THE Northern Blues broke their three game losing streak with a 16-point win over the Box Hill Hawks in Round 14. The Blues adapted better to the wet conditions, with Mitch Robinson the standout, retaining their spot in the Peter Jackson VFL top eight while inflicting the Hawks third defeat in a row, as Alexander McLeman reports.
The opening quarter was littered with stoppages as the wet weather created hard conditions for both sides to adapt to. The contest at some points resembled a soccer match as both sides were reduced to kicking the ball along the deck to gain space. The Blues Tom Wilson was the only goal scorer midway through the quarter as each goal was going to be like gold throughout the afternoon.
The second quarter was where the Northern Blues set up the win. With Robbie Warnock (54 hitouts) giving his midfield first use of the ball, the likes of Robinson (33 disposals), Nick Graham (34) and Kane Lambert (31) relished the conditions to deliver to the likes Levi Casboult and Troy Menzel inside forward 50 – both kicking two goals each in the visitors six goal to two second quarter. Mitch Hallahan kicked the Hawks only two goals of the term, but each of his majors was preceded by three unanswered goals to the Blues as they took a 30-point lead into the second half.
The third quarter saw the home team impose themselves more on the match with Tim O’Brien and a third from Hallahan closing the gap to 24 points at three quarter time.
The Hawks scored early in the final term through Derek Wanganeen to ignite some hope for the remaining home fans, but missed opportunities compounded the afternoon for the Hawks. While the Hawks kept the Blues goalless in the final term, the damage had been done in the first half as the Blues recorded a much needed 16-point win.
The Northern Blues season is still on track as they sit in eighth spot, just 4% ahead of ninth placed North Ballarat. They face a tough run home with Sandringham, Werribee and Williamstown all in the finals mix. The defeat dropped Box Hill Hawks from the top four, but luckily for them fellow top four contenders in Williamstown, Werribee and Collingwood all suffered defeats across the weekend keeping the Hawks even on 32 points with those sides.
The Northern Blues host Coburg next weekend, while Box Hill faces a tough trip to Port Melbourne.
Photo: Jenny Owens
Last Modified on 22/07/2013 13:41