Third Grade opened the day at Rosedale Oval when they took on Moorebank Magpies in the 9 AM fixture. A bright start saw them take an early lead in the match but a strong Magpie outfit muscled their way to a narrow lead at the half way mark. With fifteen first year players in the 22 man squad, the team has come a long way in the first year of the Rams fielding a thirds side.
James Stiff, Taylor Cramp and Michael Brown led Penrith’s charge whilst Michael Bishop, Ricky Land and Mark Jansen rounded off the top six. All these players are in their first year of footy. Land, Alan Prowse both contributed with a double whilst Michael Bishop chimed in with one of his own.
Next week sees the team travel to Pioneers park to take on fourth placed Saints AFC in the 12 O’Clock start
1QG
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1QB
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Q1PTS
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2QG
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2QB
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Q2PTS
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3QG
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3QB
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Q3PTS
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4QG
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4QB
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PTS
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MOOREBANK
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1
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4
|
10
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3
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12
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30
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6
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15
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51
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9
|
17
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71
|
PENRITH
|
2
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1
|
13
|
4
|
2
|
26
|
4
|
4
|
28
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5
|
7
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37
|
Goal Kickers: R. Land 2, A. Prowse 2, M. Bishop
Best Players: J. Stiff, T. Cramp, M. Brown, M. Bishop, R. Land, M. Jansen
The Ramettes opened up a big day of football at Greygums Oval when they took on Auburn Tigers in the 9 AM match. A strong squad of 21 players was looking for their first win of the year against the Tigers. The teams met in round 1 with Auburn taking the honours by four goals in a tight encounter at Monarch Oval.
Auburn were to get the early jump and kicked the first three goals of the match in the opening term, but the girls got the ball up front a few times but were unable to find the big sticks, collecting three single pointers. In great conditions, the Ramettes struck back in the second session with three goals, keeping the Auburn side to just a single point as the confidence in the team grew, going to the sheds with a one point lead. The third quarter saw some truly great footy, as Sydney Women’s two newest clubs staged a great battle with two goals apiece on the big Greygums ground. The Ramettes, with two extra behinds, crept to a three point lead at the end of the third and looked to be travelling slightly the better against the tiring Tigers team. However, the visitors were being well serviced by star players, Lael Kassem and Kirrily Boyd and knocked up two goals against the run of play and looked to record their third win of the season against the home team, racing to a seven point lead with less than five minutes on the clock. The Ramettes, who have worked so hard in their debut year, showed great resolve and commitment and a late goal with two minutes to go, saw them get within a point. From the restart, Penrith rallied and got it into the forward fifty, with two shots narrowly missing the target, but with seconds on the clock remaining, managed to sneak a behind as the final siren sounded for an amazing draw in a game that had it all. Both teams can hold their heads high and stand proud in what was probably the most exciting match in this year’s competition.
For the Rams, it was a complete 21 girl effort that went hard all day. Rising Star nominee Steph Kostic was again brilliant, taking confident marks and delivering long, accurate kicks as well and showing no self-preservation for the contested ball. Franziska Fitting was outstanding in the ruck, winning a lion’s share of the ball and chasing down many of the speedy Auburn players. Nat Camilleri again showed absolute class and good decision making delivering quality ball to her team-mates whilst Kate Easthope was relentless in pursuit of the Sherrin. Ashlea Rodman and Haley Short both excelled and the list goes on for the complete team. Ivanka Olchowik led the scorers tally with a treble, Renae Vance played her heart out and was rewarded with her first goal of the year whilst Kate Easthope and youngster Kayla Badger each chimed in with one.
Next week sees these warriors take on Wollongong for their final match of the year at Mahoney Park. It’s been a great ride this year for the side and if they can stick together, will be a force in the expected divisionalised structure for 2013.
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2QB
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3QG
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3QB
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Q3PTS
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4QG
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4QB
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PTS
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Penrith Ramettes
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0
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3
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3
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3
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4
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22
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5
|
6
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36
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6
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10
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46
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Auburn Tigers
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3
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2
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20
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3
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3
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21
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5
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3
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33
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7
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4
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46
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Penrith Ramettes
Goal Kickers: I. Olchowik 3, K. Badger , R. Vance , K. Easthope
Best Players: S. Kostic, F. Fitting, N. Camilleri, K. Easthope, A. Rodman, H. Short
The Under 18’s were next to play when they welcomed Uni NSW/ES Bulldogs, who although short on numbers, produced a very strong and talented team.
The Rams got off to a sluggish start with the Bulldogs getting the early jump to lead by five goals after the first twenty minutes. Despite some good work by the colts, the Uni backline stood strong and negated moves by Penrith when they went on the attack. It wasn’t until the final quarter that saw the team stem the flow of the visitors.
It’s been a tough year for the young Rams but their commitment can never be questioned coming up week after week against older and more experienced players.
Pat Pope, later to back up in the first grade match along with Brad Camilleri, again shone for the Rams. Sam Hunt showed his skills and ran all match whilst Harrison Doyle, Marty Wyburn, Will Taylor and Jesse Hyland all performed well.
