CAULFIELD GRAMMARIANS 7.8. 50 def by BEAUMARIS 14.9. 93 

Goals: Rudd 3, Kalaja 2, Bowes, Poulter
 
Best: Kalaja, Sessler, Beveridge, Wearne, Fagan, Garood

After a bitterly disappointing performance against Marcellin the Caulfield Grammarians Reserves were determined to put up a much better showing against Beaumaris. Matches between the Fields and the Sharks involved some fireworks last season and the lads went into the game ready to play. The first quarter was a dour battle with scrappy play dictated by the fierce pressure that both sides applied to the contest and each other. The Sharks probably had marginally more of the football, but the Fields back line was simply superb and held up well. ‘Fridge’ Fagan and Cheyne Gates’ spoiling was a highlight of the early parts of the game.

Not much changed early in the second quarter as both sides gave little away. ‘Wonaeamirri’ Rudd kicked his second goal after a smart kick off the ground by ‘Buddy’ Poulter, only to see the Sharks’s respond almost immediately. Wona then slotted a beautiful set shot from a sharp angle into the wind to give the Fields the lead again. He will also be taking a goal kicking class at Glenhuntly on Thursday afternoon at 5.30pm for all interested parties. Josh Beveridge stepped up at this stage of the game and his centre clearances started to pose a problem for the Sharks midfield. However Beaumaris rallied late in the quarter and kicked 3 unanswered goals to go into the main break with a healthy 22 point margin.

The Fields were certainly frustrated by the margin at the main break, after they had had plenty of the play and had just not converted it into scores. This wasn’t helped by Beaumaris snagging the first 2 goals of the quarter after some quick centre clearances. However the Fields go to man in the middle, ‘Buster’ Beveridge, wrestled back the momentum and a goal to the skipper, through some smart play by ‘Wona’ Rudd kept the Fields in it. The Fields started to find more of the footy as the quarter continued, with Sessler and McMahon coming into the game. However the forward line looked as functional as the Osborne family and only a late goal from Ed Kalaja kept the Fields in touch.

The last quarter saw most of the sting go out of the game and the Fields let themselves down with some 25m penalties for some late but clean hits. ‘Berry’ Kalaja, Garood & ‘Vanilla’ Wearne played out the game well, with ‘Berry’ kicking a late goal to keep the last quarter scores pretty even. The final margin of 43 points was again disappointing, however it was a much improved effort on the previous week and the real key was the Field’s inability to convert possession into scores. Many thanks to Jimmy and Connor, from the Under 19s, for helping out and contributing to the contest. On to Old Camberwell next week.