Fired-up Tropics sweep past Storm (From Dorset Echo)

Fired-up Tropics sweep past Storm

5:20pm Tuesday 26th February 2013 in Sport By Echo Reporter

WEYMOUTH TROPICS U16s 53 DORSET STORM B 46

SOME choice words from head coach Alex Fuhrmann at the end of the third quarter had the effect he was looking for as the Tropics came through to stay in contention for the league title.

The game started with a less than spectacular series of plays as Weymouth seemed lacklustre in their efforts against a depleted Storm side.

But with some flashes of pressure defence, Tropics made their opponents suffer with solid play from Jake Kinder and Dion Benson.

However, despite the stellar defensive effort, it was the lack of Weymouth offence that allowed Storm to stay in touch and hold a one-point lead.

As the half continued, both teams fired back and forth with Weymouth being kept in the game via some tough shots from Taine Mackay and quick cutting from Joe Stickley.

It still remained close as half time approached but Weymouth struggled to find rhythm on offence and saw their lead increase to only two.

With a slim advantage from a less than impressive first half it was to the dismay of the travelling supporters that Weymouth then took their foot off the gas and allowed Storm to go seven points up.

“It was strange to watch the team go down to a level where they were getting beaten to such easy opportunities,” said Tropics’ assistant-coach Josh Turner.

“I could tell Alex was getting irate and things were potentially going to get ugly.”

At the close of the quarter and going into the final period things did boil over with Fuhrmann spending the entire break berating the young Tropics side.

Weymouth faces soon turned as the young team were stung into life by the coach’s choice words.

Led by co-captains Kinder and Matt Clarke-Williams, Tropics became possessed with desire to win and, starting with a strong defensive effort, they were soon scoring again to draw level.

Clarke-Williams was far from finished in his performance as he scored 10 straight points and Josh Westlake collected every available rebound.

Weymouth refused to release the pressure and they dominated the period to win by seven.

Fuhrmann said: “Things got a little ridiculous in those first three quarters. We have a southwest England player, a Storm summer camp MVP and a captain that plays for one of our men’s teams.

“I thought it was totally unacceptable that we were playing with such a low intensity and give Storm credit for giving us such a tough game.

“It did get to the point though where I needed to take a more serious tone and I’m so proud that the lads stepped up and showed their true ability.”

Tropics: Jake Kinder, Matt Clarke-Williams, Ewan Goodwin, Joe Stickley, Taine Mackay, Dion Benson, Joe Heffell, Scott White, Josh Westlake, Jerry Thompson.

Weymouth MVP: Jake Kinder & Matt Clarke-Williams.