Both of the "IGA" Penrith Rams senior teams are just one win from premiership glory after progressing to the 2011 Grand Finals in their respective divisions.
The two minor premiers headed to Rosedale Park on Saturday with Reserve Grade starting the day with a 44 point win over Macquarie University Warriors and the First Grade side capped off a historic day when they downed Holroyd-Parramatta in a dour 7 point win as the sun set on the South-Western ground.
Both sides now have a week's break going into the Grand Final at Blacktown International Sports Park on Saturday September 10.
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Match Reports
Reserve Grade V Macquarie University Warriors at Rosedale Oval
It was a simple equation as the IGA Penrith Rams took the field against Macquarie University Warriors at Rosedale Oval on Saturday. A grand final berth was the prize for the victor and the losing side would get another chance the following week in the preliminary final. The Warriors had proved the Rams nemesis this year, defeating them on both occasions for the Rams only two losses of the year. Mac Uni also suffered two losses in for the year, against Moorebank Sports and a controversial loss to Manly Wolves but went into the match as favourites.
Both sides named strong squads for the match. Full Forward Jason Bradley, after a career spanning 21 years at the Rams, was to step out for his first ever finals appearance whilst eight of the team had played grand finals football last year with another seven playing their first year of AFL football.
The 1 PM start commenced under bright skies and still conditions so there was to be no advantage to either team in the opening term. The Warriors got the better start and went on the attack which resulted in the opening point of the game with a behind. Five minutes in saw good a good forward thrust with Adam West handing off a perfect chip to Nic Collimore who subsequently goaled. Shortly after, youngster Jack Ponton playing the half-forward flank put a perfect kick onto the chest of Tayt Corless who goaled from in front. Mac Uni hit back strongly with their first major from a set shot. Jason Bradley made an immediate impact as he took the field, marking from 35 metres out at an angle and duly converted. With the midfield trio of Cam Butler, Adam West and Christian Knight controlling play the Rams looked good. Bradley was given a free from 40 out, but Jack Ponton swooped up the ball and played on to add another goal to see Penrith continue the rampage. However, the Warriors fought back and kicked one of their own in the dying minutes and with the siren sounding, were awarded a fifty metre penalty after an undisciplined error by the Rams and kicked the goal to go to the break with just a seven point deficit to the disappointment of the coaching staff.
The second term saw a dour struggle between the two leading teams. The Rams had much the better of possession and were able to restrict the Warriors with backmen Nathan White and Sam Lockhart working hard. It was, however, to be twenty minutes of squandered chances for the Penrith side as opportunities went amiss. Whilst the Warriors could only score just a single point, Penrith had seven scoring shots but just a sensational goal from 50 metres on the run by Jake Sultana turned out to be the only major of the quarter as teams went to the sheds with the Rams holding a three goal buffer.
There was a lot of talk at the half time break. Coaches Kevin Tate and Michael Bottrill were ecstatic at the team’s commitment and told them to play with confidence, discipline and poise and the result would go their way.
Mac Uni were fired up as well. Their thoughts at the break would have been reflective of the first round match at University Oval where they demolished the Rams with a match winning six goal three quarter haul. It looked somewhat ominous as the Warriors quickly put the first third term goal on the board to drag the deficit back to twelve points. Matty Lewis made a strong run shortly after and a straight kick from an angle resulted in a six pointer, but the Warriors hit back again with another of their own. Great forward movement and a decisive run from Nic Collimore, resuming on the field after a heavy knock, saw him kick to the goal square and Tayt Corless rose above the pack to mark and add his second. The match had stepped up another notch. Matty Lewis was under pressure and couldn’t hold the ball in the pack but recovered quickly, swooped on the ball and amazingly booted his second. Mac Uni tried to steady and again late in the quarter, Rohan Pryor took a good grab and converted as the quarter ended with Penrith holding a twenty point buffer.
The lead was certainly not a match winning one. Penrith were decimated with injuries. Captain Nathan White’s day had ended with a shoulder injury, Aaron Goodwin spent the quarter under the care of the physio and two others reduced left all the bench vacant. It was to be just 18 bruised and battered players to get the team over the line. Despite the side being out on their feet, they produced absolute quality football. Collimore again went for a long run and kicked truly in the opening minutes. Matt Lewis picked up a loose ball, turned around and snapped one to make it three. Cameron Butler, who had been outstanding in the middle, joined the party and kicked a boomer from the fifty and Nic Collimore also added his third for the day. Some respite late in the game saw the Warriors kick their only goal of the term but the bird had flown as best on ground Nathan Gatt put the nail in the coffin from a long range kick on the run that found the big sticks as the game ended with a Rams 44 point victory and their best win of the season.
Coach Tate was on a high after the match and will see his charges run out on Grand Final Day on September 10. It will be the second successive Grand Final for the Penrith Chairman after leading Div 3 to the same day in September last year and is hungry to go one better.
For the Rams, Nathan Gatt was outstanding with no thoughts of self preservation as he attacked the ball. The slightly built Gatt played just one game for the Rams last year before a serious injury saw him sidelined for the rest of the entire season. Warhorse, Christian Triffitt has recovered from a bug in recent weeks and again put in 100% and will contest his first grand final in many years. Nathan Rowley worked hard all day and set up many of the opportunities for the Rams in what has been another stellar year whilst the first year trio of Jake Sultana, Cameron Butler and Jason Jackson all put in enormous workloads, particularly when the going got tough late in the game. Nic Collimore and Matt Lewis shared the kicking honours with three apiece whilst Tayt Corless was the other multiple scorer with a double.
