The soy lattes barely had time to settle in the stomach this week with a 9.30am bounce. It is heart-warming to see Reno’s getting more and more spectators coming along to watch the games. I don’t care how old you are; there is nothing like looking over and seeing your family waving at you from the grandstand. A big welcome to our new families joining the Renegade brigade and getting all merched up.

Alanah and Elsie made sure they gave their families something to cheer for with some beautiful handball work that set up Jo Q to kick the game’s first goal. Jo Q is giving us some pretty impressive transferable skills from the soccer pitch to the footy field. She probably should just bring a pen and sign her name on the ball because it belongs to her out there, and no one else can touch it – lord help them when they do because Jo will hunt you down like a large German bear. Keep an eye on this little pocket rocket, folks!

Debut performances this round from new ruckwoman in-training Wallis, who was rumoured to have said she was a bit scared of contact sports during training. There was no sign of that person out on the field as she pounded through the midfield and dominated the taps in the ruck. For a team that is hosting a lot of first-time players, there is an extraordinary level of composure out on the field. It is a credit to cool, calm and collected players like Trel, Big D (Amy D), and Buzz for carving out time and taking control of the game. That is not to say the excitement of the game doesn’t still get to even our experienced players – if you listen closely, you can hear Lizzo let out a little shriek when the thrill of the chase is on for the ball!

Reno’s were up leading into the second half, but North Brunswick were hot on their heels and hungry. Unphased, Darcy tactfully let their forwards know there would be no getting past them on the goal line, combating their every move with a countermove. Big shout out to Kia, who is warming up to be an extremely strong defender and weaponising themselves out on the field.

The fourth quarter was a nail biter with less than a goal between the sides and plenty of action inside both teams’ forward 50’s it was a fight to the end, but the Reno’s held their ground. Another win under the Ressies belt; they’ll be looking to go in for the hat trick in round 4!