scoreboard
MORNINGTON NEWS
Pines pump sluggish Stonecats DIVISION ONE
By Brodie Cowburn PINES have continued their impressive run of form with a dominant victory over Frankston YCW on Saturday. The Stonecats travelled to Pines’ Eric Bell Reserve in fifth place, having corrected the course of their season with two consecutive wins. Pines entered the contest on a three match winning streak, with a victory last week over Sorrento being the most impressive among them. Although the game had all the makings of classic contest, Pines killed their opponents off quickly, racing away to a 33 point lead at the quarter time break. In blustery conditions, YCW struggled badly against a Pines side who are known to punish teams on the scoreboard. By half time, the Stonecats had only kicked one goal and ten behinds. Another goalless quarter saw the Stonecats go into the final term down by 52 points, and while they would hold Pines scoreless in the final term, it was too little too late. With another loss on the board with just two games left to play, Frankston YCW are left just barely hanging onto their finals spot, as they went down to Pines 10.10 (70) to 3.19 (37). The result effectively secured Pines’ place inside the top five. Bonbeach were also fighting to keep their finals hopes alive this weekend, as they took on Mornington in a must win match at Bonbeach Recreation Reserve.
The Sharks raced out to a comfortable lead over the Bulldogs in the first half, and maintained control of the contest throughout. Mornington could do nothing to stop a rampaging Trent Dennis-Lane, who piled on a stunning nine goals in a best on ground performance for Bonbeach. Dennis-Lane’s haul proved the difference, as Bonbeach put themselves within two points of a finals place with a 16.13 (109) to 9.12 (66) win. With YCW falling and Bonbeach still
a little bit further behind, the weekend presented the perfect opportunity for the Frankston Bombers to snatch back their place inside the top five if they could beat Edithvale-Aspendale. The Bombers kicked with a strong breeze in the first term, but it proved to be a frustrating start to the contest for the finals contender. They went into the first break with a five point lead, but had kicked inaccurately. The Bombers’ cause was also hurt by a nasty injury, after Brian O’Carroll
was knocked out cold in an accidental collision and transported from the ground in an ambulance. O’Carroll has since been released from hospital. Kicking with the wind, Edi-Asp went on to take control of the contest. The Bombers stayed in touch but ultimately were let down by their number of turnovers going forward. Edi-Asp were helped by a five goal performance from Tom Lamb, who was making a one off appearance for the club after playing the majority of the year in the VFL with Sandringham. Although the Bombers were competitive, ultimately Edi-Asp prevailed to claim the four points and stay in touch with first place on the ladder with a 13.13 (91) to 8.14 (62) win. Edi-Asp coach Graeme Yeats said after the game that the win was an important one. “It was a really important win today, and in the context of what’s happening inside the top five it was also an important game for them. They were striving to get back in the top five, and they’re a really strong team with a lot of talent so we knew that we were in for a strong challenge,” he said. “We wanted our players to be ready for them to be aggressive and strong around the ball. They were strong, but we were able to play the game on our terms. We executed the game plan well. “We play Mt Eliza next week and the loser will be vulnerable with Pines pushing up, they pose a threat. We’ve got to keep focused and do whatever we can to be better for next week.”