The week’s break will be a godsend for the side and will give ample time for the battered team to recover as they begin to prepare for the big one at Blacktown on September 10, where they will play the penultimate game of the day before supporting their first grade club mates. It is the first grand final appearance by this side since they went down in the 1992 grand final.
Penrith Rams 4.2 5.8 8.10 13.10-88 def Mac Uni Warriors 3.1 3.2 6.2 7.2-44
Goal Kickers: N. Collimore 3, M. Lewis 3, T. Corless 2 , G. Howell , J. Ponton , J. Bradley , J. Sultana , C. Butler
Best Players: N. Gatt, C. Triffitt, N. Rowley, J. Jackson, J. Sultana, C. Butler
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First Grade V Holroyd-Parramatta Goannas at Rosedale Oval
After supporting the Reserve Grade team in their match that saw them progress to September’s Grand Final, it was time for the IGA Penrith Rams to face up to the side that had handed out their biggest defeat of the year, Holroyd-Parramatta Goanna’s at Rosedale Oval on Saturday. The picturesque ground at Warwick Farm, a suburb that is famous for some great thoroughbred races at the nearby racetrack for over 120 years, was about to see the two thoroughbred teams of the 2011 Div 2 competition in action.
This season has seen the sides clash twice, with a win each and an average margin to the Goanna’s by just five points. But statistics can be misleading as it was Penrith winning the first round march by 52 and the Goanna’s the return clash in a 62 point drubbing. Penrith had taken all before them since the drubbing in June and had a week off due to being minor premiers. The Goanna’s had not tasted defeat in ten consecutive matches since their loss to the Rams in May until their narrow last round loss to Sydney University, a result that they reversed a week later in the semi final when they recorded a five point win against the Students to progress to the clash against the Rams.
With both sides at probably full strength, the scene was set for a great match under still conditions on a good track. Holroyd-Parramatta came out running and looked very impressive as they went on the attack with structured moves. On the other hand, the Rams battled hard but could not hit a mark and kicks and handballs went astray. To their credit though, their ability in the backline with John Keane and jay Edwards under enormous pressure, they restricted the Goanna’s to just a single goal in an intense first 15 minute barrage. At the 16 minute mark, a Dale Chivas bomb to the goal square saw Blake Roberts leap above the pack for a sensational grab and the subsequent conversion putting the game back to level terms. Just two minutes later, beanstalk Nathan Wright swooped on a loose ball and quickly put it to foot between the big sticks to put the Rams in front by five points as the quarter came to an end.
The intensity raised a notch in term two as both sides moved the ball quickly all over the ground. It was the mercurial Ben Robinson, taking a free after an out of bounds from a nothing angle who put his skills to the test with a banana kick that found the middle for Penrith to extend their lead. But it was short lived a Parramatta went on the attack with some sensational movements and adding the next two goals. In the see-sawing battle, Penrith again hit the front with the silky Daniel Schroot getting his name on the board with a good major. As the siren sounded, the Goanna’s hit back with one of their own to go to the long break with a five point lead.
The half time break gave the chance for the leadership group to address the players. A few injuries were being tended to as coach Geoff Payne remained calm in addressing the side. It was a hard road ahead and commitment was the key.
Penrith came out dominating in the third quarter but rewards were rare. A great movement from Harley Stibbard who chipped to Tim Cummins who stabbed the ball to Dale Chivas in front fell down when the conversion attempt went wide. Parramatta quickly got the ball up the other end and scored, going to an 11 point lead and it was looking like the rams would be backing up the following week. In a thrilling final 10 minutes, Blake Roberts picked up a loose ball and sent the ball sailing between the posts to narrow the gap. Shortly after, Chivas, who had been having a horror day with the boot in an otherwise great display, took a set shot from a near impossible angle from the boundary line and it was picture perfect to the roar of the team and supporters, giving the Rams the narrowest of margin possible. As the clock wound down, Blake Roberts again took a great mark in front and duly converted with Penrith taking a seven point lead with six left on the clock. The Goanna’s flooded the forward line but experienced play saw the Rams wind the clock down with clever chips, not giving their opponents any opportunity. The Goanna’s took possession and charged forward in the dying seconds but the clock had beaten them with Penrith taking the grand final step with a seven point victory.
The Penrith club applied to the league to jump up a division this year, which was granted with the Rams being the only non-premiership winning club in Sydney AFL to gain promotion. At the start of the year, expectation was high, with the club quietly confident of scrambling into a final five slot. To gain a minor premiership and a grand final appearance is a tribute to this hard working side and support staff.
All the players can be applauded for their gutsy performance but realize they will have to lift again for the one more win required this year. Nathan Wright was adjudged best on ground with another brilliant performance all over the ground and stood up to the tough Parramatta defence. Jimmy Denton just keeps giving his all every game, and today was no exception. Captain Dave Bradley was inspirational once again and will be chomping at the bit to run on the field on the big day whilst Mark Woodford showed no fear again with high leaps and a good all-round game in the middle. Matty Payne is hitting form at the right time and will be looking for his second successive premiership whilst Ben Robinson as always was outstanding. Blake Roberts took out the kicking honours with a haul of four to be the Rams only multiple scorer.
The team now has a week’s break as they prepare to play the grand final at Blacktown. With fifteen of the side having experienced playing in 2010 grand finals, they will all know what is required to step up onto the dais on Sept 10.
Penrith Rams 2.1 4.3 5.8 7.11-53 def Holroyd-Parramatta Goannas 1.2 5.2 5.3 7.4-46
Goal Kickers: B. Roberts 4, D. Chivas , D. Schroot , B. Robinson
Best Players: N. Wright, J. Denton, D. Bradley, B. Robinson, M. Woodford, M. Payne
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Last Modified on 19/10/2011 16:19