Penrith Rams Under 18's become the first team in the Sydney AFL Sydney competition with an astonishing 185 point win over second placed Southern Power at Henson Park on Saturday.A stunning ten goal opening term saw the team amass 32.15 with Ben McGovern booting ten goals and John Spicer adding another seven. The team now has a week off before they play the Grand Final at Blacktown on September 11.
Under 18's V Southern Power at Henson Park
Penrith Rams Under 18's are just 80 minutes away from premiership glory after posting a record win over Southern Power at Henson Park on Saturday that catapulted them into the Grand Final at Blacktown Olympic Park on September 11.
The team were pumped for the 8:30 AM clash with coach Craig Sharp urging them to play controlled and disciplined football in the first quarter along with a simple message of "Score Goals". With Power managing just seventeen players, the game was played as a sixteen aside match leaving Penrith with a big bench of six. Just seventeen seconds after the opening whistle, the team responded with their first major and in one of their most polished first quarter performances of the season, added another nine goals to have a massive sixty four point lead as the team enjoyed it's first break.
The domination continued in the second term as Penrith clinically put it to the second placed Power with the goals shared around as they added another seven six-pointers whilst late in the session, Power were able to snare one of their own but the match was well and truly at the mercy of the Rams as they surged to a 104 point lead.
The young Rams have been head and shoulders above their opponents in 2010 but no-one was expecting such dominance in a major semi-final as the team had almost certainly secured themselves the clubs first grand final appearance since the 2002 Under 18 premiership winning side.
The radar deserted them somewhat in the third quarter as Penrith continued their rampage. Another seven goals (five behinds) pushed the team to the 150 mark whilst the depleted Power side tried hard and added their second for the game. Eager to hit the two hundred mark for the first time in the season, the Rams
shared around as they added another seven six-pointers whilst late in the session, Power were able to snare one of their own but the match was well and truly at the mercy of the Rams as they surged to a 104 point lead.
The young Rams have been head and shoulders above their opponents in 2010 but no-one was expecting such dominance in a major semi-final as the team had almost certainly secured themselves the clubs first grand final appearance since the 2002 Under 18 premiership winning side.
The radar deserted them somewhat in the third quarter as Penrith continued their rampage. Another seven goals (five behinds) pushed the team to the 150 mark whilst the depleted Power side tried hard and added their second for the game. Eager to hit the two hundred mark for the first time in the season, the Rams scored yet another seven majors whilst the popular Southern Power full-forward gave Power their third of the day, which was enthusiastically applauded by all at the ground.
The win would have sent shivers down the spine of Holroyd-Parramatta and Southern Power, who face each other next Saturday for the remaining Grand Final berth.
Old stagers Adam Sharp and Matty Payne led from the front giving excellent service to the forward line. Penrith Swans juniors Liam Murphy and Jack Ponton again showed their talent with sterling efforts whilst the Blue Mountains Roos were well represented with Harley Stibbard and Campbell Hislop contributing in fine style. In fact twenty two players who were scrambled together from all the feeder clubs are now united as one as the team finds itself just one step away from an elusive flag.
Full Forward Ben McGovern took the kicking honours with a bag of ten whilst John Spicer's unorthodox style added another seven. Captain Daniel Schroot chimed in with four whilst Rick Ooms and Jack Ponton both added two in the thirty two goal rout.
Despite their unbeaten record this year, there will be no letup in their week off. Grand finals are like no other matches and the coaches Geoff and Craig were in a similar position three years ago when the Mountain Lions went through undefeated and had to stage a come from behind win in the final quarter in their premiership win against Holsworthy.
The Grand Final is on September 11 at 8:15 AM at Blacktown Olympic Park. Put the date in your siary and get out there to support a huge part of the Rams future.
Penrith Rams 32.15-207 defeated Southern Power 3.4-22
Last Modified on 13/11/2010 18:33