Loddon Mallee Intermediate Football Day – Girls Progress to Quarter Finals

SCHOOL SPORT VICTORIA: LODDON MALLEE REGIONAL FINALS

FOOTBALL

Intermediate Boys

The Catherine McAuley College Bendigo (CMCB) Intermediate Boys Football Team travelled to Swan Hill on Wednesday 31 July to compete in the Loddon Mallee Region (LMR) Competition. CMCB were in Pool A and scheduled to play their pool games against St Joseph’s College, Echuca and Maryborough Education Centre (MEC), with the top team to progress through to a final against the winner of Pool B.

In the first match of the day the boys came up against a strong St Joseph’s team who got off to a fast start and kicked the first two goals of the game. Unfortunately, even with some excellent forward surges the CMCB boys were unable to hit the score board effectively. St Joseph’s proved to be too good in the damp and slippery conditions, winning the contest by twenty points.

In Game 2, the boys played MEC, who had previously challenged St Joseph’s in their encounter. The boys played a much more attractive brand of football in the dryer conditions and were able to convert their chances on the back of their hard work through the midfield. The boys were quite dominant in this match up and should be proud of their efforts in producing a 40-point victory, in just twenty-four minutes of game time.

Despite the loss in Game 1, the team are to be commended for their committed effort in both games and were terrific ambassadors for the College.  We also thank them for their support of the Intermediate Girls Team throughout the day.

Better players on the day were Lenny McNamara, Carter Reid, Tyce Griffin, Riley Travaglia and Ryan Brown.

INTERMEDIATE BOYS FOOTBALL TEAM: Mr Mitchell Winter-Irving (coach), Seamus Doherty, Miller Nihill, Ryan Brown, Mack Skinner, Jake Schubert, Tyce Griffin, Archie Stevens, Charlie Bannan, Charlie Cowan, James Balic, Rylan Newman, Mitchell Brown, Ben Miller, Nicholas Long, Charlie Bombardieri, Chase Poyser, Lenny McNamara, Riley Travaglia, Joshua Kelly, Carter Reid, Hudson Banfield, Sam Gibson, Will Bartlett.

Intermediate Girls

The next leg of the Intermediate Girls competition took us to Swan Hill to play off for the Loddon Mallee Regional Finals. The day consisted of three games, with the most successful team advancing to the next round.

Catherine McAuley College Bendigo (CMCB) played St Joseph’s College, Echuca, Swan Hill College and then finished the day against St Joseph’s College, Mildura.

The first game was played in slippery conditions as the morning dew slowly made its way off the ground. The girls adapted quite well and did everything they could to bully the ball forward. They had a multitude of attempts on goal but were only able to convert two as majors, with the other five shots finishing as points. What was most pleasing however, was that they were able to keep St Joseph’s scoreless. Scarlett Ward was dominant throughout the match, applying lots of defensive pressure and earning several free kicks. The match finished with CMCB continuing to have all of the play and hence secured a terrific win first up 4.1.25 to St Joseph’s 0.0.0.

Goal kickers were Alannah Prowse, Scarlett Ward, Chella Fitzgerald and Myah Humphrey.

The second game was against Swan Hill College. This turned out to be their closest game of the day, which was most likely due to the lack of a solid warm up. The first half was fairly even and as a result the girls held a slender 1-goal lead at the break. In the second half, Hannah Cochrane was inspirational; despite rolling her ankle, she got up and went on to kick a running goal from thirty metres out within a matter of seconds. It was great to see that, once the girls finally warmed up, they were able to run away with the match, finishing with scoreline of  3.5.23 to Swan Hill 0.1.1.

Goal kickers were Lacey Nihill, Hannah Cochrane and Alysha Boyd.

Game 3 was set up on the back of an explosive start, with the girls kicking six goals in the opening half against St Joseph’s College, Mildura. Chella Fitzgerald was instrumental in igniting the team, kicking two quick goals and setting up many forward moves. Evie Nuttall was dominant in the ruck while Lacey Nihill continued her good form. Players were then switched around to experience playing in different positions as a lead up to the next stage. The girls ran away with the win to take plenty of momentum and confidence into the next stage.  Final scores were CMCB 9.6.60 to St Joseph’s College, Mildura 0.1.1.

Goal kickers: Chella Fitzgerald (2), Jordan O’Bree (2), Layla O’Brien (1), Alannah Prowse (1), Hannah Cochrane (1), Dempsey McDonnell (1) and Rania Jackson-Leahy (1).

Better players on the day were: Scarlett Ward, Lacey Nihill, Hannah Cochrane, Dempsey McDonnell, Jordan O’Bree and Chella Fitzgerald.

Congratulations to the girls for winning the Loddon Mallee Region Competition.  The team will now progress to the State Quarter Finals in Ballarat on Monday 12 August.

INTERMEDIATE GIRLS FOOTBALL TEAM: Mr Alex Code (Coach), Jasmin Wood (Helper), Ryah Mackie, Chella Fitzgerald, Gemma Fox, Dempsey McDonnell, Eve Kalms, Maddie Dunn, Evie Nuttall, Scarlett Ward, Tess Cockerall, Rania Jackson-Leahy, Louise Khodja, Maeve Caine, Annabelle Edwards (Helper), Madi Morrison, Hannah Cochrane, Lacey Nihill, Tully Place, Layla O’Brien, Alysha Boyd, Jordan O’Bree, Olivia Fitzpatrick, Alannah Prowse, Hannah Guo (Helper)