Year 7 Boys Soccer Team Claims Sandhurst Division Shield

SCHOOL SPORT VICTORIA: SANDHURST DIVISION

Year 7 Boys Soccer

Game 1 saw Catherine McAuley College Bendigo (CMCB) playing Weeroona College and the CMCB team got off to a flyer, kicking some early goals. The connection between the midfield and the forward line was brilliant as the team effortlessly clicked into game mode. The match continued in this fashion for its entirety, as the boys played with great tenacity and sportsmanship to win 10 goals to nil first up.

Best Players: Jimi Read, Jacob Kendal, Coen Kendal, Jack Rees, Fletcher Stevenson.

Goal Scorers: Jacob Kendal & Coen Kendal (3), Jimi Read and Jack Rees (2). Fletcher Stevenson, River Schilling, Tadhg O’Keefe (1).

Game 2 was against Bendigo South East Secondary College (BSE) and given that they had also defeated Weeroona, this match became the final. Prior to the warmup, the bell sounded, signalling break-time for the BSE students which led to a significant home crowd watching on. The boys were up for the challenge, dominating the first ten minutes of the game and were rewarded with a well-placed strike and goal from Jacob Kendal from just inside the box.  This gave the CMCB boys some extra confidence. The latter stages of the first half were a see-sawing affair which saw both teams with numerous chances to score in a very tense atmosphere. The score remained 1-0 up until the half-time break. The second half was significantly quieter with the home crowd back in class. The boys seemed to calm down and show their composure defensively; this allowed Jacob Kendal to get on the end of a great passage of play to once again score and, more importantly, give the team some valuable breathing space with a 2-0 lead. Just when the game seemed to be getting away from BSE, they received a freekick on the edge of the 18-yard box which led to a beautifully executed free kick. The ball did nick the crossbar; however it had enough force on it to go in. This tightened up the game significantly and BSE really attacked the ball hard to try and get an equaliser.  They generated a few late chances which sent a scare through the CMCB camp before the final whistle blew. The CMCB team erupted with delight as they finished as winners, 2 goals to 1 in a terrific match to claim the Sandhurst Division Shield.

Best Players: Jacob Kendal, Jimi Read, Kohan Uren, Sonny Kennedy, Christian Martin.

Goal Scorer: Jacob Kendal (2).

The boys played in excellent spirits and showed incredible sportsmanship all day; they have now qualified for the SSV Loddon Mallee Regional Finals which are to be played on Thursday 25 July.

Thank you to Xavier Douglass and Harry Canny who were instrumental in the running of the day, playing roles as linesmen and central referees.

YEAR 7 BOYS SOCCER TEAM: Xavier Dunham (Coach), Kohan Uren, Memphis Slattery, Sonny Kennedy, Jacob Kendal, Tadhg O’Keefe, Levi Bugeja, Angelo Cuadra, Rafael Bourke, Harry Canny (Referee), Simon Bu, Christian Martin, Jimi Read, Fletcher Stevenson, River Schilling, Jack Rees, Coen Kendal, Xavier Douglass (Referee)