eventually claimed an emphatic win 11.14 (80) to 8.6 (54). At Glover Reserve, 11th placed Tyabb were also looking to continue a decent run of form by travelling to take on Devon Meadows. Despite going into the contest as underdogs, Tyabb got off to a fast start and held the Panthers goalless in the first term. Devon Meadows battled hard to work their way back into contention, but ultimately their poor kicking was letting them down. By the time the siren blew for half time, the Panthers had kicked a shocking two goals and twelve behinds. After the main break the Panthers looked a reinvigorated side, as they finally began hitting the scoreboard and claimed a three point lead going into the final term. Against the odds, the Yabbies fought back, and held on to claim a hard fought eight point win over Devon Meadows. The final score read 7.18 (60) to 10.8 (68). Around the grounds, Crib Point hosted Dromana in what would turn out to be a miserable afternoon for the Magpies. Crib Point were little chance against a Dromana side who has been dominant for the most part of the year, with the lead at half time standing at a whopping 98 points in the Tigers’ favour. Things didn’t get much better after the main break either, with the final margin standing at 175 points. Eight goal hauls from Sam Fowler and Ethan Johnstone helped Dromana secure the most comfortable of victo-
ries 2.5 (17) to 28.24 (192). Two of the top five sides also faced off this weekend in an important match, as Karingal battled Chelsea in a clash to determine who would go into the final round of the year in third place. Karingal got off to a difficult start in front of their home crowd, failing to register a goal in their first term. Although they would look a little better after the first break, the Bulls struggled to keep up with an impressive Chelsea outfit. The Seagulls worked hard to maintain their lead throughout the afternoon, as they kept Karingal comfortably out of reach. Despite winning the final quarter, Karingal couldn’t do enough to chip back a big lead, and they eventually fell to Chelsea 7.14 (56) to 13.8 (86). Reid Crowe continued a good run of form with a best on ground performance for the Seagulls, while teammates Todd Gardiner and Jack Francis were also instrumental. The final match of the round saw Pearcedale take on Rye in a dead rubber match at Pearcedale Recreation Reserve. Despite having nothing to play for, both sides battled hard throughout the game. The lead stood at just one point at the three-quarter time break, with Pearcedale just ahead. Although the game looked set to go down to the wire, Pearcedale kicked away in the final term to secure a gritty win 10.15 (75) to 6.12 (48). Luke Daniel was best player afield for Pearcedale, kicking three goals in an impressive performance.
Seagulls fly high: Chelsea claimed third on the ladder with a win over Karingal. Picture: Andrew Hurst
Pines needle YCW: Frankston Pines defeated Frankston YCW by 33 points. Picture: Andrew Hurst
To keep their finals hopes alive, the Bombers will likely need to win next weekend against Sorrento at David Macfarlane Reserve. Sorrento maintained their spot on top of the ladder by grinding out a tough win over bottom placed Seaford on Saturday. Up against a side with only one win to their name this season, Sorrento made the decision to leave out a number of key names in Chris Dawes, Daniel Grant, and Troy Schwarze. Sorrento again got off to a slow start, as the Tigers raced out to a shock 19 point lead at the quarter time break. After the first break, the Sharks quickly got back on track with a six goals to one second quarter, as they claimed a 19 point lead of their own going into the second half. While Seaford battled bravely to stay in the contest, the class and strength of Sorrento was just too much for them. The result saw Sorrento maintain their spot on top of the ladder, as they claimed a 11.10 (76) to 16.12 (108) win. The final game of the weekend in Division One saw Mt Eliza secure their finals spot with a big win over Rosebud. The Redlegs got off to a red hot start, and took a whopping 65 point lead into the half time break. While Rosebud fought hard to restore some respectability, they ultimately couldn’t get close to Mt Eliza, as the score eventually finished 6.5 (41) to 19.12 (126) in the Redlegs’ favor.
Kangaroos snatch a finals spot DIVISION TWO
By Brodie Cowburn LANGWARRIN have remarkably snuck into the top five with just one round left to play after beating Somerville to claim their third consecutive win. Both sides started slowly in a scrappy first term, but a stunning eight goals to one second quarter saw Langwarrin claim complete control. Somerville could do little to work their way back into the contest, and ultimately fell short as the Kangaroos claimed a vital 15.7 (97) to 10.15 (75) win. Sitting a couple of games behind Hastings a few weeks ago, Langwarrin’s finals chances looked slim at best. They now sit clear inside the top five by two points, with their finals destiny in their own hands. They play Pearcedale at home next weekend. The win caps off a great week for the Kangaroos, who also announced they had resigned co-coaches Blake McCormack and Josh Beard for the next two seasons. Langwarrin were able to claim a spot inside the top five after Hastings suffered a defeat at the hands of Red Hill at Red Hill Recreation Reserve. Although Hastings got off to a strong start and led at the half time break, Red Hill quickly wrestled back control and showed why they are a team to be reckoned with this season. With Red Hill looking to bounce back from their loss last week to Dromana, their first loss in over a month, they were ruthless in the second half and
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Mornington News
7 August 2018