2016 ROUND 11 V ST BEDES/MENTONE

Teams	1st Q.	2nd Q.	3rd Q.	4th Q.
Beaumaris	5.1:31	9.1:55	12.4:76	15.6:96
St Bedes/Mentone	3.2:20	7.3:45	12.5:77	15.7:97
Goalkickers : Daniel Gribbin 3, Lachlan Boyd 2, Nick Dickinson 2, Matt Petering 2, Will Murton 2, Drew Kelly 1, Will Edmonds 1, Rob Cathcart 1, Jack Grange 1.

No	Player	No	Player	No	Player	No	Player
2	Robert Cathcart	3	Matt Petering	7	Tom Dean	8	Josh Ward
11	Scott Braithwaite	12	Scott Gower	13	Will Murton	15	Lachlan Boyd
18	Will Edmonds	19	Joel Di Natale	20	Callan Buckley	23	Ben McLean
25	Daniel Gribbin	26	Michel De Fontenay	27	Jack Grange	29	Tim Cumming
35	Luke Globan	41	Damian Johns	45	Drew Kelly	48	Matthew Lovejoy
55	Will Gillespie	56	Nick Dickinson

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"Losing is only temporary and not all encompassing. You must simply study it, learn from it, and try hard not to lose the same way again. Then you must have the self-control to forget about it."

John Wooden (Basketball Coach UCLA)*.

It would be unrealistic to think we would go through the season undefeated (although it would have been nice to have a 'Championship Season') but here we are after Round 11 now with two defeats in a row. The latest by the 'barest of margins'. Compared to last week the ground was in pretty good shape, except for a muddy wicket area, and the rain had moved on, so it was going to be a good day for football. Particularly as this was for top spot on the ladder.

A deft little tap from Dickinson from just outside the top of the goal square to Cathcart and we had our first goal in just over 60 seconds. A couple of minutes later De Fontenay gathered a ball on the ground and quickly fired off a handball to Dean who strolled his way through some traffic and sat the ball right at the top of the goal square. Boyd in the perfect position and using his height advantage to perfection took the mark from behind and we had our second goal. Things were looking good. Petering back in the side after missing last week (did he not like the idea of playing in the mud at Monash?!!) had nine effective disposals for the quarter and kicked a goal while Braithwaite also got his hands on the ball often with eight effective disposals. Tim Cumming was dominating the ruck contests and we went to the first break leading 5-1-31 to 3-2-20.

The second quarter began and unfortunately we couldn't match the sharp opening of the first quarter. Nearly 24 minutes elapsed before we scored our first goal. St.Bedes had other ideas and on the back of a couple free kicks they were able to find ex-Beaumaris Junior, Alex Smout, on a lead and St Bedes had the first for the quarter. They managed to kick another two goals before we scored one of our own. Cumming was still in control of the rucks which we probably weren't utilising to our advantage. We were getting more the ball than St Bedes but rushed kicks were becoming turnovers and we couldn't put them away. Boyd, Gribbin and Petering all kicked their second goals for the game and Dickinson kicked his first. On one hand our kicking was great, 9 goals 1 behind is very good kicking in anybody's language, especially if you compare it to some of our previous games. On the other hand our overall kicking efficiency was barely over 50%. Dean was bucking this trend with three of his four kicks all being effective. We went to the long break still leading 9-1-55 to 7-3-45.

The closeness of the game was what you would expect from the top two teams, but the third quarter didn't start the way we would have liked. Within 50 seconds St Bedes added a goal and Smout added another to his tally. St Bedes kicked those opening two goals but then it was goal for goal. Murton, Grange and Dickinson all kicked goals this quarter but St Bedes kicked five (including yet another in time-on) and we went into the last change trailing by a point, 12-5-77 to 12-4-76.

The stage was set for a thriller. The final quarter started with a point the difference between the first and second teams on the ladder; if St Bedes win we swap places, if we win we would go a game and half clear on top of the ladder. In the first 10 minutes neither team could get the break through that was desperately required. It was a classic 'arm-wrestle' and unfortunately it was St Bedes who made the break through. We tried to switch the ball in the middle of the ground and a short pass went over the head of Ward. This resulted in a turnover, St Bedes took control of the ball and, in turn, a mark to St Bede's O'Toole (#2) about 25 metres out resulted in the first goal for the quarter. A couple of minutes later a quick kick around the body from the back pocket gave the ball back to St Bedes Richards (#9) just outside the arc. He went back and just managed to make the distance, but St Bedes had their second and were out to a 13 point lead.

Several minutes later a centreing ball from Cathcart to the hotspot in front of goal allowed Edmonds to gather the ball off the deck. He then 'sold the dummy', which gave him enough space to kick truly and we were back within seven points. It was getting very tight in the clinches. For the next 6 minutes the ball was moving all over the ground without any team being able to score. At the 26 minute mark a 'holding-the-man' decision in St Bedes forward pocket gave Pat Tyquin (#13) a shot at goal just 15 metres out on a tight angle, but, on the right side for the right footer. He went back and calmly kicked the goal and St Bedes were out to a 12 point lead. We had to do something quick. With the clock continuing to run, at this point there was approximately 4:30 minutes to play.

A secondary ballup in the middle of the ground was all we needed. Dickinson was the 'third man up' and he thumped the ball forward 15 metres straight into Edmonds' hands. He 'sold the dummy' a second time, and kicked a short ball towards Petering (who had started at the original ballup and had kept running). Petering gathered the ball and through traffic kicked towards our goal. Unfortunately his kick went a little wide and it became a footrace between Gribbin and St Bedes Tom Garside (#6) to reach it first. Both had hold of each other and good umpiring let the play continue. Gribbin was able to deftly soccer the ball through the goals (if you watch the highlights you will see the ball spin over the goal line and come back into play. Still a goal). We were back to just 6 points behind with just over two minutes to play.

Both sides knew the urgency that was required. Petering was being held at the centre ball-up but still managed to push the ball towards our goal and another ball-up ensued. Dickinson again got a fist on the ball and, like before, Edmonds managed to be on the end of it. This time he was on the ground with three St Bedes players pouncing on him but a quick handball out and, as earlier, there was Petering. Time was of the essence so Petering just soccered the ball off the ground. That kick went towards the pocket and two St Bedes players, but a fast approaching Ward put enough pressure on St Bedes Rowlands (#20, another ex-Beaumaris Junior) for him to try and evade Ward which then allowed Drew Kelly to wrap him up in a tackle and be awarded the free kick. With the clock still running, Kelly, about 5 metres in from the boundary and 30 metres out (and on the wrong side for a right footer) calmly went back and kicked the goal. Scores were level with about 25 seconds to play.

Sadly for us St Bedes were able to get the next centre clearance and rush a behind. From that kick out we had got the ball back to the wing before the final siren sounded. It was a day of mixed fortunes. The Thirds had won by a point, the Seconds had lost by a point, as did the Seniors. The final scores were 15-7-97 to 15-6-96.

* John Wooden (1910-2010) was an American basketball player and coach. Nicknamed the "Wizard of Westwood", as head coach at UCLA he won ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period, including a record seven in a row.

Don't you just love the footy.

Go sharks.