Sport
27 June, 2024
Good results for MCDFNL juniors against Horsham with three wins from five games
Sunday was junior interleague day for the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League (MCDFNL), with the league-wide talents across the competition helping the league secure three wins from five games against the Horsham District...
Sunday was junior interleague day for the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League (MCDFNL), with the league-wide talents across the competition helping the league secure three wins from five games against the Horsham District Football Netball League.
The MCDFNL were able to take wins in the under 13 and under 17 football games, while there was also a win in the under 13 netball game, with many young stars showing how well their game has been able to translate to the interleague level.
In the under 13 football game, the MCDFNL essentially trailed throughout the morning, but a big last quarter helped the league defeat Horsham 51-39.
It was a tougher outing for the under 15s, with Horsham putting out a very strong team with bigger bodies that overwhelmed the MCDFNL, and eventually taking a 121-30 win.
The under 17 game was the most dramatic, with the MCDFNL sitting 17 points behind at the last change.
But three quick goals allowed the league to sit in front in what would be a wild final quarter, before Horsham hit back.
Nevertheless, a final-minute goal helped the MCDFNL take a 65-62 victory.
On the netball court, the under 13s were able to overrun the Horsham league with a great defensive performance, taking a 20-14 victory.
The under 15 game was a little tougher, with Horsham putting together a good team, but in a high-quality game the MCDFNL team never gave up, despite losing 48-27.
Under 13 football coach James Robertson spoke highly of his charges throughout Sunday’s game, especially the mental toughness of having to come from behind to take the win.
“There are some amazing footballers there. Like any team sport, there are a handful that get celebrated, but it was a real team effort,” he said.
“We hadn’t led all match. Horsham kicked a goal just before the siren at quarter time, and another just before the siren at half time.
“Those goals can break the spirit of a team, but they kept fighting. In the last quarter, they got in front, Horsham kicked a goal to equalise, but the kids had to dig deep and find another gear to finish it off.”
Robertson spoke of the importance of working for one another, which he believed the group had in spades.
“I’m hugely proud. I said to the boys after the game that we were most proud of the way they played. They played the way we asked them to play, and I said in team sport, it’s important,” he said.
“There may be your own game, but it is bigger than you — there’s a whole team and the coaches are trying to get you to play together, which means you have to follow the instructions the coaches give you, and we had a lot of runners delivering messages.
“The other reason I said it is important is as they move up in their football, they will play at higher levels, and to sustain their place in the team, they need to follow those instructions.”
Robertson had the hard choice of picking standouts who helped the MCDFNL take their win.
“The captain, Tristan Attard from Lexton, he was a rock at centre half back, he was our best player on the ground last year, and he was crucial,” he said.
“Billy Rumpff, from Carisbrook, the vice-captain, in his first year of interleague, was amazing and not scared of it whatsoever. He is the complete player, to be honest.
“He also had the guts to kick some torpedo’s in-game — I saw him kick a few in the jumper presentations, and I told him I wanted to see them in the game, and he did.
“Judd Ross from Natte Bealiba had a full four-quarter game and he covered a lot of territory. He was dangerous forward, streaking down the wing and I saw him tackling. He did a little bit of everything and he has really matured a lot. He also played last year.
“Ollie Ross won best on ground out of the two teams, and I think the thing about his game that stood out was his ball use under extreme pressure.
“He looked like he had time when I think about his game and I saw him every time with the ball, he looked like he had space all around him.
“We know its not like that — interleague is so much faster than at club level, and a lot of the kids talked about how fast it was, so it showed how capable he is that the smallest player on the ground was the best player on the ground.”
Under 13 netball coach, and MCDFNL operations manager Tayla Banham, echoed similar sentiments from her side of things about her team.
“The girls were stoked. There were a few comments from those in the program and pathway last year that they got beaten last year, and wanted to be competitive, which is unreal from a group of under 13 girls. They were happy to represent the league and they were grateful, which shows a lot of promise for them all,” she said.
Banham was grateful for the support the teams showed in allowing the group to succeed on the day.
“We had a good representation from the clubs. There were a couple of girls who were teammates on a Saturday, but we started with a squad of 12 and most of them are opposition on a Saturday, so to come together after training sessions and a short tournament prior to Sunday shows how great it is and how much talent they have,” she said.
“To go from opponents the day before to pulling it together and having a team effort is something to be proud of.”
Like Robertson, Banham had a tough time picking standouts.
“Shayla Blair from Avoca, her mother is a great netballer, and everyone would know that in our league, but the promise she has makes her one to watch,” she said.
“The scoreline showed how well the defence managed to keep some high-class goalers to just 14 for the game. They played with control and discipline.
“The combination of Amali Kerville and Remi Baker looked like they had played together for years, so it’s a real credit to them to develop that connection on the court.
“It’s a credit to all the girls, all the way from defence into the goals, but those three were standouts throughout the course of the match.”
As operations manager, Banham also expressed how proud she was that the league were able to secure three wins against a quality Horsham opposition.
“It’s a credit to our clubs to give these kids the opportunity — they are the ones who nominate them and encourage them to go to that next level,” she said.
“To come away with three wins is amazing. They put on the dresses and jumpers with pride and to win against a really strong competition is something to be really proud of.”