Under18 TAC Cup

GIPPSLAND Power recorded a gutsy win over the NSWACT Rams last week but it came at a severe cost to the club’s short and longterm prospects in the TAC Cup for 2006.
The Power went into the game with six of nine remaining 2005 premiership players missing due to injury: Ricky Delphine, Ben Ross, Jaymie Youle, Lachlan Hansen, Tyson Goldsack and Beau Vernon and this effectively took the heart out of the side.
This gave Joel Gibson and Travis Bergmeier the chance to make their debuts and meant that Nigel Benn was also on deck after having a serious health scare during the preseason.
The pressure was on the rest of the squad to lift to fill the gaping hole left by the loss of such quality players and things didn’t improve when Rob Eddy, Marc Truscio and James Blaser took little part due to injuries sustained during the game.
To further dampen spirits, Dan McKenna suffered a nasty injury in the last contest of the match.
Early in the game, the Power showed no signs of being under pressure and had the Rams on the back foot.
Some excellent forward pressure allowed Jack Bailey to kick the opening major and Tristran Francis’ determination set Brent Macaffer for the first of his four goals for the term.
An unlikely bit of agility by Brent Connelly followed by two strong marks and goals by Macaffer showed the way that the Power was dominating play.
It took 15 minutes before the Rams scored a major and this served to sting the Power into action.
Tom Johnson put his body on the line to goal before Bailey and Kane Martin added insult to injury for the shellshocked Rams.
The icing on the cake came with Macaffer’s fourth and by the first change the Power had a 50point lead.
The one downside was the injury to Rob Eddy as he was leading his troops by inspirational example before going down.
The second term was a lowlight by comparison.
The only good thing about the quarter was that it was short so that the spectators were spared the agony of watching amazingly poor football.
The Rams seized the initiative from the first bounce and dominated play and suddenly the Power defenders were making fundamental errors.
The Rams were able to score three goals due to their pressure and it wasn’t until the 25minute mark that the Power goaled as a result of some Sale magic when Michael Todd and Bailey combined to help Martin to score his second.
By the long break the Power led by 37 points but the Rams were back in the game.
In the third term neither side was able to get cohesion into its play.
The Rams scored the first two goals for the term and the Power finally responded, Luke Webber capping off some good teamwork.
The Power lifted its work rate and Bailey put the side 29 points up by the last change.
The last term was a battle of attrition for the Power with only one fit interchange player.
The Rams were first to goal and the Power looked vulnerable.
The steadiness of Jeff Ryan allowed Joel Gibson to kick his first TAC Cup goal.
A series of good tackles and precise use of the ball gave Macaffer a rare scoring opportunity which he coolly converted.
The Rams hit back before typically strong piece of play by Johnson finally secured the Power’s victory.
Scores: Gippsland Power 15.6.96 d NSWACT Rams 11.10.76.
Goals: Brent Macaffer 5, Jack Bailey 3, Kane Martin, Tom Johnson 2, Brent Connelly, Joel Gibson, Luke Webber 1.
Best: Jack Bailey, Jeff Ryan, Tom Johnson, Ben Hughes, Tristran Francis, Ashley Payne.