By Tyler Lewis
“We had physicality about us on the weekend that was intense.”
Rodney Benstead’s Berwick Springs sent shock waves through the competition on Saturday when it knocked off Belgrave.
The Titans won’t be easy beats by any measure.
The men in blue and green got the jump on the Magpies at ‘The Graveyard’ and held firm to come away 12.16 (88) to 9.11 (65) winners.
In its inaugural match, Berwick Springs led at every change after bringing fanatic energy and pressure around the contest.
Mitch Van De Loop booted three, while Jayden Malik was named best afield.
Senior coach Benstead was over the moon with his team’s performance.
“Pre-Covid we lost a practice match by about 110 points, so there’s been a lot of work, I was nervous, and I couldn’t have been prouder of the effort of the boys who took the field,” he said.
“I think there is a spirit there, we have been to different grounds, we have no club rooms at the moment, we have had things happen that have been really difficult, but I think that galvanises the group.
“We have talked about being the underdog and I was hoping for a competitive effort, but what I did get was more than I anticipated so it was a pretty exciting platform for the year.”
As for the win, the Titans aren’t taking it as a one off, the saying ‘won and done’ isn’t acceptable for the fresh-faced Berwick Springs outfit.
“I think we can build on this and build some momentum,” Benstead said.
“We mightn’t have the big names, but we have contributors across every line, everyone can have their moment.
“We had four or five players go down with cramp, there was times I thought this was going to be hard, but my boys just kept persisting.”
Internally, comparisons have been made by the group to the famous Vegas Golden Knights National Hockey League franchise, which were given absolutely no chance to compete, let alone win games.
Benstead has drawn some similarities to that group, while also reaffirming what his side will deliver in 2021.
“We have a top called the Golden Kings, they were 500-1, and I have seen somewhere where we were 500-1,” he said.
“We have seen some similarities, we present that jumper to who did the most work without the ball, and that’s the sort of club we want to be.
“We want to be the club that when people come to watch us they go ‘wow that is energy and effort’.
“One thing we went to before the game, we might not have the big names in the midfield, but they are all hard and aggressive so we know what we are going to get.
“Our tackle count was off the charts, the pressure was off the charts and they are going to give that every week.
“I don’t see why we can’t build some momentum off this.”
As for round two, the Titans aren’t sitting comfortable after one win; the attention has immediately turned to Anzac Eve, where the Titans will face their cross-town rivals in Officer.
“I am already calling this a rivalry game; you haven’t got long to bask in the glory,” Benstead said.
“It will be great for us to have a rivalry, Officer is the closest club to us and I think it starts this Saturday, I am revving myself for this.”
The ball will be bounced on Anzac Eve at Officer Recreation Reserve at 2:10pm, and with the Titans promising effort and intensity, combatted by premiership contenders Officer looking to bounce back, it sparks as a mouth-watering contest.
