TEAM OF THE WEEK: Season Ten, Round Seven - April 19
DAVID FRANKLIN
Team: Raymond Terrace.
Result: Raymond Terrace 2 def. by Waratah 9
Why: After a number of weeks absent from the Team of the Week, Franklin returned with style despite the 2-9 scoreline against the Terrace club. Eliminations a-plenty and a number of one-on-one duels showing early season form back on the upswing for the forward, if Franklin can maintain that quality he may just lead the Raymond Terrace club to the finals.
Third appearance in the Team of the Week.
EVA BAILEY
Team: Waratah.
Result: Waratah 9 def. Raymond Terrace 2
Why: Even without the one-on-four outplay Bailey pulled off against Raymond Terrace, she still would have locked down the Team of the Week position off her regular catches and solidity at the back. Often found deep for loose throws, Bailey enables the rest of her team to play flanking-plays early on before settling deep, and she delivered again this week.
Third appearance in the Team of the Week.
PETER GOLDTHORPE
Team: Rutherford.
Result: Rutherford 4 def. by Hamilton 7
Why: Goldthorpe takes the lead in the race of the Most Valuable Player of the tenth season of the Newcastle Dodgeball League, and although Rutherford fell to the defending champions it was a close match. Goldthorpe's 'untouchable' brand of dodgeball makes him a headache for anyone on the opposing team, and his front-line plays kept Rutherford in the match until the dying rounds.
Fourth appearance in the Team of the Week.
LACHLAN CRAIG
Team: Hamilton.
Result: Hamilton 7 def. Rutherford 4
Why: The defending champions returned to form with a win over Rutherford, though it was a close affair in the end, made easier by the return of Lachlan Craig. Returning after an injury lay-off, Craig reminded spectators what the four-time championship squad was missing as the power forward strode to a dozen eliminations and a half-dozen catches to boot.
Second appearance in the Team of the Week.
CALEB GRIBBLE
Team: Cooks Hill.
Result: Cooks Hill 6 drew. Belmont 6
Why: Absences ran rampant in the Cookers' squad this week, but Gribble stepped up when it mattered most for the team chasing finals after a poor start to the season. Alongside vice-captain Lewis Foot, who was also in contention for the Team of the Week placing, Gribble's cool head at back-court was vital in the three-game comeback to close out the match.
First appearance in the Team of the Week.
GORGIA WATKINS
Team: Belmont.
Result: Belmont 6 drew. Cooks Hill 6
Why: Watkins was integral to the Bells pulling ahead at the half, and despite a slight collapse late on from the squad the stalwart centre couldn't be blamed for their three-match struggles. The draw may have favoured the Cookers as they came from behind, but Belmont were in position to earn at least a point for the round thanks to Watkins' game management and catching on the flanks.
Second appearance in the Team of the Week.
Full round wrap: BAILEY BET ON FIELD AS WARATH IN CRUISE-CONTROL
Season 10 Team of the Weeks: Read Here
Team: Raymond Terrace.
Result: Raymond Terrace 2 def. by Waratah 9
Why: After a number of weeks absent from the Team of the Week, Franklin returned with style despite the 2-9 scoreline against the Terrace club. Eliminations a-plenty and a number of one-on-one duels showing early season form back on the upswing for the forward, if Franklin can maintain that quality he may just lead the Raymond Terrace club to the finals.
Third appearance in the Team of the Week.
EVA BAILEY
Team: Waratah.
Result: Waratah 9 def. Raymond Terrace 2
Why: Even without the one-on-four outplay Bailey pulled off against Raymond Terrace, she still would have locked down the Team of the Week position off her regular catches and solidity at the back. Often found deep for loose throws, Bailey enables the rest of her team to play flanking-plays early on before settling deep, and she delivered again this week.
Third appearance in the Team of the Week.
PETER GOLDTHORPE
Team: Rutherford.
Result: Rutherford 4 def. by Hamilton 7
Why: Goldthorpe takes the lead in the race of the Most Valuable Player of the tenth season of the Newcastle Dodgeball League, and although Rutherford fell to the defending champions it was a close match. Goldthorpe's 'untouchable' brand of dodgeball makes him a headache for anyone on the opposing team, and his front-line plays kept Rutherford in the match until the dying rounds.
Fourth appearance in the Team of the Week.
LACHLAN CRAIG
Team: Hamilton.
Result: Hamilton 7 def. Rutherford 4
Why: The defending champions returned to form with a win over Rutherford, though it was a close affair in the end, made easier by the return of Lachlan Craig. Returning after an injury lay-off, Craig reminded spectators what the four-time championship squad was missing as the power forward strode to a dozen eliminations and a half-dozen catches to boot.
Second appearance in the Team of the Week.
CALEB GRIBBLE
Team: Cooks Hill.
Result: Cooks Hill 6 drew. Belmont 6
Why: Absences ran rampant in the Cookers' squad this week, but Gribble stepped up when it mattered most for the team chasing finals after a poor start to the season. Alongside vice-captain Lewis Foot, who was also in contention for the Team of the Week placing, Gribble's cool head at back-court was vital in the three-game comeback to close out the match.
First appearance in the Team of the Week.
GORGIA WATKINS
Team: Belmont.
Result: Belmont 6 drew. Cooks Hill 6
Why: Watkins was integral to the Bells pulling ahead at the half, and despite a slight collapse late on from the squad the stalwart centre couldn't be blamed for their three-match struggles. The draw may have favoured the Cookers as they came from behind, but Belmont were in position to earn at least a point for the round thanks to Watkins' game management and catching on the flanks.
Second appearance in the Team of the Week.
Full round wrap: BAILEY BET ON FIELD AS WARATH IN CRUISE-CONTROL
Season 10 Team of the Weeks: Read Here
