Weston get back in finals groove - JAMES GARDINER
WESTON ended a five-game losing streak with a resounding 4-0 win.....
Read more online at the Newcastle Herald
After a horror run of losses the Bears found themselves in the situation of needing to win to keep their semi final hopes alive at Thomas & Coffey Park. With so much at stake the club asked one of its Life Members, the legendary John Munro to address the side before the game and this had an obvious effect on the boys as they came out and smashed Valentine Phoenix 4-0.
Before the kick off both sides lined up for the presentation to Carl Thornton's induction into the 100 Club. Carl became only the 30th player since the club started taking records in the 1960's and the 7th current first grader to achieve the 100 top grade competition games for the Mighty Bears.
The first half saw the Bears again playing the style of football that won them the Premiership last season and they were rewarded with the lead just shy of half time. Jamie Subat celebrated the earlier birth of his son with the goal by getting on the end of a goal line clearance to drill home his shot to open the scoring.
The Bears continued to control the match and they added to their lead in the 64th min when Jamie Subat fired a low and hard shot towards goal that deflected to Mick Holt who showed plenty of strength to get a foot to the ball and past the keeper for a 2-0 lead. Valentine almost pulled one back 12 minutes later when they rifled a shot from 20mts out into the Bears crossbar. The Bears won the rebound and turned defence into attack by sending the ball straight down the opposite end for Dave Field to find the net and push the lead out to 3-0.
Valentine were now playing most of the game in their own half and with only a minute remaining the Bears should have been awarded a penalty after Mick Ryan was dragged down clearly inside the box. The referee did blow for a foul but he felt that Ryan was fouled outside the area and awarded a free kick. Nathan Morris stepped up and did what he has done so many times before and drove a rocket of a shot through the crowded box and past the Valentine keeper to make the score 4-0.
U/23's took an early lead before going behind to 2 soft goals but to their credit they fought hard and came back to rack up a deserved 3-2 win. The U/19's started the romp when they dominated the game and enjoyed a 3-0 victory to hand the Bears wins in all 3 grades.
Next Sunday the Bears are on the road to Hamilton Olympics Darling St Oval. A win is a must for the Bears but even then they will still be relying on Edgeworth losing to Broadmeadow or South Cardiff going down to Valentine in order for them to progress to the finals.
C'MON YOU BEARS!!!!!!!
Hopes rest on victory - FRANCES SACCO
Weston will play for their season when they take on Valentine Phoenix on Sunday....
Read more online at the Maitland Mercury
Rarely do new initiatives show such positive feedback so quickly, but the Weston Workers Bears Mentor Program plus a new approach to youth and community development has been a huge success.
The success of these programs reflects a need in our area to engage young players and the coaches of our junior clubs - it is an area Weston is committed to continue developing.
2010 saw the Bears introduce a mentor program that sees the Club’s senior players paired with a junior clubmate. This is a club wide initiative that includes players attending each other’s training and games together. It was intended that junior players were provided a look at the level they are aiming to play at and our senior players meet and train with the juniors. What it generated was a return far in excess of what was ever expected. One example is the attendance of junior players on senior game day - they now have a face to a name, they know their senior player, have trained with him and want him to do well.
Another fantastic example is an initiative to coach local junior coaches. Again the feedback has been hugely positive from the sessions delivered by Weston Youth Coordinator Gary Wand and the vastly experienced Bobby Naumov.
Closer relationships with the Hunter Valley Junior Football Association have also been formed. This has included developing alternative pathways for young players and most recently their involvement at the Newcastle Jets exhibition game at Weston. The Hunter Valley u11s were there to form a guard of honour for both teams and also played at half time.
None of this is possible however without strong support and we are fortunate to have such support from HYDRO allowing these popular initiatives to continue and grow.
