Bulldogs Under-12
With the Dogs at home, Imperials took the early ascendancy with most of the play in their forward half of the ground.
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Hugh Ross and Ben Wells began to win the clearances around the ground pumping the ball deep into attack for the Dogs.
Ollie Parker continued his great form of last week and hit the scoreboard.
Alex lambert was on fire on his wing running hard and was rewarded with a fantastic running goal resulting from some excellent team play.
Levi Crisp was laying some bone-jarring tackles rattling the opposition. He along with Zane Piesely, Nicholas White and Jack Christie began to win the ball at will from the back half catching the opposition out of position with quick transition.
The Dogs were able to gain a stranglehold on the game going on to a strong win.
Final score: Bulldogs 9.2 (56) defeated Imperials 1.3 (9)
Goals: Ollie Paker, 5. Alex Lambert, Ryan White, Charlie Bell and Ryan Lindsay, 1.
Best players: Hugh Ross, Ollie Parker, Ben Wells, Josh Montgomery, Alex Lambert, and Poppy Wilson.
Bulldogs Under-14
There was no sun to be seen for the Bulldogs’ Saturday game against the Imperials at the All Blacks Oval.
Right from the first siren the Imperials were able to steadily add to the scoreboard for the first half, unfortunately the scoring opportunities for the Bulldogs did not eventuate.
The third quarter saw the boys apply a great level of defensive pressure and work rate with big results, the Imperials were only able to add one point to their progressive score in this quarter.
Hudson Blyss continued to deliver solid performances in the ruck each week, and Josh Byers and Tom Osborne both pulled together one of their best games for the year.
Luke Welsh was a welcome addition back onto the field after a recent injury.
As the game trailed away in the fourth quarter the Bulldogs still had no success in the forward half, and the Imperials won the day by 106 points.
After the game it was great to have the Imperials president come into the rooms and speak to the Bulldogs players.
He wanted to congratulate our team on the way the boys played the game and did not give up all day despite the scoreline.
Final score: Bulldogs 0.4 (4) defeated by Imperials 15.20 (110)
Best players: Kobi Thwaites, Jobe Stovell, Ryder Robertson, Nate Nicholas, Hudson Blyss, and Tom Osborne.
Bulldogs Under-17
The first quarter for the under-17s was a tussle as the Dogs kicked one goal one behind, while Imperials kicked two goals seven behinds with massive pressure on their kickers from the defence.
The second quarter was not the Bulldogs’ best and some of the players were already looking tired with no-one on the bench.
Coach Vaughan Carter made some changes with Dan Farley at his scintillating best down back, but needed help.
Blake Calvert dropped back to provide more muscle in defence and Lachie Glass moved into the middle giving more run.
Jonty Priest was on fire on the forward flank, marking, tackling and chasing with ferocity.
The Dogs pinned them back in the third and managed a few scoring shots in the fourth quarter.
Final score: Bulldogs 2.5 (17) defeated by Imperials 13.17 (95)
Goals: Jonty Priest and Jet Russell, 1.
Best players: Sam Gates, Toby Reeve, Dan Farley, Jesse Liddington, Jonty Priest and Hunter Carter.
Giants Under-12
It was a tough contest for the Benalla Giants against a steady and consistent College team.
While the first quarter resulted in only one goal to College, the Giants, on the whole, were outplayed.
It was one of those days where the Giants were under pressure across all lines and most of the play was in our back line.
Noah Cooney was adjudged best afield as his performance at full-back saved many a goal through determination and smart decision-making.
Xavier DeFazio powered through the midfield from the first bounce while Tom Mount and birthday boy Tom Snell worked into the game as it progressed.
Alby Dickson, Harry Bast and Sam Mount were solid in defence while Charlie Bowen and Jack Hart very valiant all day.
While College was too good on the day, the Giants worked their way into the game and were competitive after a slow start.
Over the course of the second and third quarters, the Giants took risks and found their mojo. However, they consistently fell down across half-forward.
Congratulations to College on a four-quarter effort.
Final score:
College 4.14 (38) defeated Giants 2.1 (13)
Goals: Tom Mount and Tom Snell, 1.
Best players: Noah Cooney, Xavier DeFazio, Sam Mount, Tom Mount, Tom Snell and Harry Bast.
Giants Under-14
With 17 players on the track and no bench, the Giants Under-14 team knew it was going to be another hard day’s work.
The effort and positive talk on the field in the first half was acknowledged by the central umpire even though those efforts were not showing on the scoreboard.
During the second half the effort started to pay off with the skills becoming cleaner and the bounce of the ball finally going the Giants way.
Ayden Barnard became a reliable marking option with Kai and Josh Hart kicking three goals between them.
The Giants outscored College in the second half, leaving coach Hart beaming with pride.
Final score:
College 8.13 (61) def Giants 3.3 (21)
Goals: Josh Hart, 2. Kai Dervish, 1.
Best: Josh Hart, Liam Fielding, Noah Hogan, Hunter Nicholson, Harry Skelton and Dusty McCarthy
Giants Under-17
In a week where the dreaded cold and flu ripped through the Under-17 Giants group coach Wapling arrived with 15 available players.
In stepped the four under-14 boys Josh Hart, Dusty McCarthy, Liam Fielding and first gamer Kai Dervish.
The Giants boys started off well with kicking two of the first three goals in the game to be down by 20 points at quarter-time.
The second half saw an amazing passage of play in which all four under-14 boys were a part of a great team goal, much to the excitement of the whole group and gave the young boys the belief that they do belong there next year.
The boys are focused on getting some sick teammates back this week, putting in two great nights on the training track and being ready to take on Bright in what is a winnable game for the young developing team.
Final score: College 23.15 (253) defeated Giants 5.2 (32)
Goals: Josh Stacey, 2. Xavier Wapling, Max Smyth and Josh Hart, 1.
Best players: Will Botten, Xavier Wapling, Mitch Cooney, Josh Hart, Leo McNeill and Josh Stacey.
Under-12 Interleague wrap-up
The grass glistened with morning dew on a crisp Sunday morning in Mansfield as 24 of our finest under-12 boys from both the Bulldogs and Giants stepped onto the turf as a united Benalla team for the annual Benalla vs Mansfield Interleague game.
The whole ground was buzzing with excitement as everyone involved from both sides was looking forward to an amazing display of skill and teamwork.
Safe to say, no-one was left disappointed.
The first quarter was a real tussle with neither team able to kick a major score as the ball moved from one end of the field to the other.
All positions were on guard and in the action but neither side able to control the slippery ball early on.
As the game wore on and the grass began to dry, so did the ball and Benalla’s on-ballers started to win contests and get it into the forward line.
Ollie Parker kicked our first goal of the game to a rousing round of applause.
Xavier De Fazio capped off a best-on-field performance to also put one through the big sticks.
The most entertaining moment of the games was Alex Lambert showing true courage when he ran full speed with the ball and took what would certainly be a contender for mark of the year, sliding on his knees among Mansfield defenders.
What everyone got to witness on Sunday morning was two clubs with amazing cultures coming together and showcasing the talents of some of our brightest young stars.
Mansfield’s hospitality and warmth towards all players and volunteers from Benalla was second to none and for that the Benalla side thanks Mansfield deeply.
Final score: Mansfield 0.3 (3) defeated by Benalla 2.6 (18)
Goals: Ollie Parker and Xavier De Fazio, 1.
Best players: Every single player