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A stunning return to Greygums Oval for the first real home matches of the season saw Penrith Rams triumph in all three grades on Saturday. After last week's wipeout, The Under 18's led the clubs fortune when they caused a major upset in the Premier Cup to dispose of co-competition leaders, the undefeated Riverview in the opening match. Reserve Grade then consolidated second spot on the Div 4 ladder with a win over fourth placed Holroyd-Parramatta and with the 2010 Under 18's premiership flag billowing on the flagpole, First Grade completed the trifecta by pushing the fourth placed Goannas out of the five with a gutsy 52 point victory.
Club photographer extraodanaire, Christian Triffitt, has again taken a swag of photo's.
See them at facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=162417433820748&set=a.162417417154083.43734.100001574770307&type=1&theater#!/photos.php?id=100001574770307
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Under 18s V St Ignatius, Riverview
The Rams have been waiting a long time for their return to Greygums Oval. The oval was looking magnificent and it was a perfect day for football. Their opponents today were the undefeated Saint Ignatius College, Riverview and it was always going to take a huge effort from the Rams if they were to win the game.
The Rams attacked the ball from the first bounce and with all players ready to play, and the aid of a strong breeze in the first quarter. The Rams dominated the quarter with 8 scoring shots to1 to lead by 22 points at quarter time. Matt Purse started the game well and was dominant in the middle of the ground. Jack Ponton took several telling marks around the ground and George Paneras fought like a terrier all day.
The second quarter saw Riverview take advantage of the breeze and they added 2 goals for the quarter. The Rams however fought strongly and added 1 goal of their own. Rick Ooms provided a brilliant tap on to enable Ben McGovern to run in for an easy goal and the Rams maintained a 17 point lead at half time. Brayden Wilson worked hard to cover the big Greygums Oval with Jackson Swarbrick controlling the backline. Harry Doyle played an outstanding game in defence and started many attacking moves from the half back line.
In the third quarter it was important for the Rams to take advantage of the breeze and establish a winning lead. The Rams were able to hold Riverview scoreless while adding 2 goals for the quarter to set up a thrilling final quarter. As expected the Riverview boys came out strongly in the final quarter and added 3 goals to reduce the Rams lead to 9 points and had everyone in the Rams camp nervous. However the young Rams steadied with a goal of their own and desperately hung on until the final siren to sneak away with the points.
Josh Jenner fought hard all day for the Rams and did a lot of the hard work at the bottom of the packs and made significant contribution to the game. Matt Purse dominated all day in the ruck. Luke Jones, Ben McGovern and Ben Mayer worked hard all day and all finished amongst the goals. James Devlin was solid in defence again this week. Liam Murphy picked up plenty of possessions around the ground and Billy Nicholson played a solid game and kicked one goal for the day.
The young Rams were happy to be back at the resurfaced Greygums Oval this week and made the most of the occasion to record an impressive win against the second placed Saint Ignatius, Riverview. It was solid effort for the full 4 quarters with all 22 players contributing to the win.
Penrith Rams 4.1 5.6 7.8 8.8-56 def St Ignatius 1.0 3.1 3.1 6.5-41
Goal Kickers: B. Mayer 2, B. McGovern 2, J. Ponton , W. Nicholson-Bragg , R. Ooms , L. Jones
Best Players: J. Jenner, M. Purse, L. Jones, J. Ponton, J. Devlin, H. Doyle
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Reserve Grade v Holroyd-Parramatta Goannas
The Rams reserves consolidated second spot on the Div 4 ladder on Saturday with a hard fought 23 point win over fourth placed Holroyd-Parramatta at Greygums on Saturday.
The team were looking to get back on track after last weeks loss to Mac Uni and set to score a big win after a five goal to one haul in the first term, aided by a strong breeze in their favour. A good second quarter into the wind saw them increase their lead to 33 points at the big break.
However, they backed off the pedal in the second half adding just 9 points against a committed Goannas oufit who took the honours with two goals into the strong wind leaving them with just a 25 point deficit and the run of play with the last 22 minutes looming. Captain Nathan White ripped into the team at the final break, pleading with the side not to let the game slip and reminding them of the job at hand and the team responded with fierce defence to just allow a single major whilst steadying the ship with one of their own to go on to record a 23 point victory.
