SUMMARY

After conceding 6 of the 1st 7 goals of the game at the University oval DLS came back hard from midway through the 2nsd quarter and in the second half DLS outscored the Blacks 12 goals to 5. With Blacks’ Pask dominant in the 1st quarter DLS was forced to make drastic changes including returning captain Ben Corin into defence to cover Pask. The second quarter was the complete reversal of the first and at half time DLS was only 1 point in arrears.
Matt Moore who had kicked 4 goals to half time added 3 to that tally in the 3rd quarter as his fast leads, soft hands and accurate kicking was proving a handful for the Blacks. Aaron Shields was absolutely in control at stoppages all over the ground. In the centre he was ably backed up by the hard tackling Jarrod Moloney.

In quarter 3, DLS slammed on 5 goals to 1 as the defence led by Corin, ably backed up by Jeff Morel and Will Fenton blanketed the Blacks forwards. Leading by 21 points Matt Moore extended the lead to 27 with his 8th only minutes into the final quarter. Jacob Gotch & 2nd gamer Sam Williams extended the margin to 38 and one could sense that DLS was about to open their 2008 account. Blacks staged a rally kicking 3 of the next 4 goals interspersed by DLS Michael Duggan putting the game beyond doubt with a fine angle goal. Moore was unstoppable and he secured his 9th & 10th goals from strong contested marks. DLS extraordinary accuracy from the mid point of quarter 2 where they scored 17 goals straight was in sharp contrast to last week where they scored only 6 goals from 24 attempts.

Question: Who, at the 28 minute mark of Qtr 1 when Pask kicked his 3rd to give U Blks a 30 point lead, would have backed DLS to win. What odds would you have required?

QTR 1
Fierce opening as predicted by the coaching panel. U Blks obviously targeting Shermo. U Blks settle quicker as bang on 2 goals before Matt Moore marks on his trademark lead following some smart football involving “lazarus” Mannix, Ben Corin, Jeff Morel & Ryan Sherman. U Blks surge back kicking the next 4 (Pask 3) and it is obvious that the key backs Jarrod Young & Ben Mannix are being overwhelmed by the strong forwards Pask specifically. Young in particular was getting his share of possessions but was being out bodied in the one on one contests. Right on the siren Michael Duggan puts on a hard shepherd, which allows David Lowe through and his long snap reduces the margin to 23.

QTR 2
BC is on Pask. Mannix is up forward. 11 minutes of hard tackling footy elapses. It is tough in close where Aaron Shields and Jarrod Moloney are revelling. Moore contests against 3, 15 metres out, snaps over shoulder, Sam Nethersole deep in pocket contests and brings ball to ground where Duggo swoops and DLS have their 3rd and margin back to negative 18. U Blks formerly smooth transition is breaking down under pressure from the DLS smaller brigade. A fine piece of rucking, then Shields streams out of centre, kicks long to the fast leading Moore: goal, margin neg 12. U Blks get their 1st for quarter but the DLS defence is on top and BC has becalmed the pesky Pask. Strong clearance from BC to Close to Nick Roberts whose grass cutter is marked superbly low down by ……..Moore again. Bags his 3rd. Shermo still getting plenty of “attention” but getting good touches and is finishing off well. Good ball movement Duggan to Sherman who gets thumped after disposal. Sam Williams freed up ground consequently. Goals from the true CHF. Margin neg 7. The transformation of the DLS players is amazing as confidence grows exponentially. Strings of good ball handling, accurate disposals and positive running are evident. Corin from a contested mark to Williams to Lowe and DLS is flowing. Moore rises over pack and has his 4th. Margin just neg 1. Although entries are about even the DLS thrusts are more potent. BC body on body at Blks CHF. Decision their way. Goal. Fluid movement involving Lowe, Williams & Duggan whose pass finds Jarrod Moloney onto Morel and he gets the goal which “Crackers” ordered pre game! Margin at the break 1 point down.

QTR 3
With U Blks kicking to the scoring end despite there being little or even no wind advantage, it was the decisive quarter. Which team was going to falter. Shermo was off to hospital so DLS is one down on the bench. But Moore is still there and looking ominous and confident. Will Fenton takes a courageous mark, off to Duggan across to Williams, who is enjoying his 2nd senior game, finds Moore and he gets his 5th straight to give DLS the lead for the 1st time at the 3 minute mark. Pask uses his strength and for once BC is out bodied. Marks. Goals. Blacks lead. Long period of scoreless but entertaining footy. Deep in DLS forward zone. Pressure on Blacks backs. Chris Kelliher freed on extreme angle. Kicks superbly. Goal. DLS lead again. Can they hold on? Aaron Shields is in everything. Size does not matter. He takes them all on. Jacob Gotch has become his partner in the clearances, tackles and robbing Blacks of possession. They combine to who else? Moore and his 6th results. DLS out to biggest lead of 10, but even more significant is the turn overs by U Blks defence. Ben Mannix getting on the end of long BC kicks is contesting and generally winning in the air with his superb judgement gets ball to Moore who out marks in the goal square and his 7th gives DLS a 15 point margin. Confidence is high and old timers Tom Moloney and Jeff Morel are using the young legs of Roberts, Close and Gotch to clear defensive area with relative composure. A tough contested boundary throw in, but Kelliher hits clear. Sam Pickett gains possession in a big pack and somehow gets ball to boot and exquisitely goals on the siren and DLS take a lead of 21 into the final quarter.

QTR 4
Confidence is high. Sam Nethersole growing in stature, grabs ball out of ruck wobbles kick forward but that is enough and Moore marks and his 8th is on the board. Just the start DLS wanted. Gotchy lays a fierce tackle. Rewarded with free. Goals from CHF and the pressure is really telling. Pask marks to give U Blks a glimmer of hope. But Duggan replies immediately after Tim Demetriou and Mannix combine. Blacks get 2 and they have definitely not given up. Margin 26 up at the 20 minute mark. Great centre clearance involving Demetroiu, Shields to Moore and the revival is snuffed out with Moore’s 9th straight. Margin is 31. DLS supporters relax at the 23 minute mark. BC wins out against Pask who is RED carded & OFF for remainder of game! Two 25 metre penalties result and Demetriou goals from CHF. Aptly Shields gains possession passes to Moore who is interfered with in the ensuing marking contest and gets his 10th. A remarkable flawless performance.

This team when it believes in itself and plays on instinctively can match it with the best there is. Belief!

Colin Glover
Secretary De La Salle OCA FC Inc