HASTINGS FNC
ON Saturday the club travelled to Devon Meadows after a five day break after our wonderful win in the Anzac Day game over the Frankston Bombers FNC.
The club knew that the trip to Glover Oval was not going to be an easy affair.
On a windy and awkward day for football the senior boys had a terrific win to keep their momentum going.
We now await another massive challenge with a table topping game against last year’s runners up at Hastings.
Senior Report
ANOTHER win for the boys cementing a 4-0 start to the season.
The boys played a great first half of football and followed up with a second half that highlighted our set ups and ball use.
Devon Meadows kicked six goals in ten minutes after half time and levelled the scores. But two late goals from Colin McVeigh gave us a little buffer, at 3 quarter time.
In the last quarter we were able to hold off another momentum swing and then kick away to win by a steady margin.
I have been really proud of the boy’s start to the year and they are showing great team spirit.
Reserves Report
WE came into the game against the reigning premier with a lot of confidence after last week’s great win. We also knew it weas going to be a contest.
With Devon Meadows kicking with the wind in the first quarter our back six stood very well and limited there scoring to only three goals.
When we went with the wind in the second we were very good and established a half time lead.
Unfortunately that’s where we stopped.
We came out after half time asleep and they took advantage piling on five unanswered goals.
We managed to wrestle some momentum back and kick a few goals ourselves in the last but the game was gone.
An undisciplined and lack lustre second half overshadowed a good first half.
We have to bounce back and fix our deficiencies quickly has we have another big challenge this week.
Best afield: Kyle Robb, Matt Sawosz, Terry Green.
Under 19s Report
WE travelled out to Devon Meadows expecting a close competitive game and that’s exactly what we got.
The boys started fantastically, restricting the opposition’s space and drive.
Shelby Lothian Burdett and Peter Megee were putting on some great tackles to allow us first use out of the middle while Sean Hewitt was proving to be a great target forward.
Once again our backline stood up well with new boy Lochlan Lyeness providing run and creating options moving out of defence.
In the second our backline, led by Aaron King and Fraser Rendall, continued to push deep into the forward line and started to trouble the opposition who struggled to get the ball out of our forward fifty.
Going into half time the boys were full of confidence, but after Devon Meadows kicked a couple of goals on the run our team seemed to lose heart for the contest and spent the rest of the game chasing the opposition.
If we are to improve as a team we need to stand strong and fight to the no matter the score.
Good signs though from a young team just starting to find their feet in this competition.
Best this week: Aaron King, Shelby Lothian Burdett, Fraser Rendall and new boy Lochlan Lyness who thankfully proved to be okay after a knock to the chest.
Next week we meet Somerville; a great chance to keep on learning and building a great competitive team.
Netball Report
AFTER two weeks of playing at home, it was time to hit the road.
Both the sun and wind joined us this Saturday as we faced the girls of Devon Meadows at Glover Reserve.
Devon Meadows are well known for their strong zone defence, so we knew it was going to be our toughest clash yet.
Our C Grade girls had noticeable improvement this week, specifically with their defensive end throw ins, which was a focus in training this week.
Our ball movement out of defence into offence was also much smoother, especially impressive with the added pressure of the Devon Meadows zone.
Areas for improvement for this week is our defensive pressure from every player on the court. Throughout the match, Devon Meadows played a good strong game, scoring much too easily against us.
Moving onto B Grade girls, we would like to firstly commend the well-rounded game the B Grade Devon Meadows girls played. They had strong movement down the court and excellent court awareness among their side.
Our B Grade Blues girls visibly started flat. We chased our tails for the first half, eventually finding our fight in the second half.
Our movement out of defence was more reliable this week, but unfortunately we have more work to do for further movement into our offensive end.
We had plenty of opportunities to score goals, but unfortunately we were unable to convert. This was a result of our goal inaccuracy and the strong defensive work by Devon Meadows.
Our main focus point for the upcoming week is an overall lift in intensity on the court and playing good strong netball from the first whistle.
***
Upcoming Functions: John Coleman Luncheon, 21 May including Hastings Hall of Fame Player/Admin Induction. $65 per person.
Neil “Knuckles” Kerley Luncheon, 28 May at 12pm with ex-Footscray Brownlow Medallist John Schultz. Cost $40. All bookings through the club on 5979 1740.
Mid Year Gala Ball at the Mornington Racecourse, 28 May at 7pm sharp. Tickets $65 for a single. See Beth and Emma.
First published in the Western Port News – 3 May 2016
