On Saturday, the U14 Giants took on Mansfield in the preliminary final.
In the past six weeks this Giants team had been building and had come into form at the pointy end of the season.
In what was our warmest game day for the season it was going to be a hard-fought battle with both teams desperate to make it to the final dance.
From the first bounce it was a see-sawing tussle, with both teams attacking the contest and rebounding the ball out of defence.
Max Smyth was exciting down forward kicking goals and keeping the Giants just in front at at the first break.
Owain Boyle and Xavier Wapling played an exceptional game rotating through the spine providing a target, winning the ball and denying opportunities under a huge amount of defensive pressure from the Eagles.
The second quarter had the Eagles surge ahead, but with some inaccurate kicking the hard-working Giants stayed in touch.
In the third the two Josh’s worked hard in the engine room and on the rebound desperately pushing the ball forward to keep the Giants in touch.
Logan Hyland, Billy Buitenhuis and Liam Fielding applied constant defensive pressure keeping the Eagles’ scoreline within reach and pushing the ball forward creating opportunities for the Giants to score.
The fourth quarter had the Giants give it their all, they tackled and ran and gave themselves every opportunity, but unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be, with the Eagles running out winners 5.17.47 to 5.5.35.
Every one of these young men worked tirelessly and gave their all, no-one could doubt they left it all out on the park and the coaches, team manager and families couldn’t be prouder of the group.
Goalkickers: Max Smyth 4, Owain Boyle 1
Best Players: Owain Boyle, Josh Hart, Josh Mathieson, Max Smyth, Logan Hyland and Xavier Wapling.
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