Volunteers were the flavour of the week for Round 5 action in the Bendigo Junior Football League as both of the Castlemaine Football Netball Club Juniors Under 12 teams were on show at Wesley Hill.
Special thanks to the club’s volunteers sponsor, Grainger Legal, who helped ensure all helpers around the club were looked after well in acknowledgment of Volunteers Week.
First up were the 12D all-stars as they took on St Francis in a competitive and entertaining contest. The first quarter started positively for the home team as they landed the opening blows. Baz Fitzpatrick started well and the visitors were finding it hard to break through his solid defence. Quarter-time scores were 2.3 (15) to 0.0 (0).
The second stanza went much the same way as the first with the young Pies continuing to hold sway. Todd Haire was showing his polish through the middle of the ground and Violet Sharrock’s quick hands began opening up the play. Half time had the home side up 3.4 (22) to 1.2 (8).
The premiership quarter started with a flurry as the contest really took hold.
St Francis had it all to play for and threw everything they had at the locals who were able to stand tall in the face of the onslaught. Fitzpatrick remained solid behind the ball and George Davey was working well through the middle of the ground. Scores at the end of the third were 5.4 (34) against 2.3 (15).
The final quarter saw the young Magpie team finish off positively, enjoying their work and celebrating strongly as a team. Jamie Barrett-Norton was terrific, and Elijah Hardman showed some real style in the front half of the ground, teaming well with Nate Parsons who capitalised with two goals. Final scores Castlemaine 6.4 (40) to 2.7 St Francis (19).
Best players for the young Magpies were Haire, Fitzpatrick, Barrett-Norton and Jonah Forbes Casey.
The second game of the day saw the 12B legends take on the Huntly Hawks in an arm-wrestle from start-to-end. Scores were low throughout the first term as both sides sounded each other out, unable to make headway on the scoreboard. The home side held firm, though, and clung to a slender 0.3 (3) to 0.0 (0) lead.
The second quarter followed the trend of the first as scoring was hard to come by.
The defences of both teams held up well with Reuben O’Sullivan impassable for the Pies, while Sandy Atkin began to get into the game and used his run to great effect.
Half time it was an inaccurate Magpies 0.5 (5) to Huntly’s 1.1 (7).
The game changed complexion in the third quarter as Huntly began to find space in their front half. This led to a number of scores coming from players ‘out the back’, and they were able to lock the ball in their attacking zone. Sid Wiese jagged a goal for the Pies to keep them in the hunt but it was 1.8 (14) versus 3.2 (20) at the final change.
The fourth term, however, saw the momentum swing back the Magpie’s way. Clancy Hendrickson was enormous in pushing the ball forward and Fletcher Cheesman was fighting strongly to hold the ball in attack. But despite the multiple forays forward, the young Pies simply couldn’t get it through the big sticks. But then, enter fast Eddie Carson who fought hard to win a ground ball deep in attack, spun out of trouble and
calmly snapped a goal to give the lead to the home side. In a tense last four minutes, 12B stood firm to hold on for an unforgettable 2.11 (23) to 3.3 (21) victory.
Best players on the day were George Cordy, Hendrickson, Atkin, O’Sullivan and Darcy Brown.
In away games this week, the Under 10s travelled to Strathfieldsaye and enjoyed a spirited contest against the Storm. They continued their developing team play and showed off some building levels of ball movement.
Meanwhile, the sole Sunday game was the Under 14s who travelled to Ewing Park to take on Sandhurst. It was a tough game for the travellers who went down to the Dragons 14.18 (102) to 6.0 (36).
Backing across the community for the Junior club has been high and the club is rapt to have such positive and energetic supporters join in. Check the fixtures on the Castlemaine Football Netball Club – Juniors Facebook page and come down to the Castlemaine Rod Shop Canteen for a coffee or a bite to eat. Go Junior Pies!