By Daniel Dufty
Port Melbourne making Box Hill play catch-up football beat the Hawks in convincing fashion by 49 point at TEAC Oval.
Former North Ballarat Roosters half-forward Wayne Schultz starred for the Borough with four goals alongside Christopher Cain (22 possessions 4 goals) creating havoc for the Hawks defence.
Toby Pinwill (32 touches) and wingman Stephen Brewer (30 possessions) were also handy for the Borough has they ran the Hawks ragged.
Adem Yze (3 goals) assisted by Brent Renouf and Travis Tuck stood up for the Hawks in a game controlled by Port Melbourne from the out-set. Returning from a knee injury, Hawthorn rookie Tim Walsh was also very handy in his senior debut.
In cold, windy conditions at TEAC Oval, Port Melbourne quickly shot out of the blocks kicking the opening two goals.
Steve Kenna set up Ben Smithwick in the 7th minute to place the Hawks on the board as the Borough lifted the tempo. Port Melbourne kicking on powered through three more goals complements of Wayne Schultz seeing them 24 points up at the opening change.
Luke Breust and Ed Curnow were busy in traffic early as Box Hill only managed to kick a single goal
Knowing their poor showing in the 1st Box Hill came out with vengeance kicking 4.3 to 0.7 trailing by four points at the half. Adem Yze sensational in the 2nd kicked three goals keeping the Hawks in touching distance as Port Melbourne goalless luckily for the Hawks were wasteful missing opportunities.
Port Melbourne lifted their intensity looking a new side after half-time controlling play as Box Hill’s mistakes led to unwanted goals. Five on the trot secured the lead for the Borough as Box Hill struggled to stay in game.
Cameron Pedersen in the 15th and Ben Smithwick 25th minute brought two late goals to the Hawks as the game looked out of reach.
Trailing by 25 points into the final term, Port Melbourne non succumbing to pressure continued their onslaught belting through three goals from the first three clearances in the opening few minutes. The Borough coming out with intent wiped out the Hawks as goals by Ben Smithwick, Brad Neil and Hayden Kiel flew through the forward fifty.
Closing out the match Port Melbourne kicked the final three goals seeing them victorious.
TEAC Ovals large dimensions showed the clash open with forward fifty’s as sides rushed back defensively. Port Melbourne tactically having spare players in defence worked well as Box Hill hit opposition chests while looking to get on the scoreboard.
Statistically Port Melbourne has won their last sixteen games at TEAC Oval showing its no mans land for any opposition team.
Bolton also commented on the form of ruckman Brent Renouf saying “Renouf has been fantastic in every VFL game he has played this season. He was forced to play down back in the third quarter because Port had a lot of tall forwards.”
Again Adem Yze for the 2nd consecutive week got “Goal of the Day” with a special mid-air kick of the football from 50m out.
Next Monday Box Hill travels to Windy Hill in the Queens Birthday Clash against Bendigo Bombers. Port Melbourne travel to Visy Park next Sunday to face Collingwood who come off a fifty point win against Northern Bullants.
To watch the ABC highlights of the game, click on this link: http://www.abc.net.au/grandstand/afl/vfl/
Port Melbourne: 5.3 / 5.10 / 10.13 / 17.15.117
Box Hill Hawks: 1.3 / 5.6 / 7.6 / 10.8.68
Port Melbourne Goals: W. Schultz 4, C. Cain 4, D. Pitt 2, A. Bonaddio 2, P. Hassett 2, J. Baird, C. McGrath, A. Deluca
Box Hill Hawks Goals: B. Smithwick 4, A. Yze 3, H. Kiel, B. Neil, C. Pedersen
Port Melbourne Best: C. Cain, W. Schultz, T. Pinwill, M. Smith, S. Brewer, M. Suckling
Box Hill Hawks Best: A. Yze, B. Renouf, T. Walsh, T. Tuck, S. Kenna, B. Smithwick
Last Modified on 01/06/2009 23:06