Saints show poise against Lions, Panthers offensive juggernauts third week in a row

St Mary’s Salesian moved to third position on the Division 1 ladder following their 30-point win against Therry Penola at Ferndale Park. Despite trailing the previously undefeated Lions by 15 points at half time, the Saints kicked eight goals to two in a blistering third term display, before finishing off with three to two in the last. Jackson Strangward and Michael Dolan shared the goal kicking glory with four each for the Saints, while the Lions’ Paul Edwards and Justin Crotty snagged nine between them. 2015 LS Pepper medallist Sid Jones had the ball on a string for the winning side, as did Jarrod Egglestone in his third consecutive standout performance for the fourth-placed Lions.

152, 116 and 140; the three winning margins for the ladder-leading Old Mentonians from the first three rounds of Division 1 this year. In form and savage on offence, the Panthers had 30 more scoring shots in their demolition of Old Paradians at Keysborough Playing Fields. Luke Hull took his season goal kicking tally to 16 from three games following his third consecutive bag, Dustan Mills (four) took his to 13, Brenton Schubert (four) increased his to nine, while Mitchell Adams (four), Cameron Sharp (three) and Jarrad Kay (three) all joined in on the action. Marcus Nolan stood tall for the Raiders who now sit ninth with a percentage of 51.07.

A five-goal haul from Trent Skurrie helped PEGS to a 38-point win against Brunswick NOBSPC at Alec Gillon Oval. With the margin just 18 points heading into the final term, PEGS put the foot down in the last and piled on five goals to two to obtain the four points and move from fifth to second position on the ladder. Ryan Jones and Jarryd Rogers joined Skurrie as PEGS’ best, while Gerrard Bence was NOBSPC’s only multiple goal kicker.

The memory of a disappointing Round 2 outing against Old Mentonians was put aside as Ivanhoe reversed the result with an emphatic 49-point win against Old Geelong at Ivanhoe Park. Nathan Valkanis starred in his first game for the year, leading and competing all day on his way to four majors for the Hoes. William Cuthbert dominated in a best-on-ground performance for the fifth-placed Hoes, while Joshua Hutley played a lone hand for the one-win and seventh-placed Ogs.

Whitefriars registered their first win of the 2016 season as they ran over Prahran Assumption to the tune of 31 points at Toorak Park. Seven goals to four in the first term paved the way for the Friars as they kept a comfortable distance at each break in play for the remainder of the match. Michael Nitas did damage up forward with four and Ryan Malt and Andrew Daou chipped in with three each. John Robbins continued his fine form for the Two Blues this season, snagging five on his way to 12 from three games.