Day of frights as the heavyweights are challenged

Hugh MacLean

The top sides in Premier C prevailed in round six, but not before receiving one heck of a scare from less fancied opponents. At the other end of the ladder UHS-VU travelled to Marcellin on Sunday and emerged with their first victory of the season.

Old Mentonians travelled to the home of the league leaders fresh from the bye, without fear and looking for a scalp. That the Hampton Rovers were able to withstand the challenge and emerge unscathed is a credit to both their skill and their resilience. The visitors opened the match kicking to the scoring end at which 18 of the games 21 goals were kicked and went to the first break with a 21-point advantage. The Rovers kicked three goals to one in the second term to reduce the half-time deficit to five, but the Panthers kicked the only two goals of the third quarter to leave Hampton with a hill to climb. Unbeaten sides though do not take the threat of defeat kindly, and after some carefully used words at three-quarter time focused the group that hill was attacked with gusto. Hampton Rovers, with the last seven majors of the match, turned a 22-point deficit into a 21-point win. Ben Marron topped the charts with three goals for Hampton, with Oscar Roberts and Anthony Folino amongst their best. Lucas Haig starred for the visitors with four goals, while Darcy Brown and Comrey Edgeworth worked their socks off all day. 

Old Ivanhoe drew level on competition points with Monash Blues after they led all day to take the points at Chelsworth Park. A six goal to one first term was the key to this encounter, and while the Blues battled hard all day, they could never bridge the gap. Ivanhoe led Monash by 23 at the half, their solid defensive efforts all over the ground thwarting any hope that Monash may have had of getting a run on, and Monash could get no closer at any stage before succumbing by 26 points at the finish. Luke Scuderi continued his good form in front of goal, with his three goals here giving him 22 for the season thus far. Daniel Stanford never stopped working whilst Sam Wilcox would probably be close to leading the Ivanhoe best & fairest, and he enhanced his position here. Lachlan Buck was Monash’s only multiple goal kicker with two, with Macgregor Cameron and Jake Meade their best on the day. 

The young and game Preston Bullants managed to make Old Geelong work hard for their 23-point half-time lead. But as has been the case in recent weeks, the legs gave out as the match continued, allowing the OG’s to post seven goals in the third quarter, and a whopping eleven in the last. The Bullants had no answer to Liam Higgins and best-on ground Joseph Griffiths, who posted six goals each, but the supply to the forward line was plentiful and well-delivered. Callum Welsh and Bailey Austin were particularly damaging and whilst Preston stuck at the task to kick eight goals of their own, they never seriously looked like denting the scoreboard, nor the resolve of Old Geelong. Alex Johnston and Ethan Lowe kicked two each for Preston, with Terry de Santis their best on the day. 

Mazenod had to come from behind at the final change against Parkdale, after controlling the first half. That they were able to withstand the charge speaks volumes for their toughness  and grit, and their win sees them nestled nicely in second position on the ladder. Parkdale Vultures are now the only side in Premier C without a win, but you wouldn’t have known that in a blistering seven goal third term which turned a 34-point deficit into a seven-point advantage turning for home. Mazenod had to pull out all the stops, finishing efficiently with four goals from five shots for the last quarter, and whilst Parkdale also had five shots for the term the fact that they only kicked two told the tale of the tape. Mazenod had slightly better composure and won by three points. Mitchel D’Angelo and Brad Kovac kicked three each for the Nodders, with Jarryd Raffa a popular choice for best-on-ground. Josh Manning led the scorers for Parkdale with three, while Lloyd Bailey and Jarrod Peake were their best. 

UHS-VU travelled to Marcellin College thinking that they might just spring an upset over the  locals and will have gained great belief from their first win of the season. After a scrappy first  quarter both sides began to settle in the second, although goals remained hard to come by  with defences generally on top. The visitors took a slender two-point advantage to the main break, and really broke the game open in the third stanza, their seven goal to one quarter establishing a 36-pont lead that Marcellin, for all their attacking intent, could never pull back. UHS-VU stayed resolute before the charge and held firm to score a meritorious 25-point victory. James McGee, Pat Brookes and Fraser Campbell kicked three goals each for the winners, with Todd Cracknell continuing his solid form. Jacob Fahey and Marcel Haj kicked two each for Marcellin, with Elliot Atwell named amongst the best.