2016 ROUND 3 V OLD HAILEYBURY
| Teams | 1st Q. | 2nd Q. | 3rd Q. | 4th Q. |
| Beaumaris | 3.2:20 | 6.7:43 | 13.11:89 | 15.13:103 |
| Old Haileybury | 3.1:19 | 9.4:58 | 10.7:67 | 15.9:99 |
| Goalkickers : Stephen Milne 4, Josh Ward 3, Will Edmonds 2, Will Murton 2, Rob Cathcart, Matt Lovejoy, Scott Braithwaite, Tom Dean. | ||||
| No | Player | No | Player | No | Player | No | Player |
| 1 | Liam Hiscock | 2 | Robert Cathcart | 3 | Matt Petering | 5 | Tom Abbott |
| 7 | Tom Dean | 8 | Josh Ward | 11 | Scott Braithwaite | 12 | Scott Gower |
| 13 | Will Murton | 17 | Anthony Carroll | 18 | Will Edmonds | 23 | Ben McLean |
| 27 | Jack Grange | 28 | Dylan Gabron-Uhe | 32 | Dylan Gabron-Uhe | 33 | Stephen Milne |
| 34 | Richard Ryaan | 35 | Luke Globan | 41 | Damian Johns | 45 | Drew Kelly |
| 48 | Matthew Lovejoy | 55 | Will Gillespie |
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Two rounds into the season and there were three undefeated teams, Old Scotch, Old Haileybury and us. We were playing Old Haileybury and Old Scotch were playing St Bedes. If things went our way we might be the only undefeated team.
The first quarter was an interesting affair. Total disposals for the quarter were 77 to us and 73 to Old Haileybury. However, their general effectiveness was at 64% while we were at 57%. This was a result of their preparedness to try and move the ball quickly by releasing the ball through handball. They had 10 more handballs overall but effective handballs they had the advantage of 17. Both Cathcart and Petering were getting a lot of the ball as they had in previous weeks. The backline was holding steady and Murton was making the majority of his tackles stick. With goals to Cathcart, Ward and Braithwaite we went to the break leading by the smallest of margins. 3-2-20 to 3-1-19.
The first half of the second quarter pretty much belonged to Old Haileybury. By the 17 minute mark they had kicked 5 goals to our solitary goal. A missed tackle let through the first goal. A quick handball off the deck from Corey Connelly to Shakallis and Old Haileybury had their second. Then a chain of handballs from the backline through the middle of the ground and Josh Toy finished off with another goal. Old Haileybury had 3 goals inside 10 minutes. They were running and releasing the ball quickly while we were stopping and waiting for a leading target. Their fifth goal for the quarter came from another string of handballs running down the ground with the good work to be finished off by Harrison. Things could have started to get ugly as Old Haileybury had stretched the lead out to 27 points. Murton was starting to get into the game with 8 disposals and 4 inside 50s for the quarter. Lovejoy also had 7 disposals for the quarter but it was his quick hands that started to get the ball moving. Edmonds had snapped a goal early in the quarter but it was Milne with 2 late goals at the 30 and 32 minute marks of the quarter that helped stop the run. We went into the half time break trailing by 15 points. 6-7-43 to 9-4-58.
They call it the 'Premiership Quarter' for a good reason. This is where the good teams stand up and be counted. As was the case in the first two rounds of the season the game was see-sawing. Neither team could really get an advantage. It took nearly eight and a half minutes for the first goal to be scored. By the 21 minute mark we had only scored 2 goals and 4 behinds (Lovejoy and Ward) and Old Haileybury had only managed 3 behinds. Cathcart and Dean were getting a lot of the ball as were Murton and Ward. Carroll was on a mission in the ruck and was getting his hands on the ball (11 taps, 5 effective) but he also had 5 tackles for the quarter. Then at the 23 minute mark we put the foot down. In the next 10 minutes we added five more goals. It all started with a Tommy Dean bomb from well outside the arc, Milne kicked one which had an off-break in the goal square, then with some fancy footwork he found Edmonds for another goal, Ward had another from an 'advantage' play and Cathart snapped one under heavy pressure. We now had a lead of 28 points with only a couple minutes left for the quarter. But a late goal to Gooda gave Old Haileybury a bit if hope. At three quarter time we were leading 13-11-89 to 10-7-67.
The stage was set, Old Haileybury had finished strongly in the first two rounds to score 'come from behind' wins. Could they do it again?
The last quarter was a real arm wrestle. It took until the 5th minute for a goal to be scored and it was Old Haileybury who scored. We dropped a mark on the wing and Old Haileybury were again off and running and moved the ball quickly into their forward line and a free kick in the goal square resulted in an easy goal. It was then back to the centre, we get a free kick from the ball up and with a wayward handball Shakallis pounced and drove the ball deep to the goal square for another goal. Two in two minutes and Old Haileybury were coming hard. A couple minutes later and a boundary throw in their forward pocket, we misjudge a ball and Woltering fires a handball out to Shakallis who kicks truly. Old Haileybury have 3 in the first 8 minutes of the quarter and are starting to look in control. Their quick releasing of the football and hard running were starting to pay off. But good teams will regroup quickly and respond. Which is exactly what we did. At the next centre bounce Carroll wins the ruck contest and smashes the ball forward. Shakallis is about to gather the ball when a Edmonds block allows just enough room for Cathcart to gather the ball, he gives a quick handball to Murton, who sends the ball deep into our forward line. The experience of Milne draws the free kick and he plays on and kicks truly. We are back out to an 11 point lead. A little breathing space. Back to the middle and a sloppy tackle gives Old Haileybury the advantage and they go forward. Shakallis is on the end of some good play and has his third for the quarter. The margin is now back to four points. For the next 14 minutes we are back in an arm wrestle. Neither team is giving way. Then a kick from the back flank to the middle of the ground instead of down the line and that man Shakallis picks it off and sends the ball again deep into the Old Haileybury forward line. Connelly marks about 20 metres out on a slight angle and this could be the ball game. He kicks straight and Old Haileybury are in front by three points. Back to the middle we go again. This time Treverton wins the tap and thumps the ball forward only it goes straight to Ward who is infringed. Wasting no time he plays on and drives the ball long towards our forward line. Ryan gathers the football and gives to Petering who chips the ball to Murton who is about 20 - 25 metres out. Murton kicks straight and we are back in front. With two minutes to play the game was still in the balance. In the end we managed to hold on for a four point win.
Don't you just love a close game? Particularly when the siren goes and we are in front. Don't you just love footy!
Go sharks.