Paddy Nestel, playing his first Senior game, trapped the loose ball, and got it to Wilmoth, who ran through the top of the 50m arc and goaled. Nestel was 2007 House Captain of a new House – Creese – of which team mate Morrison was inaugural Captain in 2005. During the pre-season he very successfully impersonated a caveman, although he has since invested in a razor and pair of scissors and once again resembles the MGS School Prefect he was last year. In his spare time he is planning to memorably participate in a very large public event.

 

The two goals which turned the tide of play were brought about by the OMs’ incredible intensity and tight play. Horney was busy in the thick of the action at ground level, and Cudlipp, Morrison and Riggers were in a lot of the play.

The OMs lost Fitzgerald with a hamstring injury in the opening minutes of the quarter. Hawkins suffered an ankle injury which eventually forced him off for the remainder of the game during the following quarter.

 

At quarter time the coaching panel was more than satisfied with the OMs’ intensity, which had created the scoring opportunities. OH is a very good team, however, and it capitalised on OM skill errors. OH kicked the first goal of the second quarter, but Beaumont continued his improved form to score his second goal on the run. Morrison bounced the footy off the top of the point post, surely deserving 18 points but for an unimaginative scoring system. OH scored several goals in a long battle before Riggers booted the footy into the forward line, where classmate McKie pounced on it, burst through heavy traffic, and goaled beautifully from a tight angle. At halftime, OH had increased its lead, but the OMs had not allowed them to break away.

 

Despite having a lot of the play, it was particularly frustrating for the OMs that their efforts were not being rewarded. Many of their opponents lacked the public school spirit and experience of fair play, which was evident in their attacks on the OMs. One OH player loewered his colours and struck Seccull, earning himself a red card and time off the ground, which has since been extended to two weeks. Seccull also had his jumper ripped apart in what was a hard day at the office. The only OM goal for the quarter came from a great effort by Ed Mitchell. He beautifully stole a kick from OH’s number 19, ran towards goal, and kicked truly.

 

Starting the final quarter 28 points down, the OMs were theoretically a chance to close the gap, but the reality was it had been hard to score goals. Cudlipp had had a frustrating day, with many marks, kicks into the forward line, and a shot or two at goal, but no goals. He rectified this with typical Cud style in the final quarter. Riggers cleverly tapped the footy behind him to McKie, who kicked towards goal, finding Cud, who scored. Shortly afterwards, Cud kicked the footy off the ground, out of a big pack of players, for his second goal. Unfortunately, OH scored several easy goals in “junk” time making its victory look more impressive than it actually was.

 

The OMs played with passion and remarkable intensity all day against a bigger team with superior skills. Its midfield was again its strength, with Harra effective in the ruck, and Davis, Wilmoth, Morrison and Bachet running hard with intensity and skill all day. Horney was very good once he re-adapted to the faster pace of Senior footy.

 

This Saturday the OMs return to the Junction Oval to play Old Camberwell, which last week had a surprising victory against in-form Old Carey. The Wellers are seventh on the ladder, immediately above the OMs, but two games clear. A win by the OMs would put them a game clear of the two teams below. An effort like that shown against OH will go a long towards making this happen. Be there to support them.