , J. Swarbrick
Best Players: J. Hunt, T. Noble, N. Walker, J. Devlin, C. Nolan, M. Watson
.
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Reserve Grade V Sydney University at Mahoney Park, Marrickville
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With Penrith still a slim final chance
sitting just outside the four, it was an important match when they took
on Sydney Uni at Mahoney Park in the unusual Sunday fixture. A couple of
late withdrawals in the selected side again saw two Under 18's fill the
void with the inclusions of Gordon "Wombat" Howell and Ben "Booga"
Priest backing up in an attempt to sing the club song for the second
time on the day.
Penrith dominated play from the opening
siren and goals to Jabba Bradley and Jason W put the Uni boys under the
pump. But with the innaccuracy of six behinds it could have been a lot
healthier in the scoreboard. The back duo of Daniel Barnes, Nathan White
and livewire Jakeman King-Smith were prominent in keeping the students
to just a single point. The second term saw a reversal of dominance as
Uni opened up the play with structured moves. Although the home side
were dominating play, Penrith were able to keep the scoreboard ticking
over with Seltene Yohannes grabbing a mid-term goal follwed up by
another Bradley six pointer and Captain Mark Jackson chiming in with
another to go to the major break with a sixteen point buffer.
As the team took in the Gatorade, Muesli
Bars and Red Bull in the sheds, coach Jackson implored the boys to man
up on the blue and golds as they searched for their tenth win of the
season. It was a the "Jabba" show in the second half as veteran full
forward used his body to take some clever marks and kick the teams only
five goals whilst keeping the students to just a couple of goals in the
36 point win. The win brings up another milestone for the Rams with the
Reserve Grade side's tenth win of the season, records show that it has
been 28 years since this grade has recorded a better season.
Veteran Jason Ware played his usual
consistent game along with Jason Bradley who provided a spearhead up
front with his seven goal haul. Christian Knight and Mark Jackson both
provided spark in the side along with Craig Ives and backup player
Wombat Howell who both relish the "hard at it" style of footy.
The team now needs to ein their remaining
two games and hope for other results to go their way as they sit just a
win behind the third and fourth sides. Next week they play
Holroyd-Parramatta who they defeated comfortably in the first round.
Penrith Rams 10.13-73 def Sydney University 5.7-37
First Grade V Sydney University at Mahoney Park, Marrickville
The main game on today's card saw the
return clash against Sydney University, who the Rams had easily defeated
in the opening match of the season. Last years premiers have had a
difficult season recording just five wins but have started to hit their
straps winning three of their last four games. Penrith went into the
match with a few out but added Gerard Leslie and Tom Hall to their list
late after they had played in the previous Reserves win.
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After a tough loss last week, the Rams
came out running and quicky knocked up two goals but Uni found their
feet and added the next two. A bit of panic came across the Penrith
outfit as they failed to find the loose opponents. In a seesawing
quarter, both teams added two more each and it was Penrith leading by
just a single point at the first break.
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Uni took the initiative again after the
Rams edged to an early lead and despite goals by Josh Anasis, Tayt
Corless and Mark Woodford, countered with four of their own with some
clever plays to go to the major break with a six point lead on their
better credentialled rivals.
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Coach Kevin Tate provided some animated
instructions in the sheds. He stressed the need for the team to find a
player when they lost possession and settle into a better defensive
pattern. The attacking moves were fine but it was the turnovers that
were causing grief as the students were able to capitalise on every Rams
mistake.
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The third quarter saw more fluency in the
Rams play. Josh Anasis was lethal up front and rewarded with a treble
whilst Reece Johnson added another one, but Uni were not done with
kicking a double as the match stayed on tenterhooks with Penrith holding
a slender six point lead with the final quarter to be the telling story
in the close battle.
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Things looked grim as Uni peppered the
sticks and grabbed the first goal. It was only wayward kicking that
prevented then from taking a bigger than the two point lead they had
obtained with some fairly easy set shots brushing the wrong side of the
big sticks. A Baron Savanah goal saw the Rams regain the lead and the
heads of the home side dropeed when another quick two goals were added
with Ben Robinsons's second and Woody's second. Dean Siljanoski, coming
back in his first match for over two months came alive and kicked two
match sealing goals as the Rams were able to celebrate their 11th win of
the season in the hard fought twenty seven point victory.
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Coach Tate was relieved with the result
and extremely proud of the teams finishing quarter which was reminiscent
of last week's fightback against Moorebank but a different result. The
hard work has almost paid off with just another win in the next two
games assuring the team of a rare finals berth.
Captain Lachie Smith (IGA Award) again
proved instrumental in the win with his motivational display and
decision-making. Josh Anasis was great up front and rewarded with a five
goal haul and a few trips to the local haunt in winning the "Red Cow
Inn" Award. Tayt Corless ran hard all day and has spruked up his defence
of late to put in a classy display whilst Dave Bradley returned after a
week in the snow to play his usual tireless game. Mark Woodford
shrugged off some recent injuries to again heavily feature in the game
along with Nathan Allison who has been a sensational recruit for the
club this year out wide.
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Next week the team returns to Greygums
for their final match athe the ground for the season where they are
expecting an easier match agianst Holroyd-Parramatta in the 2:10 PM game
Penrith Rams 16.8-104 def Sydney University 11.11-77
Goal Kickers: J. Anasis 5, D. Siljanoski 2, M. Woodford 2, R. Johnson 2, B. Robinson 2, A. Savanah , T. Cummins , T. Corless
Best Players: L. Smith, J. Anasis, T. Corless, D. Bradley, M. Woodford, N. Allison
Last Modified on 13/08/2010 22:15