A bright away trip for the Rams in Round 8 with Firsts and Reserves both beating higher placed teams, Mac Uni whilst the Under 18's fought all the way to the final siren despite their loss. The Ramettes recorded their fourth win in a tough encounter with Randwick City Angels, prevailing by 39 points. Third grade posted a heroic win against Uni NSW on Sunday in terrible conditions.
As the season nears the half way mark and only the Ramettes in a finals position, it was tiime to stand up and be counted if September football was to be on the agenda in 2013. After winning only one of the five matches the previous week, it was to be a hard task with the four men's teams having to face opponents above them on the ladder and to make the task more difficult, all away games.
The Under 18's were to open the day at Macquarie University. In what was to be a farcical day due to the ineptitude of the host club, the young Rams got off to a horror start against a very good Warriors outfit. The boys could not get into the contest in the opening term and found themselves looking at a large deficit without a score on the board. However, in their true style, they showed pride in the teal and put in many a good contest, fighting hard all the way till thefinal siren. James Monk had his best game to date and was assisted by the ever consistent Liam Veigel.
Coach Rick Allen reports:
The
Rams Under 18s Match Report versus Macquarie University Sat 1 June 2013
The Rams travelled to MacquarieUniversity with the high hopes of being competitive despite having 9 players unavailable including two who came down sick on the Friday reducing the team down to 20 before the start of play. The game began with MacquarieUniversity gaining an early ascendancy with their tall forward line proving to be impossible to contain in the first quarter. A reshuffling of the side provided better match ups for the rest of the game but injuries to a number of players saw the Rams complete the second half with only 17 fit players.
The final score showed an easy win for the home side, but did not reflect what was actually a very physical and well fought out encounter. The young Rams although starting slowly played a great second and third quarters before injuries and our inability to rest players finally began to take their toll in the last quarter. The pleasing aspects of our play were the high tackle count with James Monks, Liam Veigel and Jarrod Cooper leading the way in this area and although still a work in progress an improvement in our disposal by hand and foot through the midfield with Nat Brew and Aidan Quicke contributing greatly to this improvement.
Our back six from quarter time on were exceptional in difficult circumstances. Captain Anthony Leech, Jeromy Watts, Kayne Quirk, Zac Pianta, new comer - Manny Papageorgiou and Under 16 sensation Jack Noble were outstanding, all combining well to reduce the potential damage of the rampaging Macquarie forwards. Under 16 Ruckman, James Monks was named player of the week after a superb effort in not only rucking for almost the entire game against a bigger opponent and breaking even in the hit-outs but for also rucking the entire second half on one leg after sustaining a corked thigh. It was an incredible feat of mental toughness that also included sensational second and third efforts in tackling and winning the ball at ground level throughout the entire game. It was a very mature and brave performance from a young man with a big future.
Other players that performed exceptionally well were Liam Veigel in the midfield winning a mountain of possessions and laying probably a dozen tackles, and Liam Davey who played the perfect half forward role displaying great both in the air and at ground level working hard up into the midfield to provide a target. Regular 3rd grader Hugh Arnold was also strong up forward in providing strong leads and a contest in the air. Josh Zolfel, Joey Eskander and Nick Green worked incredibly using their pace to great effect in order to apply pressure to the opposition through the midfield. Tarron Berry worked tirelessly both forward and back until succumbing to a shoulder injury. Jack Wagner and Jarrad Durham battled hard in the forward line until both were also struck down by injury and Centre half forward Marty Wyburn found a new level of intensity playing out of his skin in the second half.
Final Scores:MacquarieUniversity 18.22 – 130 to Penrith 4.4 – 28
Goal Kickers: J. Wagner , T. Berry , M. Wyburn , L. Davey
Best Players: J. Monks, L. Veigel, L. Davey, A. Quicke, K. Quirk, J. Cooper
As I said to the boys after the game the scoreboard didn’t reflect the effort and improvement in the team – once we get our full squad together over the next few weeks the results will start to show on the scoreboard. In the mean time we must continue to work hard at training in preparation for making our bid for a top four spot in the second half of the season. Stay with it boys we are very close to clicking into gear now! I was very proud of your efforts in this game!
