General News
9 August, 2023
Day of action and drama for storm
The last home away game for the season at Rainbow saw three wins for Jeparit Rainbow teams. A good win for the U17’s in their last game for the year, an absolute thrilling win for the Reserves and a very dominant performance by the Seniors. There...
The last home away game for the season at Rainbow saw three wins for Jeparit Rainbow teams. A good win for the U17’s in their last game for the year, an absolute thrilling win for the Reserves and a very dominant performance by the Seniors.
There was a celebration of our indigenous players with a special jumper worn by the Seniors and Reserves players with a smoking ceremony held before the Seniors game. The jumpers were auctioned off, raising a significant amount of money for the club.
Ash and Simon Clugston both played their two hundredth games for the club in a special day for them and their families. With Caleb Tregenza receiving a Spirit of Football award it was a very busy day.
Seniors:
For the first time this year a full strength team ran out onto the field with Scott Driscoll, Nick Yarran, Peter Weir, Brad Stokes, Antonio James and Braxton Ah Mat returning to the team. They replaced Will Hutchinson, Jordan Leach, Murphy Leach, Phoenix Oakley, Lewis Cocks and Will Fisher.
The team started well with precise ball movement to kick the first four goals of the game before Kaniva Leeor United kicked a goal which was followed by another two minutes later. That was the end of their goal kicking for the day as Jeparit Rainbow proceeded to kick the next twenty six goals in the game. Leading by twenty six points at quarter time, seventy seven at half time and one hundred twenty six at three quarter time, the final winning margin was one hundred eighty three points.
The win was set up by the sublime skills and ball winning ability of Tom Clarke, Nick Yarran, Trent Burgoyne and Antonio James. Yarran and Clarke both kicked five goals while James kicked three when they rested up forward. Peter Weir enjoyed his return to the team with seven goals while Ash Clugston celebrated his two hundredth game with five goals and Daniel Batson chipped in with three. The ball movement into the forward line was outstanding at times with players changing the entry angles with clever kicks and handballs.
A rock solid defence led by Tom Schumann, Will Batson and Simon Clugston kept their opposition to a single behind in the second half.
Every player in the team contributed to the electrifying ball movement, fierce tackling and selfless running which opened up their opposition.
After the game Matt Everitt commented “this was a pleasing result as we played some good football but I can see some room for more improvement.”
Reserves:
This will be a game in which the final thirty seconds will be remembered for many years. When a shot on goal missed leaving Jeparit Rainbow four points down most supporters thought that was it and a brave performance against the sixth placed Kaniva Leeor United would end in a defeat.
Then Jordan Leach swooped on the kick in at the fifty metre circle and boundary line with his precise kick finding Adam Schulz seconds before the final siren. Schulz calmly went back and slotted the goal after the siren to win the game before he was mobbed by some very excited team mates. The team had kicked three goals to one in the final quarter of a low scoring game.
Leach was amongst the best all game as he reacted to being left out of the Seniors in the best possible way. Phoenix Oakley also showed lots of spirit as he played well around the ground. Jake Parry and Liam Preston continued on winning lots of the ball while Scott Adams was again strong in the ruck.
U17’s:
The boys finished off their season with a fourth win for the year. A great effort from the team and coaches Tom Long, Tom Schumann and Matt Thomas as there was a struggle to find numbers each week.
This week Jobe Dickinson and Rylan Schneider come over from Nhill to help out with Jobe showing his class with a best on ground performance while Rylan kicked two goals.
Lewis Cocks showed the benefit of his Seniors experience as he controlled the game whenever he was near the ball. Marcel Badua and Cooper Stasinowsky were dangerous forwards with both of them kicking two goals. Will Fisher and Seamus Clarke did some good work around the ground.
Leading all game, a string of ten behinds straight from half time until part way through the last quarter kept their opposition in the game before a late four goal burst saw the team run out thirty six point winners.
U14’s:
The team tried hard but were mercy ruled in the third quarter. Lenny Weir has had an outstanding season while Max Spokes has been a much improved player this year. His sister Bella has a great football brain and can go a long way with her football if she chooses. Dustin Eckermann is another boy who has put a lot of hard work in to become a very good player. Kane Bastin and Jasper Bigham have taken on more responsible roles as the season has gone on and risen to the challenge.