Fawkner Men’s A & Albert Park Mixed A both progressing to the GF’s.

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The Vipers Men’s A  at Fawkner Park have been strong performers in consecutive seasons at Fawkner Park on Tuesday nights with back to back titles. The team is choc full of talent, topped up with new and exciting players acquired through the club over the past 2 years.

The GF started a little shaky with the first TD scored by the opposition in the opening set of six to not only shock the Vipers team into gear but a wake up call that this was going to be no easy game. So back to half way they headed and straight away the reply was placed and a 1-1 scoreline. The match then took a turn with an intercept throw on the line and length of the field TD to send the Take up Dump boys into cheers and excitement as they lead 2-1. That was the last bit of excitement for the Take a Dump crew as Vipers placed a strangle hold on the match and ran in 5 unanswered TD’s to secure the title 6 -2  and back to back Summer and Winter titles in the division.

Stand out performers on the night for Vipers were Josh Chan, JK and Soly in attack with the level of talk and direction provided by Johnny Moore, Burky and Simon a major contributor to the win. Greg, Sanga’s and Zac all provided the rucking platform to enable the teams attackers to dominate in the 2nd half with Youngy hobbling around the field with knee injury to also provide a break for players when required. A well deserved win for the team.

Special mention to Zac Pain who incredibly picked up the Most Valuable PlayerAward in B grade after just 2 appearances in the division. Well done Zac.

The Albert Park Mixed A team on Wednesday night had some tough competition to overcome in the form of Touch Um who have only been beaten once in the regular season which was against Vipers. The Vipers team which would be more then competitive in the Senior Mixed division at the NTL’swould face team which would be more then competitive in the Mixed Open division at a NTL. The teams had to battle with the weather which decided to rain constantly throughout the game but this did not stop the match being one of great attack and defence. Neither team really showed an advantage over the other with the lead changing hands about 3-4 times throughout the match and with one ever 1 TD in it all the way to the end. Their were the standed long balls, desperate defence and missed opportunities for both sides andwhen Vipers scored with less then 60secs to go it looked like the match was over but Touch Um stuck after the hooter to send the match into a drop off. The drop off provided it’s own excitement and controversy but in the end the Touch Um team prevailed to record the win. Many of the Vipers players were left upset with some interesting decisions but that’s touch. The roving reporter can report that the match was one of great skill and desperation in the conditions and both teams played very well.

Stand out performers in the top grade in their first season Sam “Maverick” Cranage who saved the team with his desperate defence and great hole hitting on the night along with the entire female contingent in Jen, Mel, Suzy and Brooke who defended and rucked the ball for the boys to attack at the other end.

Congratulations to the Vipers team on their efforts over the season.

We look forward to seeing all players form the Winter season back in 2010/11 summer seasons.

The Vipers two mixed teams on Wednesday night  finished 3rd and 4th and found themselves ousted after the first week of finals to the Touch Um. Harcourt  Vipers which for much of the year displayed glimpses of brillance where undermanned literally with inspirational attacking player Rob Mair in the US trialling with US college Notre Dame for touch scholarship, as well as Soly having been sidelined due to a freak accident where he tried to run through an opponent the week before unable to play due to a very large gash in the middle of his forehead and the 11 stitches required to close the gap. The team never really recovered and lost out 6-1 even with Brooke, Doigy and Sharyn the team just could not gain any momentum in attack and with limited subs struggled on the fast track just could not crack the line.

The Bayside Vipers team which decided to watch State of Origin games as opposed to playing touch where also unlucky during their semi going down 10 – 6. The turning point in the game was when the lights went out on the game and forced a 10min delay just as Vipers looked to have the Touch Um Opens team on the ropes. Once the lights resumed and the potholes where filled the team again begun to make their charge but time beat them and the final siren sounded on a up and down season.