In the following game, Reserve Grade, found their game relocated to another field at the ground. Physio Thilina had to pack up and transport is equipment to the strangely marked Northern Oval in a game that was delayed due to a hockey game being scheduled at the same time as AFL. After last weeks big loss to Blackttown, it was a do-or-die game for the Rams.
Lachie Smith was to be a late inclusion into the side, replacing Ben Robinson was was recalled to first grade, whlist emergency Marty Pope, who came to the game as emergency, got a last minute run with a non-arrival. It was a tight opening half with the Rams holding a one point lead at the long break. In what was to be a sometimes fiery match, Penrith opened up in the third quarter adding an incredible 7.5 to their opponents 1.3 to take control of the match. Each team added 4 goals in the final term but it was the "premiership" quarter that saw Penrith record a 41 point win and keep their final hopes alive.
Nathan Rowley was outstanding for the Rams and aided and abetted by Jake Shelley, who booted 8 goals whilst Lachie Smith and Ed Kirby both showed their higher grade experience with great displays.
Goal Kickers: J. Shelley 8, M. Lewis 3, T. Corless 2, C. Manuel 2, M. Purse , J. Weller , N. Collimore , E. Kirby
Best Players: N. Rowley, J. Shelley, L. Smith, E. Kirby, M. Lewis, L. Jerzyna
With Thilina dashing back to the First Grade match, which was already underway, it was another "must win" match for the team that had to perform after last week's poor performance againist the Goanna's.
Mac Uni fell by just a straight kick in their previous match to Holroyd-Parramatta, but has won their four matches prior to that game. The opening term was even, each side kicking 2.0. By half time, Penrith had edged to a 7 point lead, but needing to lift another notch, knowing full well that the Warriors had been winning their close matches whist the Rams had been failing in that department. The third quarter was another arm wrestle, with Penrith falling short with their better opportunites, although increasing their lead to 15 points. With the seaon on the line, Penrith were to go on with the job with a 3 goal to 2 final quarter to clinch a well deserved win by 21 points which although kept them remaining in 7th spot, closed the gap on the teams above.
Young guns Jack Ponton and Josh Shephard led the way for the Rams whilst Tim "T-Clamps" Cummins was the only multiple scorer with a treble.
Goal Kickers: T. Cummins 3, J. Ponton , P. Pope , A. Sharp , C. Lucas , J. Denton , B. Robinson
Best Players: J. Ponton, J. Shephard, A. Sharp, J. Denton, T. Cummins, D. Bradley
The focus then turned to the Ramettes as officials raced to the other side of town for their 4 PM clash with Randwick City Angels, a team they had recorded their first ever win against in Round 2 when they prevailed by 42 points. Randwick were to field a larger squad on this occassion and the match commenced late under a strong breeze, light showers and failing light. The loss of Kate Easthope, Jasmine Payne, Justine Vella and Nikki McNeill for the game was going to help Randwick's chances, but with Nat Camilleri returning from a long stint on the sidelines and Lauren Hazell making her weekly trek from Dubbo on the day of the match, it was a game that was there to be grabbed by the throat.
It was an entertaining opening to the match with both teams playing some quality football. In a tough opening term, The Ramettes edged to a nine point lead. The second quarter produced some tough footy and big hits which entertained the crowd. Penrith added another two goals and kept the Angels to just a single point but when the umpires, Jake Sultana and his Angels counterpart conferred with three minutes on the clock, the match was put on hold in near darkness as the lights were not yet in operation with the visitors holding a 20 point buffer. Frantic call to Randwick Council remedied the situation and the players returned to the field to complete the match.
