ANOTHER Prem C draw ends PEGS winning streak

Ari Paevere

In the last four weeks of the Premier C Men’s competition, we have miraculously seen three draws as Round 7 added the competition’s latest.

Carey Sports Complex bore witness to an absolute thriller that will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the season’s best games. PEGS found themselves trailing by 25 points at 3-quarter time to Old Carey, requiring a difficult comeback to maintain their unbeaten streak. As the clock ticked down and Carey held a narrow 7-point lead, PEGS’ Darby Scott took matters into his own hands. Scott showed off his tremendous skill, receiving a handball amidst heavy congestion and quickly booting an incredible goal, narrowing the margin to just one point.

After Carey was able to briefly hold on, PEGS big man Patrick Macdonough seized a critical intercept mark on the half-back flank. With only 15 seconds remaining, PEGS quickly moved the ball through the middle of the ground, getting it to a contest 50 meters out from goal. The ball came to ground, and it was once again Darby Scott who emerged, drawing a high tackle with mere seconds left. With the chance to kick for goal from 50 meters after the siren, Scott’s shot resulted in a behind, resulting in a tied game and ending PEGS’ impressive win streak, however holding onto their undefeated record.

Following their second draw for the season, Carey’s record stands at a difficult-to-fathom 2-2-2 as they find themselves in a respectable position in the middle of the table. On the other hand, PEGS remains atop the standings but now holds only a half-game lead.

In another significant fixture, Mazenod triumphed over Parkdale Vultures in a scrappy encounter at Central Reserve. With both teams struggling to find the goals in the first half, Mazenod’s three-goal burst in the third quarter proved decisive, leading them to a crucial 16-point victory.

Mazenod now finds themselves just half a game outside the top four, heading into their upcoming bye. Meanwhile, Parkdale clings to their top-four position but will need a win soon to solidify their standing being only half a game in.

Old Ivanhoe showcased their dominance with a comprehensive 55-point victory over the Hampton Rovers. Although the Rovers were within reach, trailing by less than five goals at three-quarter time, Old Ivanhoe’s dominant six-goal final term sealed their fate.

Hampton, now sitting just ten points outside the top four, faces an uphill battle in turning their season around. In contrast, Old Ivanhoe has solidified their spot in the top four.

The match between Old Camberwell and Ormond was called off during the third quarter due to a player sustaining a suspected spinal injury. With player safety as the top priority, the game was halted for an extended period before both teams agreed to conclude the match with its existing scoreline. Fortunately, the player has been cleared of any serious damage and is on the road to recovery. Camberwell will walk away with the four points as they led by 32 points at the time of the injury.

After a bye week, Marcellin OC looks to return in Round 8, eager to salvage their season and climb off the bottom of the ladder. They face a challenging task as they take on Ivanhoe on Sunday.

Round 8 presents several enticing matchups, including a clash between the fourth-placed Vultures and second-placed Camberwell which is set to unfold at Gerry Green Reserve on Saturday afternoon.