This weekend saw some great efforts from our players. Good work by the D2 Women’s Gold team who fronted up for 2 matches in 2 days to play the match postponed 2 weeks ago. The D2 Women’s Maroon team did this last week – shows what great commitment our members have.
Highlights of the round included:
- great goalkeeping by Ely for U11 White – a perfect stop in front of goal with no prior training in the position.
- Newtown White (U15) had a fantastic game too – well done all.
- great efforts by junior players, Erin and Amber who played their first senior games
MINKEY
Newtown White vs College White.
Everyone is commenting on how well Newtown White are playing and improving week by week. We are seeing some real great teamwork developing as each week passes. Our ball skills and ‘reading’ of the play is also improving. Our Coach Kellie was most impressed with:
- The way we stayed in our positions;
- Our calling for the ball (in big loud voices!);
- Our play out wide;
- The way we trapped and passed (special mentioned to Liam).
Liam received the Best Team Player Award for his impressive skills with trapping and passing the ball and lining up some really good play.
Newtown Maroon vs Golden Plains
Newtown Maroon are improving their focus on the game and their passing every week. Some great position by Paige and nice passing earned her the Best Team Player award this week. Excellent defence by Newtown stopped many shots at goal but Golden Plains’ strong attack created many pressure situations for us. Newtown Maroon are beginning to move the ball wider and Brandon made some great passes to team mates in good position. Thanks to Golden Plains for loaning us a player to balance the numbers.
Newtown Gold v Geelong
A tough game this week, but the team persisted and managed to score some goals. There was good passing between Eoin & Basyl as well as Adrian & Lochlan. Emma showed great improvement in her defence. The team are really starting to stay in their positions. Grace passed the ball with much more power this week & stayed in her position throughout the game winning her the Best Team Player award.
UNDER 11
Newtown White vs Golden Plains 1-2
Round 6 was a great game for Newtown White. Everyone worked well to open up the field and there was some impressive use of the ball. The whole team did an admirable job of keeping the ball out of the middle and there was a lot more play out wide. There was also a lot more dribbling and passing to each other. Special mention to Ely who took on the role of goalie for the first time. Despite their hard work and great passing, Newtown White went down to Golden Plains 1-2 but overall it was the best game of the season.
Newtown Maroon Vs Kardinia 0-0
Although a scoreless draw, Newtown dominated a lot of the play, but were thwarted on many occasions by excellent goalkeeping by Kardinia. In a closely fought match, play was again congested in the centre early on before the Maroons began to implement their strategies of wide clearances, more passing and running together up the wings to create scoring opportunities. Some firm passing from Harry and Angus, and excellent trapping by Robbo broke the game apart in the latter stages, and although there were no conversions, the excitement in the crowd was palpable. Team player awards to Sarah and Kasey who passed the pads onto Zeke who had a quiet game in goals but looked very promising at training. Congratulations to Willo on 25 games. We look forward to his next catchphrase, this time reminding the team not to crowd each other, to join his previous beauties “Eye Stick Wide” (meaning Eyes on the ball, Sticks on the ground, pass Wide), and with clearances, “NAG, NAG, NAG” (Never Across Goals).
UNDER 13
Newtown Maroon vs Golden Plains 2-1
An energetic game this week with players inspired by recent JCC and Wildcats selections I think!! Coming up against top ranked team Golden Plains, created some hunger for another good performance. There was great forward movement of the ball with the majority of play in Newtown’s half. Amber and Rachel created fantastic options moving forward. Strong and consistent team play saw Tom Mahon finishing off nicely with 2 goals scored in first half. There were further opportunities to score from penalty corners with Newtown Maroon having 2 awarded to them in first half. This is an area that will be one to focus on!! Coaches and GK Austin, reminded the half backs and inners of their roles to make opposition players accountable by manning up and creating pressure. This was built on in second half but Golden Plains had some success in scoring, to finish the game 2:1. Great to see some really lovely hockey and team work being played out.
Newtown White vs Geelong College 1-2
It was a tentative start to game for Newtown White and Geelong College quickly capitalised on the lack of structure in the midfield and scored within the first five minutes. Play for the majority of the first half was in Newtown White territory and Caleb and Austin did a sterling job in defending the goal during general play and a short corner. Newtown White found their groove late in the first half and made a couple of forays into the Geelong College half. A signature move up the left wing eventually yielded a short corner to Newtown White, which was converted into a goal through some excellent work by Erin.
Newtown White played their more natural game at the start of the second half with incisive runs along the wings and well placed crosses in front of goal. They were unlucky not to score with shots from Tom, Erin and Rachel only narrowly missing goal. Play during the middle of the second half was back and forth with neither team generating any genuine scoring opportunities. Late in the second half Geelong College scored again but had to pepper Austin with shots to find the back of the net. Newtown White were awarded a short corner just before the final whistle but unfortunately were not able to score.
Notable efforts throughout the whole game by Emily, Chloe and Amelia who worked tirelessly and were not afraid to contest the ball. Thanks also to Austin from U13 Maroon for goal keeping at late notice and three U11 recruits Will, Robbo and Willo for covering a few missing U13 regulars. Despite not coming away with a victory, it was a competitive game and Newtown White did well considering the relatively young team fielded.
