The clash of the leaders lives up to expectations as another heavyweight returns to form

Hugh MacLean

The clash between Mazenod and Hampton Rovers gave splendid entertainment to all that watched, Parkdale Vultures opened their account, and Ormond returned to the winners list after a barren month.  Here’s what took place…

A stirring contest at Central Reserve saw Hampton Rovers affirm their rights to premiership favouritism. The game ebbed and flowed with Rovers looking the more assured in the early exchanges, before Mazenod took the lead after quarter time.  A five-goal second quarter allowed the Nodders to take an eighteen point advantage to the main break, and an even third stanza meant that they still had a fourteen point three quarter time lead. Mazenod’s ascendancy came on the back of a six-goal haul from spearhead Jack Caspersz, but Josh McPherson at the other end was busy accumulating six of his own as Hampton came roaring back at their hosts. Six goals to one in the final term allowed Rovers to take the lead half way through the quarter, and hold it until the end for a stirring 20 point victory. Matthew Fewings and Sam Michael were stand outs for Rovers, while Oscar Roberts and Cameron Morris led the way for Mazenod.

Sometimes wins look pretty, at other times they need to be achieved due to old-fashioned grit and determination. The latter was one such occasion as Ormond needed all the determination that they could muster in scoring a 29-point win over Old Geelong. The Ormond defence worked their socks off in holding the Geelong boys to just one goal for the first half, whilst their colleagues further up the field managed five of their own. Four further goals without a miss in the third quarter gave them a 33 point break turning for home, and whilst Old Geelong scored two of the three last quarter goals this lead proved unassailable. The polish was added to Ormond’s graft by Tom Buckley with five majors. Joe Griffiths was the only multiple goal kicker for Old Geelong with two, whilst Will Horsfall and Max Lazarus were strong. For the victors none were better than Dae Szydlik and Jack McCartney.

Parkdale Vultures finally got their points tally moving for 2022 with a comfortable 31-point win over UHS-VU. Parkdale kicked the first six goals of the day through slick ball movement and certain defence and didn’t allow UHS-VU in for another major until the five minute mark of the last quarter, by which time the Vultures led by ten goals and the game was all over bar the shouting. To the credit of the vanquished hosts, they kept going right to the final siren, kicking seven goals in the fourth term, but it was too little, too late as Parkdale managed a couple more of their own to ensure that the wolves were kept from the door. Four players kicked two goals each for the Vultures, whose best were Harvey Johnston and Jarrod Peake.  Brandon Jackson kicked two for UHS-VU, for whom Ben Dimattina led the way.

Monash Blues led all day against Old Mentonians, but needed to withstand a withering last quarter fightback from the charging Panthers before taking the points home from Keysborough with them. The game was set up in the first half, with nine goals to three setting up what looked like a winning 38 point halftime lead. Although Old Mentonians won the third term by a goal, there was no real hint of what was to come as the Panthers still had one heck of a hill to climb. Climb it though they did, and it’s not beyond the realms of possibility to suggest that another five minutes could have delivered them victory. They managed five goals in the final term, but Monash’s one in reply proved decisive as they held on to win by six points. Sam Simpson and Sam le Lievre kicked two each for Monash, for whom MacGregor Cameron was best afield. Tom Morecroft kept Old Mentonians in the battle with five goals, while Tom McCarthy and the consistent Darcy Brown both battled hard for the hosts.

Marcellin managed a fairly routine 76-point win over the plucky Preston Bullants at Ruthven Reserve. They took control early in the day and were never headed, and while the Bullants, as is their wont, didn’t give up the fight it’s fair to say that inaccuracy in the first three quarters cost Marcellin an even bigger win. A 47-point half time margin was always going to be too much for Preston to reel in, and a similarly dominant third quarter blew the margin out to 63 at the home turn. Preston were able to kick four last quarter goals to add respectability to their score, but six further goals to Marcellin meant that there were no late shocks. Lachlan Rush kicked five goals and Jeremiah Antypas four for Marcellin, while Elliot Atwell was their best on the day. Ethan Lowe with four goals and Alex Johnston with three led the charge for Preston.

Old Ivanhoe bye