Match Report Monday Returns in 2009

As you may recall me mentioning I've got both Sparky and Her Majesty playing football this year. So does that mean 2 match reports? No. Quite frankly Her Majesty's Under 7s team does not have the skills to offer decent commentary. They're cute as hell and it's very relaxing to watch compared to Sparky's team, but even with a coach out on the field to help them it's like herding cats. I'll likely just give a brief update on how Her Majesty is doing - and yes, she's the only girl on her team, one of only two girls in the club and we haven't come across another girl on another team yet.

Her Majesty at home in her gear.

Sparky's reports will be a little light on the details for now. Whereas last year we struggled to get a full 13 on the field, never mind reserves, we now have so many new boys that one will be required to miss the game every week as we are only allowed to have 19 boys on the game sheet. In addition, there are so many new boys that I can't keep their names straight - and a lot of them seem to start with 'J'. I'm pretty sure we have another Jack and 2 Jakes on top of the 2 Jacks and a Jackson, plus a Josh and a Jarrod we already had.

I will also have times where both kids will have games too close together and in two different locations. This coming week, for example, Sparky will play in Deception Bay and Her Majesty will be at home in Bardon. Now that not may mean anything to some of you but they're well over an hour apart, so if the times are close then I will be taking one child and The Hermit will be taking the other. Details on the one I miss will, naturally, be sketchy.

Right - with all the details out of the road, let's get to it!

Round 3 U7s N1
Date: 22 March 2009, 9:00 am kickoff
Where: Kirby Park, Aspley
Who: Aspley Hornets v Wests Panthers

Oh, and there will be no score for the littlies games. Sure they do score tries, and occasionally kick a conversion goal, but we don't keep track.

That's her game face - complete with mouthguard and headgear.

Her Majesty played for 3 and a bit quarters - going on for 5 minutes in the quarter she was supposed to be off when someone was injured. She did tell me after the game that some of the boys on the other team were laughing at her because she was a girl playing football, but she didn't let it bother her during the game. She is still pretty hesitant on the field - you'd think after all these years of watching Sparky play she'd be more confident - but she's getting there. She did make a couple of runs with the ball and helped in a few tackles, and even tried for a conversion! Most importantly she's still liking the game and looks forward to training on Monday nights.

Round 3 U14s, Div 2
Date: 22 March 2009, 12:15 pm kickoff
Where: Purtell Park, Bardon
Who: Wests Panthers v Albany Creek Crushers
Score: 20-6, Wests. Two in a row!

Two, you're asking? But it's round 3. I know... they had a forfeit in round 1 so while they got the points it didn't give them an actual game to test their skill. They pulled off a 30-22 win last week over the Aspley Hornets in a game where they had a blinder of a first half and then went missing in the second half.

So did they do the same this week? Not on your life. The two teams were pretty evenly matched, with Wests having more opportunity to score in the first half. Zack (I think) was the first to put points on the board (if we had one), diving over in the far left corner. Josh(I think) scored next under the black dot, setting up a much easier conversion and leaving Albany Creek shut out in the first half with the score 10-0.

The Crushers struck back early in the second half off an intercept, running the length of the field to come within 4 points. Wests looked wobbly for a bit, at one point conceding 3 penalties in a row, but lots of chatter (NOT fighting) and encouragement on the field saw them deny Albany Creek and forced errors, allowing them to hold their lead. In the final 10 minutes they broke the game open, scoring 2 quick tries (both by Jackson I think) and widening the gap to a 20-6 lead.

It was such a great effort by all involved. A couple of the newbies had a fantastic game, and it's great to hear them all talk to each other and take direction from each other (not to mention actually giving directions as well) without getting angry. Unless Deception Bay had a blinder of a game, the boys should remain at the top of the ladder - a feat never accomplished by them.

GO PANTHERS!!!