Two points.
That is what separated our U12s from a premiership on Saturday 5 September.
The wind howled across that ground all morning and never let up — bending the kicks, killing the passes, turning a Grand Final into a game of territory.
Roman crossed inside the first minute. The conversion went up into that wind and drifted wide, and that missed kick would sit there quietly for the rest of the morning. It was the only time all day we were in front.
From there the ball would not leave our end. Line-out, scrum, phase after phase in our own half — and our players held, with Max and Malachi enormous through it. But you can only defend into a gale for so long, and two tries in three minutes gave Kiwi Hawthorn the lead.
Max hauled us back before the break, and that became the shape of the game: them edging ahead, Eltham dragging them back. Harvey drove for the corner and was pushed out just short. Max got his second. Then Malachi ripped the ball loose, took off, found Roman on his shoulder, and Roman finished it. Orin slotted the conversion.
22 all, with minutes left.
They scored again and converted. And still our players came — Max over for his third, a hat-trick in a Grand Final and the last try of the match, to bring it back to two. One more set and it’s ours. It didn’t come.
Eltham 27 – Kiwi Hawthorn/Maroondah/Melbourne 29.
Tries: Max (3), Roman (2). Conversion: Orin.
Five tries each. The difference was which way the wind was blowing when the kicks went up.
Second in Victoria, by two points, in a gale. They earned every bit of it.
To Sam, Ollie and Dave, to the parents on the road before half past seven, and to every one of the players — thank you. Go Eltham! 🖤💛
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