It was a matter of “Who rewrote the script?” on the back oval at Marles Playing Fields: highly fancied University Blues, knocking on the door of the Four, came up against an OT side that had forgotten that they were supposed to get rolled. Instead OT led all day to outlast a surging Uni Blues by 1 goal and score a “season highlight”, in the words of Coach Ray Leetham.

In his after-match comment he paid tribute to the quality of the opposition: “We played like the university sides of the past – Never say die and keep trying all day. The hard things won us the game – tackles, smothers 2^nd & 3^rd efforts. A great effort against a side one game outside the four”.

“Homecoming” Soured for Visiting Coach

1^st Q

The first term was a great quarter of football from both sides. Quick movement of the ball, great run and a high standard of delivery to both forward arcs set the tone for a high quality game. Opposition coach and ex OT senior assistant, Matt Embling was back on home soil and had a script that included four points for the Blues at the end of the day. The Blues would have been $1-15 favourites, while the O.T.’s would have pushed $7-20.

Old Trinity started to win centre clearances through great work from Spassopoulos, Oldfield and Kilpin. Kepitis was getting plenty of the ball up forward and Jack Hunt found space and kicked Old Trinity’s first major. Chadwick was cheeky around the packs and snapped a great goal then got another for those in the crowd that did not see the first one.  Down back Fogarty was being pushed by a huge forward but he was doing well. Hetherington and Brandon Jones were mopping up and giving school recruit Blandthorn (‘Woody’) plenty of opportunities. Birrell and Potter were very solid as usual.

At quarter time Old Trinity led University Blues, 19 to 15points.

2^nd Q

The second term would prove to be Old Trinity’s best, kicking five great goals to the opposition’s three. Goals came from Murphy (2), Kepitis, Kilpin and Chadwick. Old Trinity found space to run and carry the footy through great work by Cerini, May, Bonnington,  Murphy, May and Potter. New recruit Dart picked up some early grabs and will get better with more work on the training track, while Hore- Lacy enjoyed his first taste of Premier under 19 football. Cowley took a courageous mark and was hit hard from behind. The backline was working well by creating massive pressure on the forward movements by the “Blue boys”.

At half time Trinity led by 16 points.

3^rd Q

The third term was Old Trinity’s. Every player made a contribution through a great tackle, smother, hit on or a massive second effort. The home side took control though great play by Kilpin, the Hunt boys, Bonnington, Spassopoulos, Murphy and Woody. Goals came from Kepitis (2) and goal sneak Cowley (2).Hetherington and Brandon Jones were effective in their backline roles.

At ¾ time Old Trinity led, 77 points to 48.

4^th Q

The last term saw Old Trinity go forward quickly and kick a point. The Blues rallied and ran the ball forward on countless occasions and kicked four goals to reduce the margin. The home side tried hard, ran the ball into the arc but could not score a goal. The tall Blues backline won the aerial contests and fed the ball to their running midfield. The likes of Cerini. Dart, Johnson, Cowley and Potter locked the ball in tight and stopped the Blues attacking run. Birrell gave everything in a massive smother and was well supported by the emerging Oldfield and the tiring Hunt boys. Chadwick was hit hard and stretchered  from the ground, with a knee injury. Sheahan was used in bursts as the Old Trinity boys rallied and fought out the contest to win the game by six points. The win for this group was worth eight points, considering the team that hit the park and the team that we played. It was a season highlight- considering that all available players play each week and no one misses out and the contests are against playing lists of over fifty. Uni. Blues have played forty players so far this season. As the sun went down, the Blues coach Matt Embling was asking “Who rewrote this script?”

Old Trinity                     3-1        8-3        12-5      12-9      81

University Blues            2-3        5-5        7-6        11-9      75

Goals – Chadwick 3, Kepitis 3, Murphy 2, Cowley 2, Jack Hunt 1, Kilpin 1

Best – Spassopoulos, Ned Hunt, Jack Hunt, Murphy, Cowley, Chadwick, Kilpin.

Coach’s comment- We played like the university sides of the past – Never say die and keep trying all day. The hard things won us the game –tackles, smothers 2^nd / 3^rd efforts.A great effort against a side one game outside the four.

Helpers today – Mike Fogarty (Team manager / time), Shane Murphy (team manager), Anderson Hunt (oranges).

Ray Leetham / Vic Soligo – Under 19 coaching staff