Junior Colts

CLEVE v PORTS… Cleve had to work hard against the taller Ports side on Saturday, but the Bombers’ solid teamwork paid off in the end despite the array of talent in the black and white side.

Cleve’s Alex ‘Bullfrog’ Villis dominated the centre throughout the game, working closely alongside Cole Gerloff and Jez Schubert early in the first quarter.

Cole was doing some impressive left-footed kicks, while Tom Humphries also distinguished himself, lifting some great kicks out of the pack at centrefield in the first half.

Cleve’s Hugh Walker was on fire across the half back line, all combining to keep Ports scoreless in the first quarter.

For Ports, Louis Williams performed solidly in full back in the first half and Brad Noble was impressive, chasing constantly and fighting hard for possessions.

Tom Masters was a consistent performer for the Magpies, while Corey Ainsworth showed the same determination, throughout the clash, that will see him join the association training squad this year.

At half time, Cleve led 2-1 (13) to 0-0 (0) but the game still belonged to anyone and Cleve could not afford to be cocky.

Baby Bombers Nathan Byrnes, Hugh Walker and Luke ‘Rusty’ Whitehair were rock solid at half-back as the third quarter opened.

Mark Wedding and Cort Duncan were impressive in the second half of the game, chasing hard and tackling harder, but the Bombers worked well as a team, moving the ball to goal smoothly and confidently.

Ethan Kwaterski, for Cleve, kicked an impressive banana for a goal in the third term. Bullfrog took a good mark as the siren blew for the end of the third.

Harry Dunn, Corey Ainsworth and Louis Williams offered Ports a glimmer of home early in the fourth but they were thwarted when Campbell ‘Chopper’ Fennell took Tom Laas down in the shadow of the goal posts, just centimetres from a score.

As the final buzzer loomed, some classy shepherding by Tom Humphries outwitted Ports juggernaught Corey Ainsworth and Cameron Taheny was able to field an over-the-head kick to Cole Gerloff for his second goal of the game.