Rochester junior football report

The boys looked on right from the start with a strong mark to Harrison Wilkins, who kicked truly from the goal square. Mac Dickinson was controlling the ruck and Asher Rasmussen, Harry Rasmussen and Judd Cuttriss were feasting on the crumbs, continuously driving the ball forward and locking it in the forward 50. A clever step and then a nice snap from Asher put the Tigers’ second on the board.

Zac Froon took some really nice marks at full-back and Harrison Pangrazio played a brilliant quarter in the back pocket as the Tigers were able to keep the Echuca Bombers scoreless for the first quarter.

The second quarter was a much tighter affair and both teams defended strongly. Both teams struggled to score, but some clever teamwork from the Tigers ended with Harrison Wilkins taking another strong mark in the goal square and he kicked his second. Mason Mundie presented a target across half-forward and competed hard all game. At half-time the Tigers had kicked three goals and had still managed to keep Echuca goalless.

The third quarter saw Hugh Acocks move into the midfield and he produced an excellent second half, providing great strength and run. Noah Makepeace came into the game and was able to run with the footy and use the ball cleverly. Walt James was excellent on his wing, providing some great tackles and some real pace. A clever soccer off the ground from Mason was the only goal for the third quarter.

The last quarter saw the game slow down a bit, with the Tigers well in control. Louis Frawley and Wil Hayler were able to swoop on the loose footy and ran into an open goal to kick the Tigers’ fifth for the day. Echuca fought the game out well and managed to kick a goal in the last quarter, in what was a good reward for a really competitive game. Ryder Murray worked hard in the back half and the boys continued to play some great team footy and made sure they were in great form coming into the Lightning Premiership, in which they have qualified for the first division.

Good luck to the boys for next weekend. They have produced a brilliant season and they have given the club plenty to be proud of.

Under-14s’ last game next up

Rochy’s under-14 team played Marong on Sunday at Windridge Oval. These teams have a mixed history having played each other twice before this season, and with each team sitting at one win apiece. Rochy looked like it would be strong out of the blocks with a quick point on the board in the first few minutes. However, Marong soon fired back two goals and at the first break Rochy was down by 11 points.

In the second, both teams had some episodes of inaccurate kicking. For Marong, it meant points rather than goals on the board, but for Rochy it resulted in turnovers and limited scoring shots. Many a Rochy kick was smothered, making it hard for the Tigers to cleanly move the ball down the ground. Marong continued to sneak ahead and by the half-time break was leading by 14 points.

After getting a couple of points to his name in the first half, Darby Martin managed to get the Tigers’ first goal on the board in the third quarter. A tremendous effort from Rochy’s backline kept Marong at bay, only allowing it two points for the quarter. There were some great passages of play down the ground by the young Tigers, but they just couldn’t convert them to scores. Tom Drust continues to go from strength to strength after returning from injury and was dangerous along the wing.

In the fourth, Leo Hayes, who had been kicking long all day with his trademark left foot, managed to get his first goal on the board. A quick and classy ‘one-two’ between Harvey Keating and Morgan Boyack went so close to getting Keating a major score, only to hit the post. Towards the end of the game, Marong seemed to have a few loose players and made the most of it, finishing the Tigers off by 34 points.

This week is the last game of the home-and-away season for the under-14s and they will head to Marist College at Maiden Gully to face off against Castlemaine.

Final scores: Rochester 2.6 (18) lost to Marong 7.10 (52)

Best: Tom, Drust, Tex Jones, Darby Martin, Harvey Keating, Cale James, Leo Hayes.

Goals: Darby Martin, Leo Hayes.

Mayreef Pty Ltd one-percenter award: Zac Morgan. Play of the day: Reno Mountjoy. Rochy Hotel meal award: Jag Tarrant.

Under-16s fall just short

Rochester Tigers’ under-16 team played against Strathfieldsaye for the second time in three weeks in perfect conditions at Rochester.

The club had a family day and the crowd was huge to watch the young Tigers compete.

When the teams met two weeks ago, Strath won the game comfortably by 35 points and the Tigers were determined to put in a better performance at home.

The team started strongly and a beautiful kick from Lachie Joyce on the run was the perfect start for the boys. The game was played at a quick pace and both teams were able to move the ball freely through the middle of the ground. A set shot from Trey White fell just short, but a towering pack mark from Harrison Keating led to the Tigers recording their second goal. Cooper Harbour competed hard in the ruck and was giving first use of the ball to the midfield. A nice lead and mark to Joyce gave the boys their third goal of the first quarter and they showed they were ready for the fight. At quarter-time, the home team held a one-goal lead.

The second quarter saw the Storm get on top. Tiger Jordy Rasmussen took countless intercept marks, but Strathfieldsaye was relentless with its attack on the ball and dominated the quarter. The Storm kicked three goals to Rochy’s solitary point and at half time the Tigers were down by 14 points.

Coach Joyce encouraged the boys to run with the footy and take the game on in the third quarter and that is exactly what they did. The Storm kicked the first goal of the third quarter and there was a real concern among the crowd that the boys might get blown away. But the Tigers were able to produce some wonderful attacking footy.

The forward line functioned beautifully during the third quarter. Some great forward pressure resulted with the ball in Keating’s hands and he dribbled through a clever goal to get the boys going. The Storm kicked the next two goals before the Tigers came storming home. A nice handball from White to Matt Harrington resulted in the second Tiger goal for the quarter and reduced the margin to 20 points.

A strong lead from White and a strong mark and accurate kick reduced the difference to 14 points. The boys continued to drive the ball deep into the forward line and repeat forward 50s meant that the Storm backline was unable to keep the Tigers out. Jimmy Otto crumbed beautifully from the goal square and snapped truly and the Tigers were within eight points.

Rasmussen was holding the backline together with excellent reading of the ball and strong hands and it only looked like one team was going to score. The Tigers continued to attack and the ball was living in the Tigers’ forward half. A scramble from a ball-up just outside the goal square found the ball in Oli Williams’ hands and he was speared into the ground in what the umpire deemed a dangerous tackle. He kicked truly and suddenly there was just two points separating the teams. The boys would have loved the quarter to continue on, as they had all the momentum, but the siren came and the game was well and truly up for grabs at three-quarter time.

The boys were pumped and ready for the last quarter. But although they continued to try hard and were able to produce many opportunities, they were unable to score in the last quarter, while the Storm added two goals to win by 19 points.

Although beaten, the boys played a terrific game and could hold their heads high.

Final scores: Strathfieldsaye 10.10 (70) d Rochester 8.3 (51)

Goals: Lachie Joyce, Harrison Keating 2, Oli Williams, Matt Harrington, Jimmy Otto, Trey White 1.

Best: Jordy Rasmussen, Lachie Joyce, Harrison Keating, Oli Williams, Cooper Harbour, Matt Harrington.

Rochester Football Netball Club one-percenter award: Rory Hayes.