Bombers even score vs OGs, Eagles fall to Roys

Meg Saultry

Williamstown CYMS continued its impeccable form this season, beating a rejuvenated Peninsula by 49 points at Peninsula School in Round 12. Last time the two teams met, CY smashed the Pirates by 136 points, so a 49 point loss proved a far better showing from the team who scored their second win last week. The game played out fairly conventionally, with CY increasing their lead by the end of each break. CY’s Ben Connolly proved the most influential player on the field, while Ben Gray finished with three majors and Jack Gray and Ben Deller chipped in with two each. The Pirates managed five individual goal scorers across the match, with Angus Grant finishing best afield for the home team. CY remain atop the ladder for a fifth consecutive week and the Pirates linger in ninth. The Pirates will play off against second-placed Fitzroy FC as CY travel to play St Mary’s Salesian.

Old Ivanhoe made up for a disappointing loss last week by beating St Mary’s Salesian to the tune of 41 points at Chelsworth Park. After losing several of their most recent matches to top sides by slim margins, the Hoers took advantage of the Saints lower status and booted 11 goals in the first half to lead by 36 point at the main change. The remainder of the match was relatively even, with the Hoers holding on after all of the damage had already been done. Adrian Del Monte was the star down forward with five goals, which impressively brings up his milestone of 450 VAFA goals. Brandon Lee was the only other multiple goal scorer for the Hoers with two majors, with the team boasting nine other goal kickers who chipped in a major score. Richard Skok continued his impressive form this season and was awarded Best on Ground for a second week in a row. Down the opposite end, it was duo Manny Dolan and Louis Holmes who kicked three goals apiece. The Saints also continue to field in-form players from their lower squads, with Jake Evans best on in his first senior game after playing in both the thirds and reserves this season. The Hoers remain in seventh, two wins outside the top 4. Old Ivanhoe play another winnable match next round, facing off against the lower placed Old Mentonians. The Saints stay in last place and face an uphill battle against Williamstown CYMS next week.

Old Camberwell’s all-out final quarter effort helped finish off the Old Mentonians, with the top four side finishing 12-point victors out at Gordon Barnard Reserve. The Panthers put themselves in a leading position to deliver an upset, with the Wellers trailing by eight points heading into the final term. But Old Camberwell implemented a match winning strategy and kicked three unanswered goals in the last quarter to steal the win. Nick Latsas lead the charge for the Wellers and kicked truly twice, while Robert Deev was awarded Best on Ground honours. Darcy Brown was best afield for the Panthers for a second week in row and finished as his team’s most accurate forward with three goals. The Wellers solidify their positioning in third, sitting a win ahead of their rivals, but face an interesting battle against the fifth-placed Bombers next round. The Panthers continue to hurt in eighth, four wins outside a finals place and face Old Ivanhoe next round with hopes to record their fourth win this season.

Marcellin OC suffered their second loss in a row in excruciating fashion when Fitzroy FC blazed home with five unanswered final quarter goals to win by 23 points at Marcellin College. The Eagles had been pushing up the ladder after four straight wins from Round 7, but after losing their last two they drop further away from the top four into sixth. The Eagles had the match in the palm of their hands as they extended a 32 point lead by quarter time, and continued to hold a winning margin until three quarter time. It was in the final term that Fitzroy kicked into gear with five goals to steal the lead and run home in comfortable fashion. Fitzroy’s Sunny Brazier, last seen in Round 5, kicked four goals in his second game this season and finished best afield for the victors, while Ross Borland also bagged three goals. Isaac Nolan was the Eagles only multiple goal scorer, while Max Di Ciccio notably performed for his squad. Interestingly, former St Kilda 287-gamer Leigh Montagna also pulled on the long sleeved jumper for the Eagles. Fitzroy FC continue to be one of the teams to beat this season and remain in second. They face off against Peninsula next round, a team they beat by six points in Round 2. The Eagles in comparison drop to sixth after their loss and face another tough match against Old Geelong in Round 13.

It was a thriller out at PEGS Sporting Fields, with PEGS holding on to beat Old Geelong by six points. It would have been somewhat vindicating for the Bombers, who failed to fire against the OGs the last time they met. It proved a tight match this time, with OG getting the jump on the Bombers and leading by a goal after the first quarter. The Bombers responded to reverse the lead and take an eight point advantage into the main break. OG pulled back the margin in the third and trailled by one point heading into the final quarter, before both teams coincidently had the same amount of scoring shots in the final term. It was the Bombers who proved more accurate and won the quarter and the game by a goal. Adrian Romanyk and Cameron Livori each booted three goals for the Bombers, while David Fahey excelled in another Best on Ground performance. Sam Anderson found the goals on two occasions for the OGs, while Ed Keach and Tom Balcombe topped their teammates as their side’s most influential. The Bombers move up into fifth after the win, and sit just outside the top four by a 6.31 percentage difference. They play the in-form Old Camberwell next round, while the OGs remain in fourth and play the Eagles next.