In sunny conditions, on ANZAC day at TEAC Oval the Port Melbourne Borough took on an impressive Northern Bullants outfit with teams going into the match with 1-1 record in season 2010, and the Borough rallying to stage a come-from-behind win.
In a span of 4 minutes, new recruit, Malcolm Lynch kicked the PMFC’s first goal of the match, and his first at TEAC Oval midway through the first quarter, after a solid contested mark in the centre of the field by Billy Burstin, followed by a second goal to Shane Valenti, and then Burstin kicked truly making a 20-16 score line. A number of stoppages dominated the opening term with both teams creating a stop-start affair. Carlton rookie, Joe Anderson kicked truly nearing the end of the final term giving the Bullants a 29-21 lead into the first break.
The second term began in a frenetic pace with players having trouble controlling the ball and advancing it cleanly into their own forward 50m arc. Things began to settle down for both teams with Bullants’ Ash Arrowsmith extending their lead 35-21 kicking truly on a set shot from the flank. A sequence play by the Bullants beat the Borough at the 15 minute mark from end-to-end allowed Shaun Grigg to goal giving the largest margin of the game, 44-28. The Borough bounced back though, with acting-captain Cory McGrath clearing the backline which lead to Nathan Batsanis (14 disposals) scoring from 10 metres out on the run compliments of a Toby Pinwall (11 disposals in the half) goal-assist. Port Melbourne’s Callum Sinclair grabbed one in the air at centre half-forward over Jake Spiteri, and kicked the goal cutting the lead Bullants lead 50-40 after 25 minutes of play.
Port coach Gary Ayres must emphasised the lack of intensity, as the new recruits kept firing for Port with Adam Bentick scoring truly pegging the Bullants lead to a mere 5 points. Simon Wiggins for the Bullants followed with another goal. Port kept up the defensive pressure and a clean clearance which gave big Adrian Bonaddio a mark on the grandstand boundary from 40m out and kicked truly, with David Fanning juggling a mark in the next play downfield and goaling, giving Port its first lead of the match 59-58. Rain began falling midway through the quarter, making players adjust accordingly. Bonaddio proved how important he is Port offense, kicking from the centre square after shrugging a tackle, and extending the lead 66-59, erupting the home crowd. Toby Pinwall replicated the previous effort kicking from a free kick in the centre square further delighting the crowd.
The tight contest continued in the final quarter with Bonaddio providing the key target for Port marking from 40m out against multiple Bullant defenders, then handing off the ball over the group to a streaking Malcolm Lynch for his 2nd goal of the match, adding to the Port lead, 82-63. Creating the loose man through a passage of play, PMFC opened the game up to 25-point lead with Adam Bentick kicking his 2nd goal of the match. After 27 minutes of play, the Bullants edged closer to Port goaling to advance from a 50m penalty to only 5 points, 91-86. Both teams scored minor scores before the siren, and Port won an entertaining contest by a mere 5 points.
13.14-92 def 11.21-87
Port Melbourne
Goal Kickers: A. Bentick 2, B. Burstin 2, A. Bonaddio 2, C. Sinclair 2, M. Lynch 2, T. Pinwill, S. Valenti, N. Batsanis
Best Players: A. Bonaddio, S. Brewer, N. Batsanis, D. Fanning, Sinclair B. Burstin, N. Batsanis
Northern Bullants
Goal Kickers: S. Wiggins 4, A. Arrowsmith 3, J. Anderson, R. Gale, C. Johnson, S. Grigg
Best Players: R. Hadley, S. Grigg, J. McCorkell, J. Waite, S. Jacobs, S. Wiggins
In the Reserves match, the Borough won comprehensively over the Bullants by 84 points.
22.22-154 def 5.8-38
Last Modified on 05/05/2010 15:17