Smashing performance

By Justin Robertson
ENDEAVOUR Hills smashed a hapless Geelong outfit 51-10 at Frog Hollow Reserve on Saturday afternoon.
In a relentless display, the Hills shifted into top gear after half time and plundered 34-7, leaving Geelong with still two wins for the season.
“It was a pretty healthy win for us,” said coach Archie Kennedy. “We hit our straps this week and stuck to our game plan.”
By the 30 minute mark of the first half coach Kennedy said the team started to click and began to apply huge amounts of defensive pressure and from there, Geelong capitulated.
“Our ruck and maul was a lot better this week, especially our rucking and we managed to defend extremely well,” said Kennedy.
With a handy half time lead of 17-3, which included three tries for the Hills, coach Kennedy urged his players to “keep their foot on the accelerator” and to keep applying defensive pressure.
They responded to the call and almost tripled their half time score.
Five-eight, Lemi Faimoa, was best on ground executing the ball by hand and foot with precision to the forwards and backs that help set up multiple scoring opportunities. Charlie Palupe and Michale Uoka were also prominent and busy around the ground during the 41-point win.
Kennedy was particularly chuffed with his team’s run through the back line, an area that has showed improvement over the past few weeks.
“Our backs carved up their backs and we exposed gaps that led to scoring breaks,” said Kennedy. “We had the support and speed to finish off, which was good.”
Fleet-footed winger Galu Teo scored two tries – one from a set play, the other from individual effort – which Kennedy praised, along with the team’s progress.
“Now we start looking at our tactics and we’ll look at our game plan,” said Kennedy. “Next time we meet Footscray we need to take in a slightly different approach. They can only work on what they know, so we’ll try and take in a slightly different game plan, or a small variation of it.”
Next week the Hills take on fifth-placed Maroondah who has managed just one win for the season.