UNDER 15
Newtown White vs Bellarine Storm 11-0
Bellarine were significantly younger with the majority of their players being U/13, that said, both teams showed great sportsmanship. We dominated the play and that was reflected on the scoreboard, it was fabulous to see 8 of our players score this week. Scorers this week – Jesse 3, Laurence 2 and individuals to Alex, Bella, Bronte, Corey, Laura and Tom McD. Well done team. Thanks to Tom McD for playing with us this week.
Special mention to Don for coaching this week, his morning started coaching U/15’s, followed by U/17’s, played seniors and finished with canteen duty – your contribution to the club is greatly appreciated.
Newtown Maroon vs Kardinia Maroon 1-1
UNDER 17
Newtown Maroon played Torquay this week and came away with a 3-2 win. Torquay had a stronger team this week and played out a hard fought contest. Luke T started at wing and deflected in great goal from an Angus cross-ball early in the first half, Torquay got one back to level the scores 1 all at half time. The second half saw Emma score an individual goal starting from the 25 and Angus followed up shortly after with another. Torquay scored late in the game, but our defence held well with Patrick, Nic, and Amy keeping the ball rebounding out of our defence till the final whistle blew.
Newtown White vs Saints 7-3
A great game by Newtown with lots of skill, passing well, finding space and applying plenty of pressure in the attacking half. Brodie had to work hard all game with several attacking shots around the D, aided by Oliver, Beth and Jack defending well. A lot of chasing by Alex, Miles and Jack winning possession with Baden, Sean and Dan working through the Saints back line banging in shots at goal and getting results. Newtown made good use of the wings with Courtney in great position and it was good to have Amy back on the team. Goals to Dan, Amy, Sean, Alex and Baden. Well done Whites and congratulations on a solid win against a strong opponent. Thanks go to Jack, Corey and Oliver for filling in and to Amy’s dad for doing canteen at short notice.
Division 1 Men
Newtown Falcons – Bye
Division 1 Women
Newtown Falcons vs Corio 2-1
Division 2 Men
Newtown White vs Newtown Maroon 7-1
Newtown White were determined this week to play to our usual game plan with a team that is now mostly settled, apart from a couple of injuries and rep team absences. Credit to Maroon that they kept fighting right through the match also in what ended up being a hard played game by both sides. Many of the mid-field strategies White have been working on came together well on the weekend with a few lessons still to be learnt up front (like go around the defence / goalie rather than through). Credit goes to the entire forward line this week that kept taking it to the Maroon defence even though there were many more goals saved than scored.
Division 2 Women
Newtown Maroon vs Newtown White 2-1
A big running game from both teams with forwards setting up a lot of combinations in the circle. Great defence from Bron and Katrina to get the ball up to the forward line. Halves Andy, Pam and Jac were under the pump and put up a lot of play. Fast legs from Rachel, Katey and Nicola saw some quick runs at goal with Sarah and Deanne well placed for deflections. A big thank you to Hillary for playing for the Whites. And welcome back Pammy!
Newtown White vs Newtown Maroon 1-2
Another great effort from Newtown White, missing a few players, so thanks to Hil for filling in. Great defence by Colleen and Hil, who pushed upfield and cut off Maroon attacks early. Good midfield position and controlled play by Katelyn and Kellie put the ball into attack, and Phoebe continues to give maximum effort, running to space and passing to team mates. Great work by Rachel and Cait in the second half especially allowed Newtown White to use the width of the field to get into attack and create a number of scoring opportunities. The ‘never give up’ attitude of the Newtown White players paid off with Phoebe scoring a goal in a scramble in front of goal after a short corner right on full time. Well done Newtown White.
Newtown Gold vs Golden Plains 1-0
It was a tough game for a depleted Gold side; many thanks to Penny and Nerida for doubling up from the Falcons and to Amber and Erin who stepped up to play their first senior games and did a great job. It was an even first half; we had the better of the play in the second half, earning countless short corners, but had a tough time converting. Terrific run forward again from Dom and Tess, really solid defence from Bron and Meg and some great work through the middle from Penny and Nerida kept the ball in our half for most of the game. A terrific goal from Peta in the dying minutes, followed by some hard work in defence, secured a win for Gold against an impressive Golden Plains outfit.
D2 Womens Gold vs Saints 0-0 (rescheduled)
More than a fortnight after our full and fresh complement of players were sent home from the College field we scrambled together a team and took to Stead Park Monday night for our Round 7 clash against the Saints. With some weary bodies following Sunday’s tough clash against Golden Plains, Gold did well to run out a draw against a fresher Saints who were coming off a round 9 bye. Tess took on acting captain duties and put on a superb performance in the centre, coming painfully close to scoring a field goal on more than one occasion; Kate also had a great run on the wing, creating plenty of opportunities up forward. Dana put on a brilliant show on the backline, keeping the ball well out of the Saints’ circle for most of the game. Many thanks to Ainsley, who re-joined Gold for a delayed final game before moving up to the Falcons, to Penny B, who doubled up twice for us this weekend and provided great run and skill through the middle and to Bec, who we also borrowed from the Falcons and whose run up forward was simply sensational.
