Ormond start their season strong as PEGS make it two from two

Aiden Box

After a cracking opening round, the Premier C clubs gave us another sensational round of footy across Melbourne, finishing with a mixed bag of results. 

Ormond have used their opening-round bye to full advantage, taking down the Hampton Rovers, who showed strong form in round one. The travelling Monders squad set up their win at Boss James Reserve with a seven-goal-to-one second term that saw them eradicate the Rovers’ 11 point quarter time lead and turn it into a 24-point lead of their own going into the main break. 

The Rovers were able to recharge themselves and come out revitalised in the second half, winning both the third and fourth quarters, but were unable to halt the Ormond onslaught and ultimately lost their home opener, going down by 11 points. Errant kicking was a huge factor for the hosts, who had strong showings from O’Driscoll, Carnovale and Morris. 

For the victorious visitors, Kennedy was superb to impress Greg Hoskin while Levine,Buckley and Dakis all booted three goals. Anthony Quon’s side will now go on the road to face the ‘Wellers’ while Ormond will host Mazenod. 

Old Camberwell has prevailed over Old Ivanhoe in what proved to be the match of the round and is an early contender for game of the year, being easily the closest result so far. 

With both sides coming off brilliant opening-round wins, they arrived at Chelsworth Park full of hunger to make it two from two and establish themselves as an early contender. The game itself showed exactly that, with both sides cracking in hard, desperate for the ability to sustain the upper hand, although neither team was able to properly pull away all afternoon. 

Allen provided plenty for the Wellers in a best-on-ground performance, that combined nicely with Hart’s four majors to see them home. As for the hosts, Scuderi slammed home four goals of his own, and Riddell was adjudged best afield. 

Old Ivanhoe will carry some motivation into their next contest, which will come against the rested Old Carey on the road, while Old Camberwell will host the Rovers. 

Mazenod has bounced back tremendously at home, pushing Marcellin to 0-2 on the back of a resounding 56-point win at Central Reserve North. 

The assault began with a mammoth ten-goal to-three first quarter, Which was remarkably backed up by a scoreless second term. With a 47-point lead already in their possession at halftime, the Nodders were able to coast home kicking just five, a small total by their standards, in the second half to clinch the huge win. 

Simon Abraham’s side will be disappointed with that result, but Posar can hold his head high, booting two goals in a best-on-ground performance for the visitors. On the other hand, Peter Banfield will be pumped, especially after seeing Peck’s showing, as well as the firepower of Caspersz. 

Mazenod will now head to E.E Gunn Reserve to face the hot Ormond, while Marcellin will head to Gerry Green Reserve to face off with Parkdale who are also winless on the year. 

PEGS have continued to enjoy life in Premier C, finding themselves another four points to maintain their spot atop the ladder with a 22-point win. 

Much like the Vultures’ first matchup in round one, this game had many ebbs and flows as the lead changed hands at each break throughout, but never climbed higher than two goals at any of them until the ladder leaders kicked away in the final term. 

Parkdale were again gallant, coming out hard in the first quarter and then showing real grit to fightback in the third, but just could not hang with the hosts all day and unfortunately ran out of legs. 

PEGS’ four goals to none in the fourth was the difference in an otherwise even contest, as Bales impressed alongside Simmons who finished with three majors. 

While for Owen Lalor, Yee was excellent alongside Phillips and Macdermid who added two goals each. 

PEGS will now go into their bye week, while Parkdale search for their first win of the season at home against Marcellin.