Round 1, Ocean Ridge V’s Kalamunda 03:05 PM, Saturday, 15 Apr 2023 at Heathridge Park
With a strong pre-season training regimen behind them, the Cougars were eagerly awaiting their chance to prove themselves in a higher grade of football after a disappointing loss in last season’s Grand Final.
Coach Trenberth would have stressed the need throughout the pre-season, that entry into ‘B’ grade competition would need players to remember and carry out the 5 C’s of match play to make 2023 a successful season for our club.
They are: Commitment, Concentration, Communication, Composure and Control.
During this game the Cougars must have been overawed at the size of this ground because these elements were forgotten as the new members of the team were forced to struggle to find any cohesion in the team’s strategy and tactics for the encounter.
To their credit the Cougars were 2 points up at the first break due to some excellent defending by our backline led by Jarrod Brockbernd who defied Ocean Ridge’s constant pressure to kick 2.4
In the second term the Eagles took control of the ruck and mid field and with precise kicking scored 4 goals while our Cougars could only manage 1.2
It was during this quarter their experience at playing at a higher level was beginning to show with cleaner ball-handling and run-on football.
The third quarter saw a Cougar revival, no doubt instigated by coach Trenberth who would not have been happy with our team’s performance to half time.
Josh Harris began to have an influence around the ground and some fine work by Kyle Murray and Leo lambert in adding 3 goals for the term, saw the Cougars only 6 points behind at three quarter time.
However, in the last quarter the Cougars lost all their momentum and the 5C’s of good football were forgotten!
The Ocean Ridge ‘Eagles’ who finished in 6th position on the B1 ladder last year unleashed a blitzkrieg kicking 6.4 to our solitary goal to give our boys an insight into ‘B’ grade football.
This was a disappointing start to the season however some of our players who have not experienced football at a higher level may need to seek council from our Captain Trent Pottinger and club champion Bret Van Groningen who have experience at this level to hold their positions in the team.
Final scores: Ocean Ridge 13.12 – 90, Kalamunda 8.2 – 50
Best players: Jackson Bowen, Kyle Murray, Jarrod Brockbernd
Goals: Kyle Murray 3, Leo lambert 2, Tiger Morris, Jackson Bowen, Mitch Massam 1 each.
Next week’s game: Round 2, Kalamunda V’s Collegians 03:05 PM, Sat, 22 Apr. 23 Ray Owen Reserve
See This Week’s Topics: Kalamunda Legends Club and club ‘Milestones’ by Alex Haight.
Other results from round 1:
Cougar Reserves – Kalamunda 47, Ocean Ridge 57
All Stars – at Ray Owen: Kalamunda 20, Wembley 50
Cougar Ladies – at Atwell Reserve: Kalamunda 18, Jandakot 48
BJC Colts – Cougars 55, Ocean Ridge 38
DBC Colts – Cougars 57, Ocean Ridge 31
This post is dedicated to Byfield Business Solutions & Horizons West, proud sponsors of the Kalamunda ‘Cougars’ Football Club.
