Who would have believed that the U19s would have had only one scoring shot to half time against traditional rivals Ormond? Nearly 5 goals down at the main break and the new look team was looking a little shabby! By “new look”, coach John Cesario said 20 of the 26 players who ran out on Saturday did not play U19s in 2015.
After half time they clicked. That initial nervousness of the youngsters dissipated and we started to talk, dominate the clearances and inside 50s and the goals flowed. The midfielders in Ben Kneebush, Prosser, Scot Ebbot and Liam McCarthy all gave plenty of run out of the middle with Benji Audage rucking tirelessly all day.
The player the senior coach said was unlucky not to get a game in the seniors, Darcy Merlo, dominated on his wing in the first half and when moved to full forward in the second half provided a good target and while finishing with 2 goals of his own was instrumental in a number of others. The coach tells me that others to play well were Will Jackson, Matt Rieniets and Liam Mc Cartney and the general at Full back Matt Oswald.
By the final siren we had run all over the bigger, older and stronger Ormond outfit to post a comfortable win.
This coming Saturday, the U19s take on Peninsula Old Boys away at Narambi Reserve commencing at 11am.
Hampton Rovers 0.0 1.0-6 4.9-33 8.10-58
Ormond 3.1-19 5.4-34 5.6-36 6.12-48
Goal Kickers: B. Kneebush 3, D. Merlo 2, W. Jackson, F. Shellie, J. Daley
Best Players: B. Kneebush, J. Prosser, S. Ebbott, D. Merlo, L. McCartney, B. Audige
U19s win! Come from behind win against Ormond. Great start to the year! #gorovers
Posted by Hampton Rovers Amateur Football Club on Friday, April 8, 2016
