TEAM OF THE WEEK: Season Ten, Round SIX - April 12
LUKE ELLIS
Team: Waratah.
Result: Waratah 7 def. Hamilton 3
Why: Any standout performance in the oldest derby in the Newcastle Dodgeball League is always going to earn a Team of the Week position, and although much of the 'Tahs dominant victory over Hamo came from teamwork and back-line catches, Ellis' control over the league-leaders' left flank mitigated Hamilton's preferred style of play, and helped Waratah to their first win over 'the old enemy' since 2015.
Second appearance in the Team of the Week.
ISAAC MCINTYRE
Team: Hamilton.
Result: Hamilton 3 def. by Waratah 7
Why: The scoreline read 3-7 against the defending premiers in the end, but it wasn't through a lack of effort from the Hamilton squad, and especially captain Isaac McIntyre. Having led the club since their founding in 2013, and having played in every derby against the 'Tahs since their meeting in the very first round of the NDL, his performance showed the long-standing rivalry, and his 1-against-5 outplay that fell just short off a failed catch showed how much the game, and defeat, meant to the captain.
Second appearance in the Team of the Week.
DAN JENKINSON
Team: Raymond Terrace.
Result: Raymond Terrace 8 def. by Belmont 9
Why: Jenkinson delivered another stand-out performance for the Terrace even as they fell in a narrow match to Belmont, and slipped away from playoff chances. Coming on as an impact player mid-way through the first half to bolster the match, he nearly succeeded in turning the tide and delivering the two points for the squad - it was just one game-point short of a comeback off his eliminations and inch-perfect dodges.
Second appearance in the Team of the Week.
MADDIE JORDAN
Team: Belmont.
Result: Belmont 9 def. Raymond Terrace 8
Why: Belmont moved level with both Hamilton and the Cookers with their tight victory over Raymond Terrace, and integral catches from Jordan late on in the 9-8 win turned the tide, including one chance the Terrace had to lock away a point with a 5-against-2 lead, only for a deep catch from Jordan to swing momentum in her side's favour.
First appearance in the Team of the Week.
TOM NEWMAN
Team: Cooks Hill.
Result: Cooks Hill 9 def. Rutherford 6.
Why: A new recruit for the Cookers, Newman quickly proved why he was picked up by the team searching for their first championship. The team needed players to stand out in the sixth round after a shaky start to the season, and the absence of captain Benjamin McIntyre, and clutch catches from Newman provided the spark to claim a 3-point win over Rutherford.
First appearance in the Team of the Week.
ANDRE COOK
Team: Rutherford.
Result: Rutherford 6 def. by Cooks Hill 9.
Why: Although Rutherford's defeat drops them 3 points outside a playoff spot, with their finals hopes now in jeopardy, Cook returned to form with his attack-line control, keeping pacey players from Cooks Hill like Lewis Foot and Zac Gardner quiet over the course of the match. The 9-6 scoreline went the Cookers way, but Cook's impact forced them to find their win from deep-end catches instead of their usual wing play.
Second appearance in the Team of the Week.
Full round wrap: WARATAH BREAK THREE-YEAR HOODOO OVER DERBY RIVALS
Season 10 Team of the Weeks: Read Here
Team: Waratah.
Result: Waratah 7 def. Hamilton 3
Why: Any standout performance in the oldest derby in the Newcastle Dodgeball League is always going to earn a Team of the Week position, and although much of the 'Tahs dominant victory over Hamo came from teamwork and back-line catches, Ellis' control over the league-leaders' left flank mitigated Hamilton's preferred style of play, and helped Waratah to their first win over 'the old enemy' since 2015.
Second appearance in the Team of the Week.
ISAAC MCINTYRE
Team: Hamilton.
Result: Hamilton 3 def. by Waratah 7
Why: The scoreline read 3-7 against the defending premiers in the end, but it wasn't through a lack of effort from the Hamilton squad, and especially captain Isaac McIntyre. Having led the club since their founding in 2013, and having played in every derby against the 'Tahs since their meeting in the very first round of the NDL, his performance showed the long-standing rivalry, and his 1-against-5 outplay that fell just short off a failed catch showed how much the game, and defeat, meant to the captain.
Second appearance in the Team of the Week.
DAN JENKINSON
Team: Raymond Terrace.
Result: Raymond Terrace 8 def. by Belmont 9
Why: Jenkinson delivered another stand-out performance for the Terrace even as they fell in a narrow match to Belmont, and slipped away from playoff chances. Coming on as an impact player mid-way through the first half to bolster the match, he nearly succeeded in turning the tide and delivering the two points for the squad - it was just one game-point short of a comeback off his eliminations and inch-perfect dodges.
Second appearance in the Team of the Week.
MADDIE JORDAN
Team: Belmont.
Result: Belmont 9 def. Raymond Terrace 8
Why: Belmont moved level with both Hamilton and the Cookers with their tight victory over Raymond Terrace, and integral catches from Jordan late on in the 9-8 win turned the tide, including one chance the Terrace had to lock away a point with a 5-against-2 lead, only for a deep catch from Jordan to swing momentum in her side's favour.
First appearance in the Team of the Week.
TOM NEWMAN
Team: Cooks Hill.
Result: Cooks Hill 9 def. Rutherford 6.
Why: A new recruit for the Cookers, Newman quickly proved why he was picked up by the team searching for their first championship. The team needed players to stand out in the sixth round after a shaky start to the season, and the absence of captain Benjamin McIntyre, and clutch catches from Newman provided the spark to claim a 3-point win over Rutherford.
First appearance in the Team of the Week.
ANDRE COOK
Team: Rutherford.
Result: Rutherford 6 def. by Cooks Hill 9.
Why: Although Rutherford's defeat drops them 3 points outside a playoff spot, with their finals hopes now in jeopardy, Cook returned to form with his attack-line control, keeping pacey players from Cooks Hill like Lewis Foot and Zac Gardner quiet over the course of the match. The 9-6 scoreline went the Cookers way, but Cook's impact forced them to find their win from deep-end catches instead of their usual wing play.
Second appearance in the Team of the Week.
Full round wrap: WARATAH BREAK THREE-YEAR HOODOO OVER DERBY RIVALS
Season 10 Team of the Weeks: Read Here
