Junior News

A few weeks ago I was invited along to watch Waverley’s U9 teams battle it out in a top of the table clash.  It has been some 21 years since my last game of U9 hockey so I was excited about the entertainment I was going to see. Whilst hockey may be the reason the kids are there, it’s not always the centre of attention.  Remembering back to my U9 days, when the ball was up the attacking end, I remember full backs making mud castles to fill in the time between ball appearances.  It wasn’t unusual to see a goal keeper taking a well earned break either sitting on the backboard of the goal as their team streamed forward with the ball.  So as I drove to the match, I was looking forward to a fun filled morning!

Both teams took the pitch and away they went. Well, not straight away, someone had forgotten their mouthguard in their bag, and after going through 3 bags to finally work out what was his, the game started!  The first half was an action packed game with both teams creating chances to score.  On the reduced size pitch, it didn’t take long for one team to be moving into attack and troubling the defence.  Between the hockey brilliance on the pitch, there was the occassional laughter as kid’s turned to their parents to wave and make sure they were watching them.  Those players alloted wing positions had their concentration limits tested as lines on the ground had more appeal at times than the white ball rolling across it.

Half-time struck and the score was 1-0 in favour of Waverley Blue.  Half time to me rings lollies and sports gels to try and get some sugar back into the body to replace some lost energy.  Instead I was sent out on the pitch with a gourmet platter of watermelon and oranges, another memory of my junior days.  The kids were hilarious, scoffing piece after piece of fruit into their mouths and whilst holding 2 others in each hand.  To be honest I’m not sure how some kids were able to run in the second half after eating the amount they did!

Full bellies and a pep talk from the coach saw the kids take pitch, the whistle blow and off they went!  It wasn’t long till the action again started.  Terrorising full pitch runs from fullbacks saw a fast and furious game play out.  The scores were levelled up by Waverley White and the match looked destined for a draw!  However a brilliant goal from the top of the circle saw the Waverley Blue goal scorer run up to his parents and yell something funny out! (I didn’t quite hear what he said but no doubt it was something like “Dad you owe me 5 bucks for that goal!”).

Thinking that was the ball game as we were in the final minute or 2 of the match, the team down a goal Waverley white team broke into attack along the right sideline. A beautiful cross found a snoozing centre- forward all alone in the attacking circle. As they wound up their stick to smash in the equaliser, the umpire broke the hearts of the crowd as he sounded the full time whistle.  End result saw the Waverley Blue team win by about 2 seconds!

All in all a cracking game of hockey.  Thanks to the Under 9s for inviting me down to be part of the big intra club match was great to watch.  Brought back some great memories for me and reminded me that hockey isn’t always about winning, just getting out there, having fun and most of all eating as much food as you can in the 5 minute half time break!

Having displayed some indifferent form in recent weeks, the Waverley Under 17 Shield team faced the potentially daunting prospect of an encounter against top of the ladder Greensborough. However, far from being intimidated, following a rigorous team meeting during the week (lead by coach Stephen James), the boys stepped onto the field determined to apply constant pressure on the ball and use running power to create scoring opportunities.

The focus and application brought into this game were rewarded early in the first half when, having secured a turnover through defensive pressure, an excellent lob put the hard running David Howson into space. David used this opportunity to secure a short corner for his team via a Greensborough foot. Outstanding execution skills – a quick and accurate push from Jonathan Wentworth and a clean trap by David Jensen – that set up a James Munro drag flick which found the back of the net.

Later in the first half, the Waverley team asserted its ascendancy when a precise through ball found Riley Maddock in wonderful position at the top of the circle. Riley, the master of the tomahawk, decided to demonstrate his versatility by slotting home a powerful fore-stick shot.

While Waverley dominated much of the first half, the term was not without its heart stopping moments however. For instance, with literally seconds remaining on the clock, Greensborough secured a short corner that would almost certainly have resulted in a goal had it not have been for the goalkeeping brilliance of Ben Wilkinson.

Greensborough returned to the field after the half time break determined to fight its way back into the game. As a result, the boys had to dig deep to find the reserves they needed to execute their game plan during this half. By the final whistle, a scoreless second half had been played out and a 2 – 0 win had been secured.

This was a fine team effort, one which depended on a contribution from every player – thus it would be inappropriate to single out individuals.

The Team: Todd Cope, Zac Davis, David Howson, David Jensen (Captain), Elliot Kitchingham, James Knee, Riley Maddock, James Munro, Patrick Rawlins, Nicholas Spencer, Nicholas Stephens, Jonathan Wentworth and Ben Wilkinson.

Thank you to Zac Hawes for his cameo as the game coach in the absence of Stephen James.

The team would also like to send its best wishes to Callum Smilie who did not play this week, and will miss the remainder of season, due to a knee injury. Callum, thank you for your efforts during the first half of the season – we will miss your hard running and great team play.

The Junior Committee is looking for someone to take on the role as Junior Secretary. Mid season is a really good time to learn the role.

Please contact Corinne via email corinne.lyon@optusnet.com.au with expressions of interest.

Discover Speed, Strength, Power, Agility and Flexibility by attending the next Rapid Speed Academy’s Hockey Speed & Agility Clinic!

Are you looking for more speed, quickness, power and agility? Are you an athlete looking to move to the next level and up your game? If your answer is a resounding ‘YES!!’ you should register for the next Rapid Speed Academy – Speed Clinic!!

If you are a young athlete wanting to be:

• FASTER to the ball on the pitch
• QUICKER across the pitch
• Able to TURN and ACCELERATE away, leaving your opponents behind
• A more EFFECTIVE hockey player

Register for the 6 hour Rapid Speed Academy Speed and Agility Clinic. You will learn how to instantly become more explosive, get a quicker first step AND increase your overall athleticism.

