Casey Scorpions can’t put a foot wrong, notching up their sixth win of the season with a comfortable and convincing 65-point win against Sandringham on Saturday at Trevor Barker Beach Oval as Luke Armstrong reports.
Setting the tone early with two strong tackles within the first minute of play, Casey missed their opening shots at goal. This enabled the Zebras to score the first goal of the match, with Trent Dennis-Lane cutting off an errant handball. Denis Lane was a focal point up forward, but was one of only a few Zebra players to make an impact for the afternoon. The Scorpions moved the ball effectively, resulting in a strong mark up forward to Rory Taggert. He converted for Casey’s first goal.
Sandringham switched the play in the back half, going across the face of goal, with varying degrees of success. Sandringham’s Tom Simpkin punched instead of marking on defensive 50, resulting in a goal from 15 meters out to Casey’s Sam Blease. Zebra Dennis-Lane kicked a goal at the 14 minute mark of the first quarter, and then Chris Michaliades added another two minutes later to give Sandringham the lead by four points.
Best on ground candidate Max Gawn caused headaches for Sandringham defenders all day. When he marked hard up against the point post and capitalised, Casey had wrested back the lead by two points.
Blease provided one of the highlights of the day, when he carried the ball from the half-back flank, along the wing. He gave off a handball, then got it back to score a major on the run from 40 meters out. Casey subsequently scored two unanswered goals to quickly give them a 23-point lead.
Zebra Dennis-Lane kicked the next goal, and the margin was cut to 16 points, ten minutes from half-time. Casey looked casual and confident as they moved the ball out of defence, a string of handballs in the midfield often leading to a mark inside 50. Sandringham’s Tom Lee twisted and turned, and marked seconds before the half-time siren. He goaled and the Zebras were still in the hunt, trailing by 18 points at the long break.
The third quarter was a nightmare for the Zebras who were outscored 3.4 to 0.3. While not a huge quarter, it was enough in the wet conditions. St Kilda’s Justin Koschitzke had a fairly quiet day, but was good in the ruck without dominating. Scorpion Max Gawn took many marks, and was handy in front of goal. He dominated on the lead, and no Zebra player looked to be classy enough to run with him.
Casey’s Rory Taggert received a free kick, and converted from 25 meters out on a tough angle. The Scorpions went into three-quarter time 37-points up. Misty rain began to fall, then teem, and Casey’s skills came to the fore, scoring six goals to two in the final term. The players from both teams were spent, and play was slightly scrappy due to the rain. Sandringham’s Tom Lee got a consolation goal – and Sandy’s first of two for the term - from 45 meters out at the 20 minute mark. The Scorpions played keepings-off in the dying minutes of the game, and emerged sodden but victorious to the tune of 65 points.
Casey come up against seventh placed Collingwood at home next Saturday, while Sandringham travels to Windy Hill on Saturday to meet Essendon.
Last Modified on 03/06/2013 17:09