RAMS defeat Queensland by 74 points

The NSW/ACT RAMS have produced their most emphatic victory of the 2010 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships defeating Queensland by 74 points in Coorparoo on Saturday.

The performance was one of the best the RAMS have produced in recent years with the whole side playing committed, team orientated football.

Led by a four goal haul from Josh Bruce, the RAMS’ forward-line was at its best with players taking contested marks and providing their midfielders with a number of options to kick to for the entirety of the contest.

The RAMS’ dominant midfield helped steer the side to victory as the RAMS had ten separate goal scorers for the match.

Preparations were ideal leading into the game with players arriving early in Brisbane to go over team structures and game plans.

The first quarter started promising for the RAMS with their midfielders finding plenty of the football and supplying their forwards with numerous opportunities in front of goal.

The RAMS had ten scoring shots to Queensland’s three, but inaccuracy in front of goal cost the side a more dominant quarter-time lead.

The second quarter started much similar to the way the first ended with the RAMS’ forwards making numerous leads and taking the contested marks.

Again the away side could have gone into the main break with a larger lead than 26 points but the team couldn’t capitalise on their goal scoring opportunities.

Queensland came into the penultimate quarter determined to kick their way back into the contest but to the RAMS’ credit they withstood the pressure and were able to play fluent football to provide their forwards with more goal scoring opportunities.

The game opened up in the fourth quarter as the RAMS continued to work hard and put pressure on the scoreboard. The RAMS kept their opponents goalless while kicking five goals themselves to run out the match 74-point winners.

It was a fantastic team performance with the side playing to its structure and game plan. The RAMS will take a lot out of their match and will be looking forward to taking on the in-form Western Australia at Melbourne’s Visy Park on June 26 as well as their Etihad Stadium encounter against Tasmania on June 30.

RAMS    3.7 6.11 10.18 15.21 (111)
Queensland       1.2 3.3 5.4 5.7 (37)

GOALS
RAMS: Josh Bruce 4, Anthony Miles 2, Jack Mahony 2, Sam Martyn, Blake Bray, Kaine Stevens, Kurt Aylett, James Brain, Harrison Cumming, Wade Hancock
QLD: Liam Ruttedge 3, Luke Shreeve, Jackson Ryan

BEST
RAMS: Josh Bruce, Kaine Stevens, Tim Segrave, Anthony Miles, Jack Mahony, Josh Cole.
QLD: Sam Michael, Chris Wittkopp, Leon Bolliger-Ha, Nathan Reid, Jake Crawford