In the penultimate round of the junior season, our under-17s sent a very strong and clear message to the rest of the teams by defeating the current ladder leaders.
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Our under-12 teams continued their surge showing why they deserve their finals spots, while the under-14s were relentless, showing courage in defeat and continued to make their opponents work hard for wins.
U12 Black
U12 Benalla Blacks met with College at HP Barr Reserve on Saturday, coming home with an incredible win. They had been held goalless until half time but managed to claw back at the scoreboard and grab the lead with Jack McKenzie kicking a goal with a minute to go in the game.
Caiden Vanderhorst was a tackling machine and Darcy Wallis had his best game of the year consistently finding the ball all game. Much the same could be said for Cameron Toppin and Rhys Kelly, who were finding themselves in and around the contest all game. Best win to watch all season. Go Blacks!
Score: Benalla Blacks 3.5 (23) def College 3.1 (19)
Goals: Ted Clancy, Dustin Nolan, Jack McKenzie
Best: Darcy Wallis, Ted Clancy, Caiden Vanderhorst, Cameron Toppin, Rhys Kelly, Cooper Rheese
U12 Red
Round 15 saw the Benalla Reds travel to Wangaratta on a frosty morning to take on the Kangaroos. It took the players a little while to warm into the game, but by the second quarter they had found their rhythm and kicked away with an impressive team performance.
It was fantastic to see so many different goal scorers, while a number of players stepped up and produced some of their best football of the season. Well done to the entire team on another outstanding effort.
Score: Benalla Reds 11.11 (77) def Kangaroos 0.1 (1)
Goals: Mitch McGee 3, Hunter Symes, Toby Smith 2, Ollie Ross, Joel Emmanuel, Kendrick Marino, Cyrus French
Best: Ollie Ross, Toby Smith, Tom Lambert, Hunter Symes, Ollie Farren and Isaac Frampton
U14 Black
With ladder positions predicting a tight contest, Benalla travelled to Barr Reserve to take on College on Saturday in perfect conditions.
Benalla started strongly with fast attacking play and gaining field position, allowing the forwards to find plenty of space. Taking a 10-point lead into the main break and with the momentum behind them, it looked as though Benalla would run away with the contest, however, College hit back in the third term, transitioning the ball with ease and dominating field position.
Benalla ran out of legs in the last quarter, falling back into bad habits and eventually going down by 29 points.
Bodie Gall played a phenomenal game in the ruck/backline with his competitiveness a feature of the game. Caleb Thwaites again gave his all along with the dynamic tandem of Jimmy Jackson and Jack Davies. Manny Bourke was clean and silky until copping a heavy knock late in the game, while captain Brayden Jacobs and Jake Soyer split the task of trying to nullify College’s most dangerous player, fully committing to the job and learning some valuable lessons along the way.
Benalla Black finish their season next weekend as they take on Centrals in Wangaratta.
Score: Benalla Black 4.5 (29) def by College 8.10 (58)
Goals: Jack Davies 3, Jimmy Jackson
Best: Bodie Gall, Jack Christie, Caleb Thwaites, Jake Soyer, Emmanuel Bourke, Brayden Jacobs
U14 Red
Another day of football has come and gone. With one round left and finals out of the equation, the season’s end is coming quick.
The weekend’s game against Kangaroos was always going to be a tough ask, but once again all the players gave 100 per cent effort for the entire game.
Our start seemed a little flat from outside the boundary line, but once we were able to get our hands on the ball and have a little bit of forward half play, we were back in the contest.
With a few tweaks at the break and our midfield starting to get on top, we were able to have much more time in our forward half of the ground. Unfortunately, we were unable to capitalise on the scoreboard.
I think there was a lot to take away from the game. It proved to everyone that our best football can match it with the top sides in the competition.
Score: Benalla Red 3.11 (29) def by Kangaroos 14.8 (92)
Goals: Josh Bamford, Sam Mount, Tom Snell
Best: Jakobi Williams, Jack Hart, Sam Mount, Tom Snell, Josh Bamford, Ollie Smith
U17s
In an absolute nail biter, taking on the undefeated ladder leaders College, the Benalla boys were up and about early.
Having only gone down to College by 10 points in their last encounter, they knew a win was definitely attainable.
A hard fought battle for the full 80 minutes of football gave our spectators plenty to cheer about.
When the final siren sounded, our under-17s had done exactly what was required. All players played their part and executed to perfection. The result was a two-point win and the knowledge that no game is ever over until it’s over.
Score: Benalla 9.8 (62) def College 8.12 (60)
Goals: Tom Mount, Xavier De Fazio 2, Charlie Bowen, Josh Montgomery, Trevor Maru, Josh Byers, Cooper Walsh
Best: Josh Montgomery, Noah Langlands, Josh Byers, Xavier De Fazio, Harry Skelton, Jobe Stovell