Under 14s Yellow match report
THE Mansfield Eagles under 14 Yellow side headed to Wangaratta's Barr Reserve for their season opener on Sunday 6 April against College Junior Football Club.
In perfect conditions with a slight breeze and several players down, the Eagles kept their taller opponents to two goals in the first quarter with many pressure acts and tackles from our midfielders and backline keeping us in touch despite the quarter time score.
With the wind at our backs, the Eagles attacked the second quarter with gusto, hitting the scoreboard with frequency.
In a change from the ruck, Billy Turner went forward and provided a dangerous target.
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Callum Logan-Williams was extremely busy on the wing, providing plenty of pace and dash.
Macc Watson was his bullish self, racking up possessions and providing plenty of drive.
At the long break, after outscoring the opposition in the second term, the Eagles again applied scoreboard pressure thanks to the team's tenacious tackling led by Cooper Martin and Charlie Howie who joined his team mate from the under 12s, Max Strong to fill in and certainly neither of them looked out of place.
Newly appointed captain Jake Hoskin, led the way down back repelling many attacks and setting up the Eagles going forward.
In what was the Eagles best quarter and the second out of three we won for the day, we went into the three quarter break only nine points down having had the majority of play and the ascendency on the scoreboard in the third term.
The Eagles left the quarter time break with plenty of enthusiasm and positivity and started well, however with a definite height advantage, College ran the game out and were victorious at the final siren 11.11.77 vs 5.8.38.
The Eagles, while gracious in defeat, were gallant in effort and determination and should be proud of their round one efforts.
Newly appointed captains in Jake Hoskin, Cooper Martin and Billy Turner are destined to lead the team well and with the intent of the entire team, good things await.
Many thanks to all of the volunteers and supporters today, your help is greatly appreciated and without it, junior sport is not possible.
Best players: Jake Hoskin, Cooper Martin, Billy Turner, Macc Watson, Charlie Howie, Callum Logan Williams
Goals: Billy Turner 4, Crosby Bretherton 1
Under 14s Blue match report
BEAUTIFUL conditions greeted the Mansfield Under 14s Blue team to kick off their 2025 campaign at North Wangaratta Rec Reserve against Centrals.
On June 30 last year many of the boys who last played here were beaten 140-19, but today was a new season and they were keen to atone for the previous result.
They started brilliantly as co-captain Reeve Purday was dominating in the ruck, getting the ball forward quickly to an open forward line for Jack Clydesdale to run rampant and with brilliant crumbing and speed from the small forwards like Hamish Brown, the Eagles were up and about early and carried a 32 point lead into quarter time.
The second quarter saw a more even contest and The Centrals were able to score their first goal with the wind to win the quarter by six points.
If not for some great defensive work from fellow co-captain Oscar Pigdon and Jax Heath it could have been closer at half time, but the Eagles still held a 26 point lead.
After half time the game could have gone either way, but the midfield of the Eagles lifted againand showed their dominance as Jay Kennersley, Levi Stevenson and Hudson George drove theEagles forward consistently with great skill and determination to see the forwards finish off the midfield's hard work to kick 6-5 to 0.
Coming in at ¾ time leading by a handy 67 point margin.
The last quarter the magnets were moved about and into the breeze where no goals had been scored into, the Eagles managed to kick 3-3 to 0 and finish the game off in style.
With first gamer Trenton Bowen kicking his first goal, which could have been 3 if not for some more luck.
The last term also saw bottom age players in Ashton Prosser and Ben Bruce show their talents in their first Under 14s match, which saw the Eagle run out winners 14-13-97 to 1-3-9.
Best players: Reeve Purday, Jay Kennersley, Jack Clydesdale, Levi Stevenson, Hudson George, Oscar Pigdon
Goal kickers: Jack Clydesdale 4, Reeve Purday 3, Mitch Storer 2, Oscar Pigdon 1, Jay Kennersley 1, Hamish Brown 1, Levi Stevenson 1, Trenton Bowen 1.
