Box Hill Hawks look to have secured a finals spot with a dogged two point win over Sandringham at Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Sunday as Anna Harrington reports.
Led by a four-goal effort from Jordan Lisle, the Hawks held off a fast-finishing Zebras side for a 10.14.74 to 10.12.72 victory in captain Sam Gibson’s 100th game, seemingly ending Sandringham’s finals hopes in the process.
Hawthorn listed Kyle Cheney played a key role for the Hawks rebounding out of defence while Taylor Gilchrist (29 possessions), Ryan Jackson (28) and Riley Milne (26) provided drive through the midfield.
For the Zebras, Tom Lynch was prominent up forward with 25 touches and a goal, while James Magner would hope to have caught the eye of AFL recruiters with his 33 possessions through the midfield.
Hawks coach Damian Carroll said he was pleased with his side’s ability to grind out a victory against Sandringham’s constant attacking presses.
“For us it was just relief really in the dying seconds – we couldn’t really do anymore, it was up to the players and we were just lucky to hang on… at the end,” Carroll said.
“We’ve been on the end of a few of those this year but I think it’s starting to even up now – I think it might be even four and four with close [wins] and losses.
“I think if you even out at 50 per cent in the close games it’s probably not a bad result so luckily we got that one today.”
The visitors drew first blood when Ben Fagan capitalised on a Zebras defensive lapse to score, The Hawks continued to dominate, Lisle and Jackson both on the end of solid attacking plays.
The home side finally got off the mark through Brett Dore, who received a rapid-fire handball from Chris Waller before slotting the goal to the delight of the home crowd.
Magner’s failed snap left the home side trailing 1.3.9 to 3.3.21 entering the first break, the 12-point deficit flattering a Sandringham side largely outpointed throughout the quarter.
The Zebras took control in the second quarter, kicking six goals to three, with Will Johnson’s clever snap putting them ahead for the first time in the match.
Nick Heyne’s effort from outside 50 kicked the home side out to an eight-point lead at the main break.
But Sandringham were unable to maintain their good form, failing to register a major score in the third quarter as the visitors ground their way out to an 11-point lead at three quarter time.
The final quarter proved the most exciting of the match, Irishman Tommy Walsh opening the scoring with a long bomb from 65m before Paul Cahill converted a set shot to give Sandringham a one-point lead.
A multitude of scoring shots in return gave the Hawks a two-point lead before Sandringham’s 50 gamer Michael Lourey took a long-range set shot to win the match.
But Lourey’s shot drifted out on the full, with the siren following soon after, halting a final Zebras forward thrust and ensuring a two-point win to the visitors.
Sandringham coach Brett Lovett said while the loss was disappointing, his side let themselves down with poor disposal and decision-making.
“We were disappointed, we knew that if we had have won the game we still had a hope of playing finals but overall… the effort was a bit better than in previous weeks [and] some of the things we tried to work on… actually kicked off okay,” Lovett said.
“We need to… keep working on our skill level and we’ve still got a fair bit of work there… because there were a few things that happened today that weren’t up to that standard.
“In the end in a close game like that it just cost us the four points and an opportunity in the finals.”
This week, the Hawks return home to Box Hill Oval for their clash with second-placed Williamstown, while Sandringham will head to Victoria Park to take on fellow bottom-four side Collingwood.
Last Modified on 17/08/2011 07:20