Some results sting more than most — and this one will sit with this group for a while.
Eltham/Brimbank U18s took on competition leaders Endeavour on Saturday in a match the players and coaches had been building towards all week. Training energy was high, the team was pumped, and it showed from the first whistle.
The first half was outstanding. Eltham played enterprising, physical rugby and went into the break leading 21-5. They were controlling the game and had the leaders on the back foot.
The second half was a different story. Endeavour had no spare front rowers and scrums became uncontested — which meant they were allowed to stay at fifteen players when the rules would typically see them drop one. Bench changes saw a brief flat period, and Endeavour clawed their way back. With the last quarter, Eltham began to dominate again — only for a converted try right on full time to hand Endeavour the one-point victory.
There were frustrating refereeing calls throughout the second half, and the loss on the final whistle was genuinely tough to take. But coach Russ said it best: “We played extremely well and as a combined team we are starting to click. Our momentum will continue into the next month or so and the goal is to really peak for the finals.”
This is a squad building towards something. The belief is there. The work continues. 🖤💛