A week off next week, as the team was due to play Campbelltown, who withdrew from the completion earlier this year, thus giving them a bye. The following week, they return to Greygums Oval to take on Sydney Uni
1QG
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1QB
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Q1PTS
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2QG
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2QB
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Q2PTS
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3QG
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3QB
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Q3PTS
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4QG
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4QB
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PTS
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PENRITH
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
4
|
4
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UNSW/ES
|
5
|
4
|
34
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10
|
10
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70
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16
|
13
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109
|
18
|
16
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124
|
PENRITH
Best Players: P. Pope, S. Hunt, H. Doyle, M. Wyburn, W. Taylor, J. Hyland
The third match of the day at Greygums saw a battle between 3 V 4 with the third placed Rams looking for their seventh consecutive win against Uni NSW Bulldogs, including victories against the top two sides in recent weeks. The Rams suffered their first defeat of the season to the Dogs back in Round Three at Village Green and were keen to avenge that loss, their biggest of the year. Penrith were to have some late withdrawals due to injury and James Stiif and Justin Weller were late inclusions in the side after they had played an earlier game at Rosedale Oval.
In a tough opening quarter against an experienced Uni side, Penrith were able to get the upper hand and lead by 15 after the first 22 minutes. It was a much better effort in the second term, with players finding their mark and the cohesion and structure working well as the booted five unanswered goals to lead at the long break by 45, with the visitors only to put a single point on the board at the half time mark.
A torrid third term saw the flow stemmed as the students rallied and tried to turn the tables and were to double their score whist the Rams scoring was restricted to single figures. But the bird had flown, with the Dogs opening up their goal tally with a double whist the Rams contributed three of their own in a 10 goal victory that has assured them of a top three finish and a double chance in the finals series.
“Where is Max” was the catch cry earlier in the season. The big fella has been battling injury all season after a year off but produced a sizzling display of football to take out the top honours. First year player Mark Batten has shown rapid improvement each week to be one of the best for Penrith since his promotion to reserves after one eye-catching match in the thirds back in April. Colourful local identity, Bryce Roney kept the Dogs at bay in the backline, despite his attempts to sneak forward at various times in the match whilst Scott Randall, Brayden Wilson and Matt Cummins all put in polished displays.
Blake Roberts and Mark Jackson both secured a double with the Rams producing another 6 individual scorers.
Next Saturday, the teams travels to Macquarie Uni to take on the Warriors but will find it a harder task than when they beat that team by 133 in round 2.
1QG
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1QB
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Q1PTS
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2QG
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2QB
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Q2PTS
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3QG
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3QB
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Q3PTS
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4QG
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4QB
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PTS
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PENRITH
|
2
|
4
|
16
|
7
|
5
|
47
|
8
|
8
|
56
|
11
|
10
|
76
|
UNSW/ES
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0
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
1
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0
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
15
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Goal Kickers: M. Jackson 2, B. Roberts 2, J. Anasis , J. Chapple , J. Sultana , B. Wilson , T. Corless , C. Manuel , G. Howell
Best Players: M. McNamara, M. Batten, B. Roney, S. Randall, B. Wilson, M. Cummins
The main match of the day saw the Div 1 clash against Uni NSW/ES Bulldogs in what was to be a “must win” affair if the Rams hoped to compete in the finals series for the third consecutive year. In round 3 at Village Green, the Dogs led till half time in an exciting encounter until the Rams finally prevailed by just seven points. Five of the seven goal scorers on that day were not to play on Saturday, the major loss being Dale Chivas, who after being sidelined by injury, took on a coaching role. Penrith were to have four players backing up including Pat Pope and Brad Camilleri along with Adam West and Matt Cummins who had all played in earlier games.
Uni NSW were buoyed by the inclusion of club legend and goal-scoring freak, Brad Abbott, who had kicked five against the Rams in Round One, along with Western Sydney AFL Development Officer, Brett Roberts, closing in on 500 games.
It was a different scenario this time at home. Penrith having all the play in the opening term, but only able to covert 10 scoring shots with three majors, whilst keeping the Dogs to a single point in the windy, difficult conditions. The second quarter saw scrappy play with twelve scoring shots by both teams being unable to split the big posts with Penrith going to the sheds with a handy 27 point buffer.
The premiership quarter saw the Rams look the better side, booting four majors against the visitors two. However, the margin could have been greater with another five missed opportunities. A 43 point lead looked to be a winning one and despite skill levels dropping in the final term, Penrith prevailed with a solid 39 point win, a score that could have been increased with the 7.22 scoreline being the cruelling factor.
Harley Stibbard returned to his best form in a solid display of commitment whilst James Yates continued his scintillating form. Jake Pianta was excellent up front, finding space and many kicks just sailed wide in the tricky conditions. Liam Murphy has adapted well to first grade football and shows pace and poise whilst Adam Sharp and Luke Jones both performed with aplomb. Ben Robinson found the big sticks on three occasions, Jake Pianta twice whist Under 16’s eligible player, Brad Camilleri and the diminutive Matt Lewis both added one each.
Next week again produces an acid test for the team when they travel to North Ryde to take in Macquarie University, a team that prevailed by one point in the season opener. A win against the warriors would see the Rams just another win away from finals footy.
1QG
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1QB
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Q1PTS
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2QG
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2QB
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Q2PTS
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3QG
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3QB
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Q3PTS
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4QG
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4QB
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PTS
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PENRITH
|
3
|
7
|
25
|
3
|
14
|
32
|
7
|
19
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61
|
7
|
22
|
64
|
UNSW/ES
|
0
|
1
|
1
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0
|
6
|
6
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2
|
6
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18
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3
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7
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25
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PENRITH
Goal Kickers: B. Robinson 3, J. Pianta 2, B. Camilleri , M. Lewis
Best Players: H. Stibbard, J. Yates, J. Pianta, L. Murphy, A. Sharp, L. Jones
Last Modified on 23/01/2013 23:52