2009 Results

Uni Blues 2009 Champions!!!

The dominant University seniors continued the seasons strong form taking out the grand final 23.11.149 to the Waitakere Magpies 7.12.54

 

The reserve grade were not so lucky going down by a meager 5 points to the North Shore Tigers.

 

Congratulations to the seniors and hard luck to the reserves, as a club we have shown the league how its supposed to be done winning 7 out of the last 10 seasons, may it continue and get stronger in the new decade. Rest up over the off season and we hope to see more goals and faster running in 2010.

 

 

Semi Final vs Roskill

 

Seniors

 

 

 

Business end football – and the Blues are doing the business. Assertive, no-nonsense football.   

 

The message to Roskill from ‘the softies’;

 

“Out of our way please – we’re a ten goal better side than you. And it’s finals, so there’s another ten. Oh....and there’s ten for Jar. 30 goals will do for now – see you in a couple of years when/if you recover. Sorry if you got your hair wet”.

 

Everyone was clinical, and qualified for best player mention.

Toddy chimed in with seven in three quarters of footy – and handed out plenty yet again.

Damo was fed consistently by Mono – and dominated.

Mono was fed consistently by Damo – ditto. Both combined with Toddy at times to thrill all onlookers.

Jar put in his best game this year – displaying a new aerial dominance that surprised even himself.

Fraser’s mental toughness saw him shake off some early nerves and continue his run of determined and dominant form.

Best on the ground was a scorching performance by Campbell, who bagged eight (as per the coach’s request), which could easily have been ten.

 

Score

 

30.27.207 vs 3.2.20

 

Let’s enjoy a well-deserved week-end off and then build for an historic Grand final day Club performance conceived on Heartbreak hill.

 

 

Reserves

 

 

The Reserves and the whole University Club would like to send their condolences to the Pilkington family.  Ryan has been a superb team mate all season and a great addition to the club.   Our thoughts are with the whole family at this time.

 

A fired up Uni ressies team were out to avenge 2 round-robin thumpings against a side we knew we were better than but had yet to show it. We welcomed back Brad after his excellent stint in the seniors which only due to injury had him miss out on a seniors berth. The team went out with a game plan of head over the ball, attack the footy, play in front and kick it down Junior’s throat.

 

Roared on by the senior squad, Uni fired out the gates with a couple of quick goals. Junior was providing a strong, leading target and great passes by Andy Malcolm and the Aaron 'the Body' Webb had Junior firing early. Young Magnus put his body on the line and was rewarded with a free kick which he duly converted for his first goal for the club. A lapse in concentration let the Skunks march up field and score but the Blues held a 2 goal at qtr time.

 

The 2^nd qtr was a much different affair. We started terribly perhaps thinking the job had been done. After a raft of changes, which seemed to put a rocket up a few blokes, we played much better in the last 5 mins and we were still in front at half time.

 

Roskill came out all guns blazing in the 3^rd qtr which we struggled to contain. The boys were working very hard. The half back line of Brad, Tiny and Popstar were under severe pressure, but managed to fight back wave after wave of Roskill attack and only had us down by a few points at ¾.

 

It was now or never. Were we going to fade like we did in previous games or run ourselves into the ground to get the victory. Quite simply, the boys were brilliant. Junior again took some massive grabs and duly converted. The mighty Blues were in front. Scotty now in the midfield was simply outstanding. Baby G took a couple of massive hangers. Zach and Matt were repelling any Roskill fight back across the centre, while the half back were tidying up anything that got past them. Another late goal put in 9 points in front and we’re now straight into the Grand Final.  In a telling example of why it is important to kick goals Uni had 10 scoring shots to 11 and still finished in front.

 

Don’t forget there’s still 1 more game to go. As good as we played yesterday, we need to raise the bar again in 2 weeks time.

 

Score:

6.4.40 vs 4.7.31

 

Best players:

The best part is that every single player contributed.

Chris 'Jr' Mundell – Another massive game, another 4 goals of out 6 in total. A target that they’re not able to contain.

Brad – Another huge game off the half back line. Looks so composed for someone so young.

Zach Large – Great captains game. Got kicks at will, put his body on the line when needed 

 

Carl 'Popstar' Williams – Welcome back! Took a qtr to get going but showed why he a class above most at this level in the second half. Some telling grabs and attack on the ball a feature.

Luke Deegan – Ran himself into the ground and took 2 massive marks in the last qtr. Won every single tap. The best ruckman in this comp by a mile.

  

Round 7 vs Manurewa

 

Seniors

 

Difficult weather conditions and weaker opposition posed a challenge to our powers of concentration, and could easily have made the long drive to Manurewa fruitless.

 

On the contrary, some real positives came from the day.

 

Good contributions were seen from all players – notably Ben Hick, Chris Haden, Thomas Taungakava

 

Best players. A breath-taking first half return to football from the Steve Froggatt saw 5 goals before the legs stopped working. Damian McDowell toiled in difficult conditions for on-ballers. Campbell Rawson returned to his blistering form and, but for some errant kicking at goal, could have ended with another bagful.

