Junior football returned to Orbost on Sunday, with the Blues hosting a home fixture against Lindenow at Lochiel Park in round nine of the East Gippsland Junior Football Association.
Conditions were wet and soggy, but it certainly didn’t deter the excitement and joy on the kids faces as they love playing these conditions, but maybe not so the mums dads that deal with the washing afterwards.
UNDER 11s
The young Blues started slow today but their determination grew as the game went on, applying really good defensive pressure in the second half, which resulted in plenty of turnovers, which abled the ball to move in Orbost forward line.
Unfortunately no scores, but it wasn’t without trying.
Ruby Faithfull and Jax Marsh racked up the possessions, while Zayn Smith and Emmett Clementine cleared the packs with plenty of run.
Beau Russell and Angus Seal showed some superb marking ability in the slippery wet conditions.
Awards went to Charlotte Burt who worked hard each time the ball went into her space and tried hard to get her hands on the ball.
Jaxon Murry also receives an award for a being brave and having a crack, he took a great mark during the game today and listened to the umpire to make sure he took his time before launching it into the forward line (straight to his sister).
UNDER 13s
Starting with a few key players out to illness, it was a tough day slogging it out against the Cats in the wet conditions.
Lindenow kicked four goals in the first term and the Blues were reverted to playing catch up from that point onwards.
Angus Seal and Chad Russell stepped up from the under 11s to assist with numbers, their efforts didn’t go unoticed.
The young Blues continue to improve each game, with the highlight of Sunday’s match being some great passages of play linking up several kick and mark possessions, showing that the training drills are working well.
Hayley Russell and Jemima Seal showing clean hands in the conditions, while Kayden Smith and Lachlan Robinson were busy in the midfield constantly surging the ball forward, however the Lindenow backline was too strong, keeping the Blues to just one goal.
Gemma Geer also had another good game, leading from the front all day.
UNDER 15s
The under 15’s faced a crunch match, with the loser dropping a game outside of the top four.
in true winter conditions, the Blues started well as they have been in previous weeks, with the defenders squeezing up the ground making it hard for the Lindenow to keep possession.
It was a low scoring affair with contest after contest and neither team giving an inch, at halftime it was Lindenow up by just five points.
Zane Holley (three goals) and Xavier Martin were proving to be a handful up forward, while Cooper Findley, Jack Barnes, Khysen Rowe and Zaid Nordstrom were constantly defying the opposition forward thrusts time and time again.
Tye Robinson, Daniel Martin and Kaine Morrison were in everything all over the ground, getting their hands on the footy with the ball spending more time on the ground than in the air.
Jamison Bills was rock solid on the last line of defence with help from Chase Cullinan battled hard all day.
Lindenow got over the line by 20 points, after a four goal to two second half, but Orbost never gave in.
Better players for the Blues were Findley, Bills, Tye Robinson, Holley and Barnes.
THIS WEEK
Orbost Snowy Rovers trek down the road to tackle arch nemesis Lakes Entrance on Sunday in three action packed games.
The under 11s kick of the day at the Lakeside Oval at 10.30am.
IMAGE: It was a tough slog in the soggy conditions for Orbost Snowy’s Khysen Rowe and the under 15 defensive line against Lindenow at Lochiel Park last Sunday. (PS)
