A winning combination for Firsts Teams
It was almost a clean sweep over the weekend for the Firsts teams. Whilst the footballers, netballers and boys’ soccer players all recorded their second consecutive wins, the girls’ basketballers, the rugby boys’ and girls’ soccer players also had terrific wins. Unfortunately the Firsts Hockey team just missed out, going down 3-2 in a tight match.
NETBALL
In another very high standard game against Geelong Grammar (who were premiers in 2012), Ivanhoe was challenged every minute of the game. Whilst the girls led early, they were never able to gain a clear margin. Fortunately, an excellent focus and discipline across the entire team allowed them to maintain pressure throughout. Captain, Alice Teague Neeld shot at an amazing 90 per cent rate, working hard for the centre passes and taking many determined rebounds and intercepts. Vice-captain Tiffanny Carr shot at 81 per cent and gave Alice great support. The rebounds and accuracy of the goalers made it very difficult for the Geelong defenders.
The centre court combinations showed great maturity as well with Olivia Gigli, Olivia Calleri, Eloise Whitcroft and Emily Anderson ensuring the ball travelled through the corridors quickly.
Defender Georgia Harper's agility and vertical jump was amazing with her intercepts growing in every game. Isabella Hines worked hard using her height to her best advantage.
,, This was a solid performance under enormous pressure.
Score: Ivanhoe Grammar School 59 Defeated Geelong Grammar School 57
FOOTBALL
In what turned out to be a one sided affair, the footballers played great team football to overpower Mentone by 134 points. Will Knight was outstanding up forward kicking seven goals, and there was great support from skipper Kyle Langford, Billy Murphy and James Locke. Sam Keogh (Year 10) and Harris Scholz-Mitchell (Year 11) played important roles.
With this big win, the team now sits on top of the ladder after two games, but a big test will come this Saturday when they play the strong Assumption team.
Score: Ivanhoe Grammar School 24.10.154 Defeated Mentone 3.2.20
GIRLS’ SOCCER
From the outset, it was clear that the Ivanhoe team was on their game. Dominating from kick off, all players were switched on and off the field and each played their role magnificently. The game was physical and fast paced, and it was mainly through a solid defence and the running midfielders that they were able to continually press forward.
Two goals in the first half from Fede Frew saw the half-time score at 2 – 0. After the break, the game became a little more free-flowing and with goals from Fede Frew (penalty), Emily Powick and Sophie Cuthbert, they were able to run out convincing winners. This was a great performance by all.
Score: Ivanhoe Grammar School 5 Defeated Geelong Grammar School 0
BOYS’ SOCCER
The second game of the season saw Mentone travel up to the Veneto Club in what promised to be an exciting game after last season’s 8-4 thriller. Injuries had hit the Firsts team, meaning a new look midfield was required to maintain the excellent start to the season. From the first whistle, it was evident that the effort and work that had been put in was going to pay off. The first chance was created in the opening minute after a great run by Jon Christopolous and although the team didn’t score, they looked dangerous. The boys continued their high tempo passing game, and after just six minutes took the lead through a free kick from Peter Michael.
Mentone then came back into the game scoring a penalty mid-way through the half. Undeterred, the boys maintained their tempo and managed to score two more goals before half time with Anthony Pierri scoring a cheeky back heel, and Christian Cortese lobbing the keeper with a fantastic backwards header.
The second half was all Ivanhoe from the start, with Terry Constandelos having a fantastic game as the Captain. Two more goals were added by Peter Michael and Dion Gavalas who scored the goal of the game from outside the box. This was an impressive team performance from a young Ivanhoe side that bodes very well for the future. This week Ivanhoe will host PEGGS in what will be a replay of the Grand Final from last year.
Score: Ivanhoe Grammar School 5 Defeated Mentone Grammar School 1
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
In a very tight game, the girls finished eventual winners by just three points. Two first gamers in Romy Costa (who rebounded superbly) and Breanna Bucca, led the way with some inspiring play. Added to this was the superb defensive work of Selina Yang who helped put pressure on the opposition guards to create many steals. With Georgia Vlahos controlling the tempo of the game through the middle of the court and also getting to the basket to score, Zoe Vodden playing smart basketball and Charlotte Turner coming off the bench to provide great support, they maintained scoreboard pressure to the end. This was a terrific win to start the season.
Score: Ivanhoe Grammar School 38 Defeated Mentone Grammar School 35
RUGBY
After experiencing a heavy loss at the hands of Marcellin in round one, Ivanhoe’s First XV had a lot to improve on if they were to notch their first win of the season against a confident Carey.
Led by captain Rhys Griffiths, the forward pack applied much needed pressure which produced the first try at the seven minute mark in the 1st Half. The back line, terrifically coordinated by fly-half Jake Smith, proved to be the difference between Ivanhoe and Carey. Streaks of brilliance provided by Michael Smith and Stephen Doumakis allowed Ivanhoe to gain and maintain the lead throughout what was a testing game due to the wet weather conditions.
However, it was the determination of fourteen men pushing the fifteenth man over the line that allowed Ivanhoe to run out eventual winners.
Score: Ivanhoe Grammar School 42 defeated Carey Grammar School 10
HOCKEY
A very confident Ivanhoe team dominated the first half with Nathan Haggar scoring the only unanswered goal of that half. The second half started in the same vein with Lachlan Watson making a number of exciting runs down midfield and scoring the second goal for Ivanhoe. Valuable contributions were made by goalkeeper Daniel McEwen, Captain Mathew Haggar, Jaime McKenzie, Ben Summers and Darcy Tobias in particular, but the defence in the latter part of the game was such that Mentone could capitalise on mistakes made to come back into the game to win 3 -2.
Although points were missed, this was a much better performance than the first game and will result in the team going into the next match with more confidence.
Score: Ivanhoe Grammar School 2 Defeated by Mentone 3
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