The Bitemark VipersMixed team on Thursday night have also played some outstanding touch with TFA board member Gilbo frequently lending a hand in any capacity not only to his team but ref’s and the ground controller as he demonstrated his electrical skills in trying to turning the lights back on during a game. The team have passed their first test against the Mohikans 1 in week 1 of the semi’s and will now face the flying Ballarat United in a Grand Final tonight. The team will head into tonight’s clash full of confidence having post some very high scores on  some teams this year but also pleased with their defensive efforts as well. Vipers by 1

Fawkner Park has been a happy place this year for the first Vipers Men’s team, having started the season with a full compliment of players the team has been reduced to just 8 players due to injury and qualification criteria. The team have been the benchmark all season and have not lost a game and will be out their on Tuesday night trying to keep that record. The team have played some exceptional  touch during the year with limited numbers each week but have continued to improve and demonstrate that playing as a team is what has made them successful. The grand final next week will be a tight fought battle against old foes Monash Uni but one which will provide plenty of attacking and defensive flair. This one could go either way but we tip Vipers by 2.

The Men’s team played the experience Monash side in the opener on Tuesday night in some what dark conditions due to some light towers yet to be put into operation. The game was one of fast pace attack and some sloppy defence from both teams as they each tried to find the edge but at the end of 40 minutes it ended up 6 all and a true reflection of the game. The Vipers team displayed some exciting attack and ball movement throughout the game and came back from 2 TD’s down to claw in front on the back of the ageless Johnny Moore’s length of the field intercept in which he out paced “Ritchie” one of the games speedsters showing that he may indeed still have what it takes to push for a Men’s Open spot in 2009.

The Wednesday Mixed teams really did have plenty of new faces with one entire team meeting each other on the night and the other having half a dozen players also brand new. This game was timed as Vipers very own grudge match for bragging rights but it took 27mins for the first TD as both sides struggled with the darkness, similar playing tops and not really knowing each other. But once the first TD went down from last years MVP Amy Lewicki, a very confident Tommy announced that was from the “Real Vipers” which won last years title at Fawkner park. However the heavily NTL experienced Harcourt Vipers hit straight back with some blistering pace from Brooke to score and draw level. As the clock wound down a suspiciously offside JP took a intercept and ran to the line to push the Harcourt team ahead by 1. The Bayside Vipers however looked to there regular playmakers in Jimmy, Tommy & Beau Dogg fresh from his stay in the “Gong” for the last 3 years, combined to put the ever alert Amy into another hole to level the match at 2 all. This is how it stayed for the remainder of the match leaving neither team satisfied. Both these teams will improve as they establish combinations and learn each others names as the season continues, as the Fawkner team did last year.

Thursday Night Mixed team report by Flick

Last Thursday we won 8-4. All I can say is that it was a good start to the season…

Our newbie to the touch team Amber Gillanders made a great debut. She defended well on the line and held her defensive wing the entire game and took some good catches from a couple of dodgy passes!!

Due to all the refs being in teams that played that particular time slot we had to sacrifice Mat Gilbertson and make him referee the game! He had a good return to refereeing after about 3 years off he said! He was not biased at all, as Flick (his sister) in true fashion had a go at him for a dodgy touch and pass call against her (which he later admitted was slightly dodgy!) but all in all it was great to get back into the season!!

Brent Davidson was back into usual fashion after the break.. in the right place at the right time on the defensive 5 meter line for the ball to fall into his hands accidently. Big mistake for the attacking team because he proceeded to step the girl that gave it to him, the guy next to her, then take off up the field from our left hand defensive corner. He was then chased from a guy mid field so ran towards the middle for a bit, before stepping right past him. He then turned to realise he was being chased by the 3rd guy in the team, who was coming up the right hand side of the field, he put his foot down as the guy got close, the defender realised he was getting away and made a last mad attempt to catch him by diving only to miss by a few inches as Brent proceeded to score in the top right hand corner of the field!!

All who were there played well and it was a nice way to end the first game of the season!!