Injuries had taken their toll on the Angels and they were left without a bench player but showed great heart in the third quarter adding 1.1 to their score, but Penrith had all the answers and responded with a 2.1 quarter in failing conditions, needing to hang on to a 26 point lead in the final 20 minutes. It was to be a fine finish for the Ramettes with a 3 goal to 1 final term, the girls again to sing the victory song for the fourth time this year with a well earned 39 point victory. Jen Brown and Nikki Perrett again paved the way with great performances along with young talls, Kayla Badger and Lauren Hazell, whilst 2012 Sydney Womens Team of the Year rep, Nat Camilleri and Rising Star winner Stephanie Kostic both showed their 2nd year experience.
Goal Kickers: J. Brown 2, I. Olchowik 2, K. Burcher , L. Gordon , L. Hazell , N. Camilleri , K. Badger
Best Players: J. Brown, N. Perrett, L. Hazell, K. Badger, N. Camilleri, S. Kostic
Third Grade (D5) V Uni NSW/ES Bulldogs - By Strawberry Sid
With 3 wins from 4 games on the Saturday, the focus turned to the lone Sunday match where Third Grade was to take on Uni NSW/ES Bulldogs at Village Green in the midday clash. Heavy overnight rain and forecasts for more during the day put the match in grave doubt and messages between the Rams support staff and the league commenced at 6 AM, with Penrith offering to transfer the match to Greygums in the event of a Village Green closure. An hour later, the Kensington ground was declared open as the team prepared for the trip east. Torrential rain during the drive saw many shake their heads as if the game was to proceed and phones ran hot. An earlier women’s game at the ground was being played and on arrival, Bulldogs officials conferred with the coaches and announced that the game following ours had been called off, but with full credit to Uni NSW, the Div 5 match would proceed, given the team was well on their way or at the ground (Manly and other clubs, please take note)
It was agreed that the match would be shortened to preserve the partially flooded ground. With a handful of emergencies available the day prior to the match, the squad fell with a few late withdrawals with the coaches and runner Jeremy Rix, forced to don their boots to make up a full squad. Fortunately, players from the previous day, Josh Anasis and Claire Manuel were on hand as spectators and volunteered to help out the side.
The Rams won the toss and elected to run with the strong breeze at their backs with the dry ball and got off to a sensational start, kicking four straight goals and a 25 point lead at quarter time, keeping their opponents scoreless, with Jason Scala negating any attacks from the backline. The second term saw the Rams held scoreless with the Bulldogs grabbing 1.1 to cut back the deficit to 18 at the major break, players staying on the ground in the rain to be told of the effort required to win the match and with the final “wind” quarter requirement to add to their tally. Unfortunately, the Rams could not add any more points despite many opportunities in the quagmire, whilst the Warriors scored a goal against the run of play to be down just two straight kicks with the last quarter wind advantage. After five nervous minutes and some great defence by the Rams, the team rallied and added two more goals and looked to have the match in their grasp until a Uni goal saw the margin again narrowed, but it was to be the last score of the days as the Rams celebrated their third consecutive win with a hard earned but well deserved 18 point victory.
The team has grown from strength to strength in the last month and is a tight unit that plays for each other. It will become a hard task to get back into the side for some players with the resolve shown on Sunday. Jason Scala had his best game for a long time with some great defensive work. Original runner, Jeremy Rix was outstanding in filling in for one of the late withdrawals and can expect to be called on for the rest of the season as he celebrated with first ever wins in the teal colours. Shane “Hollywood” Scott and veteran John Keane were both outstanding whilst Michael Brown and second gamer Dan Smythe both put in big performances. Kev “Captain” Kirk led the goal tally with three first quarter goals.
The song, along with a new foot-stomping intro, was sung with gusto as the weary 22 celebrated in the sheds, with Dane Fysh getting applause as he rested one of his weary limbs on the shoulder of Jason Makin. Most of the boys then made a beeline to OD’s for a late lunch and celebratory drink or two.
Penrith Rams
Goal Kickers: K. Kirk 3, M. Brown 2, D. Smyth
Best Players: J. Scala, J. Rix, S. Scott, J. Keane, D. Smyth, M. Brown
Last Modified on 11/01/2014 09:32