RAMS claim their first victory
The NSW/ACT RAMS have kicked off their 2010 NAB AFL Under-18s campaign with an emphatic 41-point victory over Northern Territory at Blacktown Olympic Park on Saturday.
The RAMS got off to a blistering start, having ten scoring shots in the opening quarter to lead at the first change by 21 points.
The RAMS were led by a standout performance from North Albury’s Anthony Miles who racked up 43-disposals and three goals, including a number of contested possessions.
Josh Bruce was also prominent for the RAMS booting five goals, while Wade Hancock and Kaine Stevens kicked two goals each.
Northern Territory’s Steven May sparked a second term revival with the forward kicking four goals for the game before RAMS’ Tim Segrave curbed his influence in the second half.
After a second quarter lapse where the home side went into the main break with only a four point lead, the RAMS responded in the penultimate term kicking five goals to NT’s two goals.
The RAMS ran away with the contest in the final quarter as Miles continued to find plenty of the football and another four goal term saw the RAMS win their first game of the Under-18 NAB AFL Championships.
With all 18 AFL club scouts looking on, the RAMS players did themselves no harm as they vie for selection in the end of season drafts.
Team GWS coach Kevin Sheedy, was also watching from the grandstands as he searches for the best youngsters from areas of NSW/ACT and the Northern Territory. The western Sydney based club has first choice of players from selected areas in NSW/ACT and the Northern Territory in future drafts.
The RAMS will return to Blacktown Olympic Park on June 6 when they take on Vic Country, while NT will return home to take on South Australia on June 5.
In the other match at Blacktown Olympic Park, Tasmania overcame Queensland by seven points courtesy of a five goal haul from Ben Brown.
The result could have gone the other way if Queensland converted their chances in front of goal, kicking 14 behinds to Tasmania’s nine.
For Tasmania, Brown led from the front, while Joshua Green and Rhys Mott were among the team’s best. Gold Coast FC’s Jake Crawford was the standout for Queensland, along with Michael Hutchinson and Adam Oxley.
NSW/ACT 4.6 6.6 11.9 15.12 (102)
NT 1.3 5.8 7.10 8.13 (61)
GOALS
NSW/ACT: Bruce 5, Miles 3, Hancock 2, Stevens 2, Stubbs 1, Bray 1, Milne, 1
NT: May 4, Staunton 1, Munkara 1, Ah Mat-Watkins 1, Henry 1
BEST
NSW/ACT: Miles, Bruce, Segrave, Aylett, Townsend, Mabon
NT: May, Edwards, Staunton, Jones, Lawton