| Under 10/1 CDSFA Gala Day Champions |
VINCE AND VAL LAWS UNDER 10 GALA DAY 14th JUNEI am very pleased to report Tony Reed's 10/1's won the Vince and Val Laws Gala Day, hosted by Canterbury JFC, on Sunday 14 June 2009 with a 1-0 win in the Final over St Ives.  This was a 16 team competition (divided into 4 groups) that included 4 other teams from the Canterbury District; 9 from across Sydney (including Hornsby & Ryde); Gwandalan from the Lake Macquarie area; and Figtree from near Wollongong. The competition was fierce and close with low-scoring games. They played three Preliminaries starting with a 2-1 win over Winston Hills; followed by a 1-0 win over Northbridge; and then a 0-2 loss to Figtree. The two top teams from each group made the cut to the Quarter-finals in which we confidently beat Easts 2-0; then in a heart-stopping Semi-final beat Baulkham Hills 2-1; to go through to the Final to beat St Ives 1-0. Ours was the only goal St Ives conceded in the entire tournament. Our Under 10 boys played 6 games between 9:30am and 2:00pm. This team of 12 boys is now in its 2nd season together with some having played together even longer. They tend to start slowly and surge from behind. The Gala Day was no exception. However, their resounding characteristics are grit and determination, with a never-say-die attitude, mixed with an absolute passion and zest for football. When added to their natural ability and amazing skills they combine to make up this winning team. To single out each player in detail may smack of hyperbole, possibly bore the reader and detract from their team spirit and team performance. However, I cannot avoid mentioning James' spell binding footwork and sheer number of challenges; Jarrah's sensational (in-field) save to avoid a draw in the first Preliminary; Harry's 2 goals in as many minutes with a volley on the second to turn around a 0-1 score to a 2-1 win in the Semi-final taking them to the Final; and Roy's total tally of 3 goals for the day including the spectacular winner in the Final. These specific references in no way diminish the fantastic effort by all the other boys, such as a glorious sweeping movement against Northbridge to set up Roy's second. I do them justice by stating every goal saved was a team effort, similarly every goal scored carried more than one pair of footprints. Goal-keeping was shared as usual among many boys who did an outstanding job. Our great 10/1's consist of the following players: * Harry * Lincoln * Manning * Monty * Jarrah * Liam * Saxon * Ted * Joshua * James * Roy and * Cluny (injured but on the field in spirit). The look on their faces when they won the Semi and then the Final was priceless.  They did their Coach and the Leichhardt-Saints Club proud and it is a joy and pleasure to be a part of this unique team. Howard Charles Photographs courtesy of Angus Millar |