Brimbank 47 Eltham 21. The scoreboard tells one story. The 50 minutes of rugby our U12s played at Brimbank on Saturday tell a much better one.
Let’s be honest about it — Brimbank were a big, strong, well-drilled side, and they made the most of it all morning. But our players brought skill, stamina and willpower in spades, and they never stopped coming. Not once.
Brimbank struck early to lead 7-0, but Eltham’s answer was sensational. A perfectly weighted kick and chase took a favourable bounce, Max scooped it up and ran the full length of the field, straight under the posts. 7-7, and the game was on.
Brimbank hit back hard, and by half-time led 21-7 — but the half was full of Eltham heart. Orin dragged a Brimbank runner over the sideline, the forwards threw everything into the tackle, and Roman forced a crucial turnover with a huge hit right on our own line. Harvey was busy in the centre, and the whole side was talking, cheering and lifting each other the entire way.
The morning’s hardest moment came when Max was hurt and had to be stretchered off — handled brilliantly and safely by the coaches. The way our players clapped him off the field said everything about this group.
The second half was more of the same fierce, never-say-die rugby. Carmelo sparked an early run and Eltham strung together four strong phases. Fraser put his body on the line in defence. Alex kept darting through gaps in a scrambling defence, and Josh ran hard up the middle again and again. Louis produced a brilliant run down the sideline, somehow staying in play, and the forwards never stopped supporting the ball. Two more Eltham tries came through sheer effort and refusal to give in.
Here’s the thing the score doesn’t show: by the end, Eltham were the fitter side. Brimbank were tired and out on their feet — our players were still running hard, still chasing, still fighting for every metre. That’s the character we love to see.
A seriously brave effort from every one of the troops. Big knocks were taken out there — rest up well, boys. Games like this are exactly how you grow.
Kuzina Player of the Match: Roman — thunderous in defence and a turnover machine all day.
A huge thank you to everyone who made the trip to support the team. Let’s go Eltham! 🖤💛
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