By Dejan Kalinic
Port Melbourne produced a stunning third quarter to set up a 49-point win over Sandringham in unpredictable conditions at Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Saturday.
The Borough kicked the first seven goals after the main break and finished 19.8.(122) to 11.7.(73) victors.
Sam Dwyer was sensational for Port, winning a lot of contested possessions around the ground, as well as moving forward to kick two goals.
Sandringham turned the ball over on too many occasions and it cost them dearly throughout the day.
They did start the better of the two teams, but failed to penetrate going forward in the opening stages.
Despite kicking with a slight breeze, Sandringham trailed by nine points at the first change.
Port Melbourne lead by as much as 19 points in the second quarter, but goals from Nick Sautner and a long bomb from Sean Dempster brought the Zebras closer.
The Borough held a six-point lead at the main change before they came out firing in the second half.
It was Dwyer who started the burst in the third quarter, kicking a running goal from 20 metres.
Adrian Bonaddio (two goals) and Adrian Deluca (two goals) were capitalising on the hard work from Dwyer and fellow midfielder Toby Pinwill.
Port Melbourne’s eight-goal to one third quarter gave it an unassailable 49-point three-quarter time lead.
Both teams kicked 5.3 in the final quarter, all of Sandringham’s goals kicked by Sautner, who took his tally to six for the game.
Dwyer and Pinwill excelled through the middle of the ground for the Borough, winning a lot of the ball, particularly in the side’s excellent third quarter.
Sandringham captain Peter Summers and forward Tom Lynch worked hard all day in a disappointing Zebras outfit.
Sandringham 2.0 5.3 6.4 11.7 (73)
| Port Melbourne 3.3 6.3 14.5 19.8 (122)
GOALS:Sandringham: Sautner 6 Tregear Dempster Smith Waller Heyne
Port Melbourne: Schultz 3 Bonaddio 3 Dwyer 2 Deluca 2 Cain 2 McGrath O'Farrell Pleming Deluca Pitt McMahon Robbins
BEST:Sandringham: Dempster Gallagher Smith Tregear Heyne Sautner
Port Melbourne: Dwyer McMahon Fanning Cain Pinwill Brewer
Last Modified on 05/07/2009 23:00