In a milestone game for captain Robbie Castello, Werribee Tigers overcame a slow start to run out 33 point winners against Frankston as Dale Fenney and Anthony Stanguts report.
Castello became the games record holder at the Tigers playing his 138th game, but the signs were not good early with the Dolphins getting the early jump on their home ground.
The first quarter started defensively for both teams, as it took till the 10 minute mark for someone to score, with Werribee’s Ben McKinley breaking the scoring drought. Frankston got there hands on the next goal going to Sam Fox on debut for the Dolphins. Frankston back that up kicking the next 2 goals belonging to Lachlan Delahunty and Khan Haretuku. Quarter time siren sounded and it was all going Frankston’s way by 11 points.
The second quarter started with milestone man Robbie Castello getting his first of the game for the Tigers. The term went goal for goal early, with Leigh Kitchin getting the reply for Frankston, soon followed up by a goal to Cam Pedersen, who was influential early for Werribee. Lachlan Hansen continued Werribee’s dominant second quarter to help his side to back to back goals and give them the lead by two points. At half time the Tigers were in front by four points.
The second half was where Werribee got hold of the game kicking the first four goals of the third term. In the space of 10 minutes, Tigers peppered the goals through Travis Tuck, Malcolm Lynch, Robbie Tarrant and Ben Warren.
Whilst Frankston kept in the game by kicking the next two majors through Daniel Corp and Fox, Werribee got the late reply from a 50 meter penalty going to McKinley to give the visitors a 24 point lead at three quarter time.
The final term opened with Hansen goaling in the first minute for Werribee. Khan Haretuku lifted the hopes of the Frankston supporters kicking the next two goals to give him three for the day. However Werribee again had all the answers with Jack Purton-Smith getting a reply. Frankston kept coming with there never say die attitude with Warwick Miller ensuring the contest was still alive, but Werribee finished the contest with goals to Pedersen and Purton-Smith.
After the game, Werribee coach Scott West was pleased with the away win.
“It’s obviously difficult coming down here - it’s Frankston’s home ground (and a) different environment for our boys, but look as a coach you always think you could play better but we’re happy with the result.
“I think it was 30 scoring shots to 16 or something so we gave ourselves the opportunity but just couldn’t put it on the scoreboard,” West said.
Looking at his best players, West could not go past the job of versatile big man Cam Pedersen.
“I thought Cam Pederson was terrific all day, Ben Speight, Levi Greenwood were great around the packs all day we had a lot of contributors obviously McKinley and Warren were terrific so look we had some guys that didn’t have great days but obviously those guys I thought played there role really well.”
After a promising start, Frankston coach Simon Goosey thought his team should have been right in the game at the end.
“I’m not happy with the result - I definitely think that the team could have done a whole lot better.
“Our turnovers proved really costly and that laps for the first 10 minutes of the third quarter once again proved costly,” Goosey said.
Looking at his better players, Goosey was pleased with Haretuku up forward, Shane Hockey with 30 disposals and the debut of Sam Fox.
“Shane Hockey was alright he had 30 touches. Down forward Khan kicked 3 and Sam Fox for his first game chimed in for a couple he was alright. Warwick Miller on the wing he had a bit and Leigh Kitchin was alright to.”
Werribee came away with a terrific victory against Frankston and will hope to take their form into this week’s game against Northern Blues in the ABC TV match. Frankston have a bye.
Last Modified on 14/05/2012 16:51