The side only lost the second half by 10 points.
It was said after the game that if we had been able to do that for both halves, it would have been a pretty good performance.
If we had controlled just a few simple errors, we would have been right in it early, and that is where our focus should be.
Aaron Litchfield halted the free-flowing scoring, allowing Beppe Daly, Rushton Stringer and Oliver Collinson to clear the ball more frequently and giving Eddie King, Kai Bloomfield and Dane Leyden the room to push the ball forward.
Although we couldn’t capitalise, Allan Gardiner, Kevin Kerr and our on-ballers applied relentless pressure, which we lacked in the first half.
Adrian Timmis tagged their main on-baller out of the game in a sacrifice that certainly helped turn the game a little more our way.
Our performance over the past couple of years is not an excuse any more. We have some excellent players and a new game plan.
It will take a few games to make it work, but it will work.
Don’t allow our opponents to suck us back into the Blighty of 2022 and 2023.
We have the ability to work our way back out of the trouble we get ourselves into on the field; we just need to listen to our coach’s and keep trying to execute our game plan together to the best of our ability.
Win your positions over the ground, and the rest just comes.
Final score: Blighty 3.5 (23) def by Mathoura 14.8 (92).
Reserves:
Not the result we hoped for against the Timbercutters last week, but we have come so far in just one week.
We were all there on time, we had a full side, and for the most part, I think we all enjoyed ourselves, so at least this is a massive win for us.
Matt Hince and Jake Browne started the game in great style, gathering a lot of possessions in the centre.
George Reid continued his good form before he copped one that slowed him down considerably.
Former ruckman Kyle Thomas Ives joined our team, and we are very grateful to have him on board.
New recruit Brendan Brewer was solid in defence, and Zac Thomson found touch with an awesome game.
Brock Thomson and Dion Winter were tireless and had really limited opportunities.
Final Score: Blighty 2.2 (14) def by Mathoura 12.16 (88).
Fourths:
The Blighty fourths had a very tight game against Mathoura.
Their first quarter was strong, but in the second and third quarters, Mathoura had it over Blighty.
To Blighty’s credit, they rallied in the last quarter to win by two points.
Pip Bain was very strong on the ball.
While Mitch Bain was best on ground playing fullback.
Other awards went to Blake Miller and Michael Gazzara for both of their first games in the fourths.
It was great to see many players stepping up and scoring goals, including Jake Wharton, William Frost, Logan Marshall, Hudson Kelly and Tommy Bain.
Final score: Blighty 7.7 (49) def Mathoura 7.5 (47).