Marcellin thrilling first win and another draw in Prem C

Ari Paevere

Round 5 of the Premier C Men’s competition brought with it a series of captivating matches, including a second consecutive draw, a grand final rematch, and a nail-biting two-point thriller.

At E.E. Gunn Reserve, Ormond and Marcellin clashed in a highly dramatic encounter that ended with Marcellin emerging as two-point victors as they recorded their first win of the season. The match seemed destined for an Ormond triumph after Tom Buckley’s late goal, which was his fifth for the day, to put them in the driver’s seat.

However, Josh Posar had other plans. With less than two minutes remaining and the crowd rallying against him, Posar marked the ball at the 50-metre line and confidently slotted a monstrous goal, snatching the lead back for Marcellin and securing their hard-fought victory. His exuberant celebration was a testament to the intensity of the moment.

The Premier C Men’s division witnessed its second draw in as many weeks as the Parkdale Vultures and Old Carey finished level with 106 points apiece. Despite trailing by a goal, Riley Thompson showcased nerves of steel by delivering a clutch goal for Old Carey, leveling the scores.

The final seconds were filled with high drama as both teams vied for that decisive advantage. Thompson, once again on the verge of becoming the hero, found himself open on the goal line with mere seconds remaining. However, just as he was about to mark the ball, the final siren blared, resulting in a draw, leaving both teams to reflect on what might have been.

The Grand Final rematch between Old Camberwell and PEGS proved to be an enthralling contest. Although PEGS appeared to have a commanding lead of more than five goals at three-quarter time, Old Camberwell mounted a late comeback in the fourth quarter, closing the gap to a solitary goal.

With the crowd on the edge of their seats, Camberwell had several missed opportunities that would have just about completed their remarkable resurgence. Yet, PEGS managed to seal the deal with a couple of late goals, securing a hard-fought 17-point victory.

Old Ivanhoe demonstrated their dominance by comprehensively defeating Mazenod, claiming their third win of the season and ascending to second place on the ladder. In contrast, Mazenod’s struggles persisted, suffering consecutive defeats by margins exceeding ten goals.

Following their bye week, the Hampton Rovers are set to return in Round 6, aiming to salvage their season as they face the undefeated PEGS. The Rovers will be eager to make a statement in what is their second home game of the season, against the formidable PEGS side and turn their fortunes around.

Round 6 has many exciting matchups to look forward to, one of which being the fourth placed Vultures taking on sixth placed Ormond in what will be a tight Friday night contest at E.E. Gunn.