WESTERN PORT
scoreboard
Panthers pounce on Magpies NEPEAN LEAGUE By Toe Punt PEARCEDALE leapfrogged Crib Point on the MPNFL Nepean Division ladder on Saturday after coming from behind to earn a 17 point victory. The Magpies, who played in a grand final against Sorrento last year, are now second bottom on the ladder with just two wins for the season. The Pies led by 18 points at three quarter time on Saturday after booting six goals to one in the third, however, couldn’t sustain the momentum in the last. Pearcedale, through the likes of Michael Williams, who played his best game for the season with four goals, snagged five goals to one behind in the last to win 12.14 (86) to 10.9 (69). Dylan Hoare and Pat Heijden (three goals) were also at their best for the Panthers, while Ben Mitchell controlled the ruck. It’s been a disastrous season for Crib Point. Magpies’ coach Duane Annable said everything that could have gone wrong has so for the Pies in 2015. “In 2014, we had a dream run with injuries and we were able to win the close ones,” said Annable. “This season, we haven’t had the same luck. We had a number of players have surgery at the end of the season and we had players injured in the pre-season. “Really important players last season have rarely been sighted this season. In this competition when it’s so competitive, you need to have everything going your way. For us this season, that hasn’t been the case,” said Annable. Brad Davidson was at his best for the Pies on Saturday, as was Brad Arnold. Luke Herrington was also solid with three goals. Keegan Downie and Tom Baker booted 10 goals each as Rosebud inflicted yet another 200-point loss on Tyabb. The Buds took advantage of the opportunity to rest some stars with niggling injuries, however, it didn’t prevent the 33.21 (219) to 2.7 (19) victory. Jackson Cox and James Cottrell were the best of the Yabbies.
Yabbies have five-year plan It’s not all bad news for Tyabb though, who have launched their five-year-plan to rebuild their struggling club. Vice President Robert Hansen announced that some past player legends, including former AFL player and Yabbies’ premiership player Jamie Duursma, as well as premiership coach Eddie Fischer, were setting up a coterie group to assist with fundraising. Former player and MPNFL CEO Steve Pallas is also supporting the club through Sport Community. Hansen said being competitive in this competition wasn’t all about the money. “Football clubs are about the community, getting people involved, former players supporting their club,” said Hansen. “Tyabb Football Club has had too few doing all of the work for too long and this has to change. It’s about to change. “It’s very frustrating for us to go to other clubs and see the level of support they have from people around their club. “We can’t continue to operate as a country footy club. We need to become a business. “To help us achieve this, we have appointed a part-time general manager, who will manage all on-field and off-field matters. We plan to make this a full-time role sooner rather than later. “We are absolutely committed to improving, staying in the MPNFL and being more competitive. “We have no interest in joining any other league and this has never been a consideration for our club.
Wings clipped: Pearcedale came from behind to get a win over Crib Point. Picture: Andrew Hurst
Seniors suffer as reserves, U19’s take wins CRIB POINT FC
By Jared Newton CRIB Point’s nightmare season continued as they failed to break their Tractor Park hoodoo for another year in a 17 point loss to the Panthers. In difficult conditions the Pies and the Panthers were locked in a tight tussle for much of the game with several momentum swings throughout. Pearcedale had the upper hand in a tight first half before Crib Point exploded in the third term with a 6.4 quarter, slamming home five unanswered goals on the back of dominance from Beau Monty up forward, Brad Davidson across half back and Luke Herrington through the middle getting clear.
At the final change all the Pies needed to do was maintain their pressure and show some composure but failed to back up their 3rd quarter dominance as Pearcedale slammed home five goals to a solitary point to walk away with the four points. Unlike some other previous losses the positives were few and far between with Brad Arnold telling the group after the game the side is playing football like a bottom two team which is where the Pies currently sit. However despite the negativity, one shining light was Zak Dekluever’s return to the Pies after the world’s longest pre-season, bolstering the teams big man stocks with some big grabs and plenty of run. His presence on Saturday highlighted how
badly he has been missed by the team. Another shining light was the debut of Nick Rutherford from the Under 19s who showed he’s a player to watch for the Pies with a big future in the midfield. Word is he won’t be the last to be blooded for 2015 either. The reserves banked win number three for 2015 with a 20 point win in an ugly display against Pearcedale. In blustery, cold conditions clean football was hard to come by as the win was going to be rewarded to the team that knuckled down the longest. A strong early start for the Pies was let down by a terrible second quarter where discipline went out the door momentarily before composing themselves in the second half to kick away
with the wind in the 3rd quarter and hold on in the final term. The final quarter was an ugly stoppage-filled affair that suited the reserves just fine as Pete Coelli, Josh Pemberton-Buchanan, and Cal Campbell dominated to carry the team to victory. Mitch Kleinig was solid all day up forward in a rare four quarter disciplined effort which saw him steady the team with three goals. Coach Thompson breathed a huge sigh of relief at the final siren to keep that drum beating a little softer. The Under 19s bounced back after a disappointing loss with a solid 50 point win. The conditions were not easy to play in early in the day where the wind was
at its strongest but the side played a great team brand of footy chipping away all day with four solid quarters to build their lead throughout the day against a competitive Pearcedale outfit. Zac Vines put on a clinic in the ruck and helped himself to a dozen grabs across the ground, while Tyler Wilton kicked himself another four as Liam O’Connor and Kai Espenschied continued their strong seasons winning plenty of the prune across the ground. A sign of a good side is one that can bounce back after disappointment and they ticked that box on Saturday. They need to consolidate again with some difficult games ahead against other teams in the five between now and the end of the home and away season.
Western Port News 14 July 2015
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