RUGBY
By David Burke
WITH a weekend that produced perfect conditions for rugby league, the Peninsula Dolphins 3rd grade seniors met the Bendigo Crushers at Seabrook Reserve in Broadmeadows for Saturday afternoon clash on 1 August.
In a game that had a lot of stoppages, the Peninsula Dolphins found it difficult to get into their usual tough “grind it out” style of rugby league. Despite this, they managed to put 20 points to nil on the Bendigo Crushers in the first half.
The Dolphins allowed frustration to creep into the game with the stop start nature of it pulling them away from their usual high standard of intensity and discipline from start to finish that they pride themselves on. At times they were guilty of trying to force momentum, rather than earn it.
The Dolphins, for the most of the match, showed why they are up the top end of the table with massive individual metres made in attack and defence that dominated field position, starving Bendigo of any points.
They showed they are on track for finals rugby league when they stick to their systems and standards.
The second half saw a late send off for the Dolphins that the Crusher were able to capitalise on.
With the Dolphins being a man down and the intensity gone out of the game, The Crushers managed to score some consolation points with the final score Peninsula Dolphins 30 to Bendigo Crushers 12.
Sunday saw Dolphins beating sharks
In another great day for being outdoors, the senior women’s Peninsula Dolphins rugby league tag side went to Arthur Beachley Reserve in Sunshine to take on the Geelong Sharks.
With a few losses in a row the girls never lost belief in themselves, remaining upbeat and confident in training that wins will come if they work for it.
Last Sunday afternoon (2 August) proved them right when they produced some of the best rugby league they have played all year.
With intensity and drive from start to end they rode the wave of momentum and didn’t back off.
With combinations , speed and footwork working and the energy high through the team they continued to work for each other never giving Geelong Sharks a chance to get in the game.
It was an all round great team effort that they can all be extremely proud of with the final score being Peninsula Dolphins 22 to Geelong Sharks 6.