This opportunity is now available for all U11, U13, U15 & U17 Waverley Junior Hockey Club members.

Come on down to the Waverley Hockey Club House (Ashwood Reserve) on the following days to register for the next Rapid Speed Academy Speed & Agility Clinic:

You can also register online – Please Click Here (User Name: WHC ; Password: Clinic1)

CLINIC DETAILS:

Looking forward to seeing you there!!

Following two disappointing performances against the second and third placed teams, T.E.M. and Essendon, Waverley was desperate to regain some form against bottom of the ladder, Hawthorn.

Despite their disparate positions on the ladder, the contest was very even for much of the first half of the match: While the Hawthorn team showed great desperation and put together some fine passages, the Waverley boys continued to play scratchy hockey and failed to reproduce the cohesive structured ball movement that was the hallmark of their game during the early part of the season. Features of this half included:

• A sensational deflection by Jonathan Wentworth from an placement the circle by James Knee
• A powerfully struck baseline hit into the goal by Callum Smilie
• A wonderfully hit goal by David Jensen

The second half of the game saw an improved performance, with the team passing with much greater precision and trapping cleanly. This increase in skill level, along with greater patience in the build-ups, led to numerous forays into the circle. As a result of this, sensational goals were scored:

• Two from Riley Maddock via an extraordinary tomahawk and an adept flick over a diving goalkeeper
• One by David Jensen whose deft deflection finished off a skilful run through the circle by a teammate

A number of non-goal scoring feats also warrant mention. As usual, Ben Wilkinson performed admirably in goal. David Howson worked tirelessly throughout game. Nick Steffens made a number of significant contributions up forward – relishing his opportunity to play a forward role after a season of absorbing pressure down back.

The team would also like to formally welcome (albeit a game late) Patrick Rawlins to the squad. Well done Patrick, you made a great contribution.

While the team played with greater cohesion in this match to run out 6 -0 winners, there is still room for significant improvement. Certainly, making the most of short corner opportunities will by high on the agenda at training over the coming weeks.

Team: Todd Cope, Zac Davis, David Howson, David Jensen (Captain), Elliot Kitchingham, James Knee, Riley Maddock, James Munro, Patrick Rawlins, Callum Smillie, Nicholas Spencer, Nicholas Spencer, Jonathan Wentworth and Ben Wilkinson.

Playing without their usual intensity and confidence, the Waverley Under 17 A were soundly defeated by Essendon 5 goals to 1 – their first defeat of the 2010 season.

Appearing to be intimidated by the ferocity of the Essendon tackles and defensive pressure, the Waverley boys were made to pay dearly for repeatedly turning the ball over in the midfield and for the lack of defensive intensity that enabled Essendon players to carry the ball to repeatedly enter their circle to shoot on goal or secure penalty corners.

The standout player for Waverley was clearly Ben Wilkinson. Certainly, without Ben’s stoic efforts the result would have been substantially worse. Mention also needs to be made of the efficient stick work of Callum Smillie that lead to Waverley’s only score.

Much can be learnt from this performance and all remain confident that the boys will regroup and emerge a better team as a result of this experience.

A solid 6 – 3 victory over Doncaster Hockey Club once again demonstrated that the Under 17 A team is a close knit group prepared to play for each other with great spirit and tenacity.

From the opening whistle Waverley focused on putting pressure on the ball, forcing a number of vital turnovers. The opening goal was illustrative of this, with the ball being moved quickly down the ground to Waverley speedster James Knee who, with consummate skill, glided through the circle and flicked the ball home for the first of two goals for the night. Soon after, the ‘tomahawk king’ Riley Maddock slotted home a magnificent shot into the roof of the net from just inside the circle. Riley’s second great tomahawk for the night was the culmination of a wonderful transition play that saw the ball moved brilliantly from an opposition short corner to the Waverley circle in the blink of an eye.

While Waverley dominated possession for much of the game, mid-way through the second half momentum appeared to shift. With two of its top running players on the bench with injuries, Doncaster was able to score two goals. The concern held by many, that the Waverley boys would ‘run out of legs’, proved to be unfounded when the group lifted to once again assume control of the match. This was achieved via an accurate and quick penalty corner push out from Jonathan Wentworth that enabled Waverley to score from a drag flick. Then the game was put beyond doubt with a magical goal from David Jensen.

It would be remiss not to mention the great work in defence of the likes of Zac Davis, the hard work of Nick Steffens and the goal keeping brilliance of Ben Wilkinson.

In tryingly wet conditions that made quick ball movement very difficult, the Waverley Under 17 A team scored an impressive 4 – 0 win over Southern United.

The scoring was opened with a brilliant team goal that saw the ball transferred quickly down the ground to David Jensen who held on to it until he had drawn the goalkeeper and a defender to him, then with precision he neatly passed to Riley Maddock who clinically slotted the goal home. The next two goals came from goal scoring machine, James Knee. The second of these will certainly be hard to top for goal of the season: an unstoppable forestick drive from near the edge of the circle that flew into the roof of the net. The final goal was the result an excellent short corner strategy that saw a powerful tomahawk find the back of the net.

Once again, teamwork and discipline were the hallmark of this performance and thus it is probably unfair to highlight individual performances. Having said this, Todd Cope was outstanding in defence. Special mention should also be made of David Howson’s solid contribution in his first game of the season with the Under 17 A team.

For sale is a Grays GX5000 Megabow 37.5″ hockey stick. Stick is all but new, only been used for a couple of training sessions, still in near perfect condition. If you are interested in the stick, please call Cathy Afleck on 0419 595 039 Retails for approx $240 will sell for $130