 

Sam Anderson is the standout improver this year – displaying spectacular attacking football out of defence, and unveiling extraordinary sporting maturity. Mark Fisher's consistency is getting boring – his pace and hard running pierces opposition defence week-in week-out.

 

James Monoghan's appetite for football has grown after resting for a fortnight with a calf injury, and it showed on Sunday. Silky smooth skills saw all team-mates around him fed with quality ball. Possessions were gathered all around the ground as Mono worked desperately to deprive Damo of his previous dominance of both the stats sheet and the Best and Fairest voting.  

 

Workman-like performance by the Blues sees us enter the business end of the season with our nose in front on the ladder.

 

Reports indicate that Mt Roskill are very confident of their improvement, and of their ability to inflict a solid defeat on the Blues at their home ground on Sunday week. The Blues on the other hand are desperate for a challenging hit-out prior to finals, ready for an arm-wrestle, and keen to discover whether the accolades heaped upon them to date are well-founded.

 

The tapering of the previously heavy workload at training over the next month promises to see an enjoyable dominance of the competition by the Blues if our attitude is right. Anything short of two flags is sub-par.

 

 

Reserves

More procrastination by the opposition meant more pre-game disruption for the Reserves.  The squad has done all the running of the seniors in the last three weeks, they are the only reserves squad that trains twice a week and it is a real frustration that we are unable to play 16-a-side games each week.  Well done to all the squad to take this disruption in their stride.

 

Sunday was all about sticking to the game plan and team rules and utilising the run we had put into the legs over the last 3 weeks.  The defence set out to keep the opposition scoreless and the midfield wanted to deliver the ball to the hot-spot.  The entire team showed a dedication to the game plan and executed it in very trying conditions.  Particularly noticeable were Howard Gilbert and Dave Luxton running off the centre line to deliver to the hotspot.

 

All the forwards keep presenting and the midfield continued to run hard and deliver the footy.  Standouts were Dave Luxton and Howard Gilbert off the backline and Andy Malcom and Hayden Braky on the ball.

 

 

 

 

Round 4 vs Waitakere @ Waitiakere

 

Seniors

Buoyed by the efforts of the reserves and the clearing of the weather the Blues were keen to build on the start to the season.

The first half which saw a continuation of our good form from previous weeks, with opportunity after opportunity being delivered to the hotspot. The midfield were using the ball very well given condition but a disturbing habit by key forwards to play from behind however, meant that opportunities weren’t converted, and that faith was then lost in a game plan that had served us so well.  An early first quarter goal to first gamer Zach Large was the result of the game plan being executed. The game plan works when the squad puts it into play.

 

The first quarter was marred by an ugly incident resulting in Stevens being taken to the sideline with an ugly gashed eye. The stand in runner and usual half forward flanker Oliver hill had hit the CHF in the eye while running water. 

 

Into the second term and with the coaches expectations made very clear the side again showed patches of being able to keep to game plan. Again however there were times when this was allowed to slide and the game was not closed out.

 

A second half saw a Waitakere side that smelled victory, and clearly had a greater appetite for it. It was disappointing that the importance of playing in front was emphasised before the game faded out of the Blues game plan. The team struggled to stick to the coaches game plan and while there was plenty of endeavour the execution and attack on the footy waned in the final term.  No doubt training this week will focus on this and ensuring the squad is focused on what is required on the first weekend in December. Having said that it is much better to be surprised at this time of year than at Grand Final time. Premierships require a more concerted effort than we’ve achieved to date.  Both sides have been guilty of not putting in 4 quarters of effort and this will need to be remedied if the result we all desire is to be achieved.

 

Damian McDowell dominated early, as well as working well defensively. Kyle Wiltenberg was given a massive task at FB and toiled well in an unfamiliar role. Mark Fisher continued his good form on a wing. Thomas Taungakava responded to his early bollicking, and Chris Haden continued his hard work leading from the front.

 

 

 

 

Round 1 vs North Shore @ North Shore 

 

The University Blues travelled across the bridge yesterday to face last years premiers North Shore. In perfect conditions the club got the 2009 season off to a flying start.

Reserves

In the reserve grade it was inexperience that eventually let the side down. Playing good football through the first half and with the team playing well to a game plan there were signs of things to come this year. However a lack of game experience and some poor option taking let the side down in the second half with North Shore eventually running away with the game. Congratulations to all players playing their first matches for the club.

Seniors

A new era of the University Blues began on the weekend with the club facing life without T Taverna. However any doubts the league had that Uni were a one man team were thrown out the window yesterday in a dominating performance over the reigning premiers. With the Blues having first time players it was a true test of the clubs ability to step up to the mark and perform. Strong performances were had all across the park with the team lifting to set the benchmark for the rest of the year. Facing and under strength North Shore team it was a test of the 'New Blues' to keep the foot down and not left the pressure off as they have done in the past. The team managed to move the ball well and with so many scoring options it was hard for Shore to shut down any one option with Uni finding new ways to score. The Blues were able to adhere to the game plan and when they did, showed what a strength and force this team can be.