IT was a big day for the Hamilton Kangaroos with the club represented in the Under-14 football and 13-and-Under Reserves netball Hampden Football Netball League junior grand finals on Sunday.

Under 13 Reserves netball

IT was all on the line for the Hamilton Kangaroos in the 13-and-Under Reserves grand final against Koroit on Sunday.

The two teams faced off at Reid Oval and it was a nervous start from both teams, as the ball went end-to-end with neither team able to edge clear early in the contest.

Turnovers and high pressure featured from both teams, as the scoreboard was locked at 2-2 at the first change.

The Saints turned up the pressure in the second term and the Roos were unable to match the intensity, as Koroit pushed the margin out to four goals at the main break.

Kangaroos coach, Melissa Beaton, took her team aside and remained calm, and backed in her team, but the Saints were on a mission, pushing the margin out to six goals with a quarter left to play.

It was a tense final quarter full of momentum swings for both teams, as the Roos pounced on Koroit’s mistakes to narrow the deficit to one goal halfway through the final term.

From then on, it went goal-for-goal before Koroit won the battle and pushed the margin back out.

The final minutes saw Koroit control the ball to hold off the Kangaroos, 22-15.

Mackenzie Beaton was impressive for the blue and white, offering a strong target in attack and scoring 10 goals during the decider.

Under 14s football

THE Hamilton Kangaroos have fallen short in their quest for Hampden Football Netball League (HFNL) Under-14 premiership success, losing to Terang-Mortlake by 39 points at Reid Oval on Sunday.

The Bloods kicked with the win and made use of it, as Josh Slater caused the Roos some headaches.

A 19-point lead at the first break was not insurmountable for the blue and white at quarter time, having the wind in the second term to reduce the deficit.

The Roos were unable to eat into the margin though with both teams kicking two goals.

Terang-Mortlake put the game beyond doubt in the third quarter, piling on three goals while keeping Hamilton goalless to go into the final change leading by 37 points.

It was do-or-die for the minor premiers, as they had to attack from the outset, but Terang-Mortlake closed down space on the outside and repelled forward thrusts regularly.

The Kangaroos could only manage two goals, to go down, 5.2 (32) to 11.5 (71).

Frank Gill provided a big target for the blue and white, kicking two goals, while Ryley Munro, Will Bourke, Gill, Matthew Calvert, Riley Iredell and Harry Mercer were the standouts for Hamilton.

Slater was Terang-Mortlake’s best with three goals to be the team’s best on field.

It was a tough way to end such a dominant season, but the team has plenty to build on going into the 2023 season.