This week saw the Under 9 Blues against our toughest opponents yet, the Byron Bay magpies.
We took a minute to find our rhythm as a team but when we did, boy did we turn it on.
Hudson and Georgia got in there hungry for the ball, showing great hand-balling off to their team mates.
Harley & Mason S were everywhere winning contested ball and found plenty of space as well.
Xavier and Alfie both kicked some great goals and were no competition for their opponents with Alfie having his best game of the season.
Indigo worked hard in defense, had plenty of the ball, while his younger brother Alvaro, played great footy, showing the big boys from Byron that size doesn’t matter, it’s skill.
Lucas & Mason H have both improved hugely, and both got the ball moving forward while Leon, Jedd & Tommy all took some great marks, got kicks away & worked well with their team mates.
Mitch got stuck in and won some important ball while Leon, Jedd & Tommy have played great footy all season & it was with big cheers from everyone that these 3 all took home “Players of the Week”. Very deserved boys!
Once again, thanks to all the parents for your continued help & support of these little legends. Week after week, this team give solid performances and we could not be more prouder of this team.
Finns up! Go Dolphins under 9 Blues.
Jess, Chon, Will
Another tough game for the Kingy U11 Reds last Sunday taking on the Tweed Coast FC for the second week in a row, this time playing against the Tigers Yellow team.
An impressive first quarter saw our lads linking up some great plays down the wing and forward flanks resulting in multiple goals. Everything we trained for was working like clockwork and that was the message we gave them at the quarter time break - keep doing what you're doing.
However during the second quarter the Tigers managed to stem our flow to the forward line and evened things up a bit, and throughout the second half they managed to gradually peg back the deficit into what was a very close finish, with our boys getting over the line by 7 points at the final siren.
The midfield kept us in it all day with Bohdi, Jack R, Jack B and Ollie working hard, breaking tackles, and winning lots of clearances from the centre. Xavier had a great game along with Billy rebounding the Tiger attacks off the half back line, while Archie was solid in the back line late in the last quarter and stopped a couple of certain goals with his patient defending.
Our player of the week was Will who had his first proper go as a ruck/follower and used his height and strength to great effect. Tommy received the effort award also with some great ruck work alternating with Will. It was a warm afternoon and these two lads worked very hard in every ruck contest winning a lot of hitouts.
It was a great day down at Merv Edwards Field with 4 Dolphins teams playing home games along with lots of families and supporters, and seeing the community spirit at the club is fantastic.
This Sunday we have a home game against the Murwillumbah Vulcans at 10am, see you all then!
Ben, Jono, Mick
Resilient Performance by Kingscliff Dolphins U9 Reds against Tweed Coast Tigers
The Kingscliff Dolphins U9 Reds showcased their strength and determination as they faced the Tweed Coast Tigers in a thrilling match at their home ground. With the return of key players Oxford and Liam, the team's match-ups and structure were significantly strengthened. Oxford won the toss and chose to run north, setting the stage for an exciting contest.
Right from the start, the Dolphins displayed their eagerness to win the ball. Players such as Oscar, Sully, Benji, and Liam led the charge in the first quarter, dominating the midfield and setting the tone for the entire match. The solid defensive efforts of Nate, Michael, and Noah prevented the Tigers from scoring multiple goals, showcasing their strength in the backline.
As the game progressed into the second quarter, the Dolphins grew in confidence, realizing they could match up against their opponents. Max played a tagging role on a key Tigers player while also making multiple impactful contributions, earning him the Player of the Week award. Jobe and Archie fearlessly tackled their opponents, earning free kicks and respect. Meanwhile, Zac and Sol displayed their skills through goal assists and clever positioning, allowing Joey and Liam to secure crucial goals for the team. Joey and Liam are showing excellent instinct to kick goals when needed.
During halftime, the team enjoyed refreshing oranges, and the coach's message was clear and straightforward: continue having fun, show respect, and make themselves proud.
In the third quarter, tall player James took on the ruck position, demonstrating his cleverness in tapping the ball to the midfielders. Rishi showcased his bravery by preventing a certain goal on the goal line, earning the respect of his teammates. Matty displayed strength in winning the ball and executing crucial tackles when needed.
The final quarter was tightly contested, even though scores were not kept. Both players and spectators could sense the intensity of the battle. Oxford amazed the crowd with a powerful 'don't argue' move, leading to an easy goal for the Kingscliff Dolphins. Oxford's outstanding performance throughout the game earned him the well-deserved 'Player of the Week' recognition.
Each game the team plays, their confidence continues to grow, and this match was no exception. The Kingscliff Dolphins U9 Reds proved that they can hold their own against any opponent, showcasing their abilities and determination to succeed.
We headed away last week up to play Palmy Lions on their home deck and straight away it was a really hard fought contest.
The Lions team came out swinging stacking their midfield and forward line and kicking the first 2 goals of the game but from that point onwards our Dolphins girls kicked into gear defensively and started to be able to win back the ball and get the ball into our own forward line and kick the next goal and from there the rest of the game was an arm wrestle essentially going goal for goal.
Player of the match this week went to Bridie who was doing absolutely everything for the team and whenever the ball was in her area was either winning the ball herself and getting it forward or kicking goals, or when the opposition got the ball first she was right there defensively to lay a tackle. Bridie has a really good attitude to having fun but also determined to do her best and keep improving and it’s been amazing to see her progress throughout the year so far!
This week we are back on home soil on Friday night at 6pm up against Burleigh black which is going to be another good challenge but I know our girls will be up for the fight!
The Kingscliff U11 Blue team took to their home field under sunny conditions against the Lismore Swans. After a tough few weeks of footy, the team was primed and ready for a good game. The intent was clear from the outset and the Dolphins put on a strong display producing what was probably our most complete game of footy for the year. It was a consistent performance from our boys, showing their dominance across all four quarters.
Throughout the game, the U11 Blues consistently won the contest and applied relentless pressure on the Lismore backline. While we missed a few chances to convert, the game always felt under our control. It was a great team effort, with every player contributing to the success of the match.
This week's Best on Ground awards go to Carter and Lucian. Carter had some silky touches and made some pivotal tackles. His performance was a key factor in our victory. Lucian stood out with a high level of involvement and an impressive number of disposals, showcasing his value to the team.
We extend our thanks to Mel for providing the team with refreshing oranges, Bec who served as the First Aid Officer, and Todd and Trev for their work as goal umpires.
Looking ahead, our next game is against Byron Bay on Sunday at Merv Edwards Field. I Look forward to seeing everyone there.
Go Dolphins!
