Rd 16 Kalamunda V’s Carlisle At Ray Owen Reserve
The Cougars had been training hard in the lead-up to this game, in the knowledge that Melville who are also sitting on 42 points on the C1 ladder would be ready to pounce on third position if the Cougars stumbled. (Melville have a slightly lower percentage than the Cougars and would still be smarting at their loss by 59 points to the Cougars in round 4.)
Coach Bolton who has been determined to hold the coveted third position would have urged his team to maintain their momentum in preparation for the forthcoming battle against Swan Athletic next week by dispatching Carlisle, who are sitting in 9th position on the ladder.
This is exactly what happened and when looking at the final score in this game the word ‘dispatch’ should have replaced by the term ‘annihilate’ which described the final score at the end of this game.
Carlisle, are struggling at this stage of the season having won only three games. Their reserve side is sitting in 6th position with a low percentage and without the support of a Colts side, their future looks bleak towards remaining in the C1 competition.
Not a great deal could be said about this match, other than their players continued to play with determination until the final siren. However, their lack of skill in this grade of football now leaves them venerable to be relegated at the end of the season.
From my point of view this is unfortunate, as its not the first time the Carlisle ‘Cougars’ have been placed in this position.
I played when the club was in the ‘A’ league in the 1970’s and saw them slowly slip down the grades to return again to their present position.
The road back after the ‘slippery slope’ is one all clubs seek to avoid and can be attributed to poor management by ignoring requirements like its mission, objectives, strategy formulation, implementation and control.
To add to this there was no ‘urgency’ at Carlisle to do anything differently this included: recruitment, training and development of younger players, coaching and committed match play.
Fortunately, our club has avoided the ‘slippery slope’ after being relegated from ‘A’ grade and through good management has recommenced the quest to return, to the highest level in the league.
Next weeks game V’s Swan Athletic, who are sitting at the top of the C1 ladder, will be a true test of our Cougars mettle to return to ‘B’ grade competition!
Final scores: Kalamunda; 22.17 – 149, Carlisle; 1.1 – 7
Best players: Trent Pottinger, Tiger Morris, Jackson Bowen, Mitch Della-Franca.
Coaches award: Ben Dupont
Goals: Jackson Bowen 6, Leo Lambert 3, Josh Harris 3, Dustin Brown, Josh Warden, Trent Pottinger 2 each, Max Fasolo, Joel Peters, Tiger Morris, Mitch Della-Franca 1 each.
Special Mention: Ladies in our Canteen! Natalie & Melinda with help from, Robbie, Dave and Todd. Thanks to Ian Eldred for the match photos.
Other games in round 16
C1 Reserves: Kalamunda; 15.13 – 103, Carlisle; 9.5 – 59
IDC Colts: Bye
C1 Ladies: Kalamunda; 4.5 – 29, Willetton; 4.3 – 27
E2 Allstars: High Wycombe; 4.16 – 40, Kalamunda; 4.6 – 30
See This Weeks Topic – Alex Haight’s report: Megan Bruce 50 games.
Next C1 game: Round 17, Kalamunda, V’s Swan Athletic, 3.05 PM Saturday 3 August 2024 at Ray Owen Reserve.
This post is dedicated to, Horizon Mining energy & Civil proud sponsors of the Kalamunda ‘Cougars’ Football Club.
