It was a day of celebration at the Katamatite Recreation Reserve on Saturday and the home supporters were treated to some cracking games of football and netball.
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With perfect conditions and a healthy crowd to celebrate the club’s 125th anniversary, Katamatite welcomed Katunga for round four Picola District League action.
The home side put on a show, both on the football field and the newly opened netball courts.
On the grass, it was the visiting Swans who started strong in the seniors, before a big second term from the Tigers swung the game’s momentum.
At half time the Tigers were up and this was how it remained for the rest of the game, with the home side kicking clear, sending a message to the competition with a 11.13 (79) to 6.4 (40) win.
Katamatite coach Jedd Wright said the day was a huge occasion for the club.
“We knew that they were going to come out pretty hard. We were up for the occasion but they certainly jumped us in the first quarter, so it was good to see us fight back and get a win in the end,” Wright said.
“We were probably over-awed in the first quarter because everyone knew how much it meant for the club and especially with all the old boys here we really wanted to do them justice.”
Pat Riordan, Trent Steers and Ben Bray were among the Tigers’ best on the day, with four goals from ex-North Melbourne talent Sam Wright helping the side get over the line.
“The leaders of the club stood up when it counted,” the coach said.
“To Katunga’s credit, they never really got away from us. Their back six were pretty good and we managed to grind out a few goals. We kicked pretty poorly and probably should’ve had another six or seven goals.”
Katunga coach Damien Kennedy, who previously coached and captained Katamatite to premiership success, said the game got away from his side in the second quarter.
“We started quite well and thought we’ll just maintain that intensity as a young group, but we probably just struggled against some good, strong bodies and in the second quarter they just killed us in stoppages,” Kennedy said.
“We probably dropped off in effort, I suppose, was the biggest thing, and we struggled with forward entries really after that.
“There’s a lot to learn out of it. We’ve got a lot of improvement as well and a pretty young group.”
In other Picola District Football League games, Tocumwal got over a slow start to win a thriller against the Deni Rovers in Deni.
The Bloods were down at the first break, however a big second term set up a solid 12.9 (81) to 10.11 (71) victory to the visiting side.
Strathmerton had the week off.
On the netball courts, Katamatite took home the points against mid-table rival Katunga, with a score of 53 to 41 marking a convincing win.
The game started out evenly, with scores level at the end of the first quarter, however a big second term to the Tigers put them in the box seat.
Some sharp shooting from the Swans kept them in the contest, however in the end the Tigers were simply too strong.
Katamatite coach Tesslyn Saunders said it was good to get the win.
“It was four consistent quarters that probably won us the game,” Saunders said.
“The girls played really well, we had a good start and it just continued on throughout the entire game.”
It was a big day for Katamatite, with the club not only celebrating its 125th anniversary but holding the official opening of the new netball courts.
“There was a lot of past netballers and footballers that had been with the club for a very long time so it was nice to be able to walk off the court and feel proud that we’d done it for them as well.
“We have got a fair few new players in this year so we’re just starting to work on a few things and getting settled.
“Once we work each other out we will be good to go.”
Defenders Ellie Lazzarotto and Tess Lawless were two of the standout performers for the Tigers, with Saunders explaining they did a fantastic job against two very accurate goalers.
In other round four action, Deni fell to Tocumwal at home, with the bloods picking up a 24 to 41 win, while Strathmerton had a week off.
Daniel is a passionate sports fan and proud Tasmanian.