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Top finish: Moorooduc under-12s score the club’s first ever grand final victory on Saturday 8 September. Picture: Supplied
Moorooduc snap-up historic win MOOROODUC Junior Football Club celebrated their first ever grand final victory on Saturday 8 September as their under-12s enjoyed a strong win over Mt Martha in the MPJFL grand final. Moorooduc, who joined the MPJFL four seasons ago, had another three teams competing across the league, but it was the under-12s side which landed the historical moment. Having been defeated by Mt Martha in the second semi-final, Moorooduc had to play Red Hill in the preliminary
final before making their way back into the grand final. After scoring a victory over Red Hill, Moorooduc came up with a new game plan against Mt Martha who had beaten them previously, and it clearly paid off. Moorooduc led from start to finish and were never headed in the grand final, eventually securing a four goal victory. Moorooduc Junior Football Club president Wayne Holdsworth said it was a massive achievement for the
side and the club as a whole. “We had big celebrations back at the club on the Saturday night with a few videos of the game and the highlights from the day,” he said. “All the players from the team and many other juniors from some of the other teams came back with their families to celebrate the season. It was probably the busiest night we’ve had at the club.” Holdsworth said it had been a “good season” all-round for the under-12s side with three of their players, Oskar
McDermott (third), Mac Holdsworth (fifth) and Gabe Bieber (ninth), all polling in the top 10 of the league’s ‘best and fairest’ award. The under-12s coach David Cross was also awarded the MPJFL Coach Of The Year. Moorooduc, who had four teams competing this season, is hoping to have a further two sides competing next year. Other MPJFL grand final victors were: Under-11s Girls – Tyabb, Boys
Navy – Red Hill and Boys White Dromana ; Under-12s Boys Navy – Mt Martha and Boys White - Moorooduc; Under-13s Girls – Mt Martha, Boys White – Somerville and Boys Navy – Mt Martha; Under-14s Boys White – Rosebud and Boys Navy - Rye; Under15s Girls White – Pearcedale/Baxter, Girls Navy – Mt Martha and Boys - Beleura; Under-16s Boys Navy – Mt Martha and Boys White - Dromana; Under- 17s Boys – Pearcedale/Baxter; Under-18s Girls Navy – Mt Eliza and Girls White – Seaford.
Nichols follows right path with Star MORNINGTON-based trainer, Shane Nichols, has been rewarded for sticking tough with, I Am A Star, as the gallant mare dug deep to claim the Group Two Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday 15 September. While plans of sending the mare to stud were contemplated following I Am A Stars plain autumn preparation, Nichols, with the persuasion of I Am A Star’s owner, Matthew Sandblom, decided to give her another attempt in the spring. Nichols was stoked to see the decision pay dividends. “It was an outstanding result,” he said. “She’s reached great heights and had some times where things weren’t easy. She didn’t come up in the autumn, but Matthew Sandblom was good enough to give her some time, so we turned her out and put her in the paddock. “We were run-to-run for the start of the prep but because we had time she could have a run or two and if she failed well then we could send her to stud, but that was a great result.” The win was the mares seventh at Stakes level and while I Am A Star lugged the top-weight (58kg) into
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heavy winds, her determination pulled through once again, holding out the Team Hawkes-trained galloper Bella Martini in a photo finish. “I’m really pleased with her, she’s not big but she’s tough,” Nichols added. Jockey Ben Melham was also full of positivity following I Am A Star’s performance. “She jumped well and I knew she had the big weight and I was mindful of the wind,” he said. “It was quite ferocious so it was a good, tough win. They were terrible conditions but she’s a good horse and did the job well.” I Am A Star will head to the Group Two Stocks Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Friday 28 September, and Nichols was upbeat about her chances when dropping back to the same weight as the other mares. “She’s won a Stocks Stakes and the Sunline at Moonee Valley over the mile so I’d think on that she’s going to be pretty hard to beat again,” he said. Shining Star: I Am A Star wins the Group Two Let’s Elope Stakes at Flemington on Saturday 15 September for Mornington trainer Shane Nichols. Picture: Supplied
Frankston Times 24 September 2018