With eight individual goalkickers with one each next to their name, it was a gutsy win under difficult conditions but the team needs to improve on the performance to be considered a serious threat for this years flag. Nathan White had a captain's knock to control the backline with his best on ground performance whilst Nathan Gatt, on his return from the injured list put in a sparkling display.Newcomers Jacob Clark and Jason Jackson put in solid performances along with Jake Sultana and Luke O'Connor.
The team returns to Greygums next Saturday to play the winless Auburn team and although statistics show that a win is likely, will have to run out four quarters of football to get the points.
Penrith Rams 5.4 7.5 7.9 8.9-57 def Holroyd-Parramatta 1.1 2.2 4.2 5.4-34
Goal Kickers: J. Bradley , J. Weller , M. Lewis , T. Corless , J. Clark , N. Gatt , P. Borsato , A. Rogers
Best Players: N. White, N. Gatt, J. Clark, J. Sultana, J. Jackson, L. O'Connor
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First Grade v Holroyd-Parramatta Goannas
After last week's loss to competition leaders Balmain, the Rams were precariously hanging on to fifth spot on the Div 2 ladder and the job was at hand to overtake the Goannas who were hanging on to fourth spot.
After watching the mighty 18's win against the odds and the seconds take a win, the pressure was on the side to make it a perfect record on the clubs return to Greygums Oval.
After losing the toss, it was Holroyd-Parramatta who elected to run with the strong wind. Both earlier games had been won by the team running with the wind in the first term on the day. In an even first term after an early raid by the Rams that failed to produce any major scoring, the Goanna's grabbed the first two goals after playing some smart football. Ben Robinson playing up front, however, added one for Penrith late in the quarter to take his side to just three points behind the visitors.
The second quarter was expected to open up for the Rams in the conditions but they failed to capitalise and wasted many opportunities with some poor decision making. A Tim Cummins major followed by another Robbo six-pointer were the only fruits enjoyed and with the Goanna's scoring 1.2, the teams went to the sheds with Penrith hanging on to a slim 4 point lead.
The premiership quarter proved a better one for the Rams as the defence hit hard. Jay Edwards was proving a nightmare for the opponents with some sensational grabs and frustrating the Goanna's flow whilst captain Dave Bradley was continually getting the ball out of the danger zone. With Mitch Renehan kicking a double and Robinson adding his third, the only two goals to the visitors were never looking enough as Penrith edged to an 11 point lead with just the final 22 minutes remaining.
It was all the home side in the final quarter with a 6.5 term whilst keeping their opponents score frozen. Dale Chivas, after his ten goal haul last week finally booted his first Greygums goal for about four years whilst Robbo kicked his fourth. Jay Edwards charged into the fray and kicked a very rare fullback's goal and Daniel Schroot his first for the day. Tim Cummins finished off the day with a "double goal" after a Goanna's player didn't recognise the significance of Umpires Appreciation Day and the Rams had completed the trifecta for the day with a fifty two point victory.
Captain Dave Bradley again came to the fore with a brilliant performance to take the best on ground award. Jay Edwards proved a sensation at the back of the field along with his team-mate at Campbelltown last year, Dale Chivas. Both returned "home" this year after stints in Premier Division and are proving inspirational with their experience for the young team. Tim Cummins outplayed his opponents with good skills along with first year seniors Harley Stibbard and Adam Sharp, who relished the return to the big Greygums ground.
The task doesn't get any easier next week as the team takes on the Auburn side, who inflicted defeat on previously unbeaten Balmain on the weekend.
Penrith Rams 1.3 3.6 6.9 12.14-86 def Holroyd-Parramatta 2.0 3.2 5.4 5.4-34
Goal Kickers: B. Robinson 4, T. Cummins 3, M. Renehan 2, D. Chivas , J. Edwards , D. Schroot
Best Players: D. Bradley, J. Edwards, D. Chivas, T. Cummins, H. Stibbard, A. Sharp
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Last Modified on 14/06/2011 17:52