Round 3, 2011
Sandringham v Port Melbourne
by Mark Towson
On Sunday Port Melbourne made the trip down beach road to take on the previously undefeated Sandringham side. Much like last season’s contest, this was set to be another nail biter.
1st QUARTER
On a perfect day for football, no side could gain much advantage from a bruising first term. Both sides were under fierce which lead to a very low scoring quarter. Only Shane Valenti with 2 goals could hit the scoreboard for the Borough side. No easy posession was available and at the first break Port held a slender 2 point lead.
2nd QUARTER
Port, began the second term in very positive fashion and were able to string many good passages of play together. Slick ball movement and good decision making enabled Jake Edwards, Dean Galea and David Fanning to all kick early goals. A dogged Sandy side stayed in the contest and with a sprinkling of AFL players looked quite dangerous.
Jarrod Dalton and Sam Pleming were doing a good job in defence, while the Borough midfield lifted considerably. Michael Dillon, Marc Johnston and Hugh Sandilands were providing plenty of run and giving the Port forwards plenty of opportunity.
With Jake Edwards and McMahon kicking truly, the Borough boys took a hard earned 14 lead in half time.
3rd QUARTER
In front of the biggest crowd at Sandringham for many seasons it was the home side who got on top in the third quarter. The Zebra’s lifted in most areas and were able to kick 5 goals to Port’s 3. The Borough was working hard but couldn’t quite make the most of their opportunities. John Baird in his first game since 2009 kicked a very important goal with Port’s other 2 goals coming from Dan Keely and Adam Bentick.
First gamer Jake Dermott did a couple of good things and looks a very handy prospect for someone still in his teens.
At the last break, the game was up for grabs with Port Melbourne leading 11.10.76 to Sandringham 11.7.73.
4th QUARTER
Gary Ayres speech to the Port boys was extremely positive and he implored his players to all lift by 1%. He made special mention of goal sneak Patrick Rose’s effort to be playing after being in all sorts of trouble and taken off the ground in last week’s clash. Port supporters could see Rose simply wasn’t right, but like good players do Rose lifted to provide a spark for Port. He and Fabian Deluca kicked 2 beautiful goals each early in last term to put Sandy under the pump.
Port split the game open and lifted all over the ground. The midfield run and carry was brilliant, while the defenders did everything Gary Ayres asked of them.
A couple of long bombs, one coming from St Kilda’s Brett Peake just kept the Zebra’s within striking distance.
As he did last week, Malcolm Lynch again kicked a late goal which looked to be the sealer. If it wasn’t then Dan Keely ended any hopes of a late Sandy comeback by slotting his second for the day.
A fantastic victory sees Port Melbourne stay undefeated in season 2011.
Port had many good players on the day. Michael Dillon was named best on ground after a top 4 quarter effort. Hugh Sandilands easily played his best game in Borough colours and showed signs of why he was rookie listed by Hawthorn.
Dalton, Pleming, Johnston and Baird also had fantastic games.
Be at Preston next Saturday for the huge ABC TV clash against the Northern Bullants. With both sides undefeated this promises to be the match of season so far. Action kicks off from 1.00pm.
Go the Mighty Borough!
Sandringham 2.3 6.5 11.7 15.8 (98)
Port Melbourne 2.5 8.7 11.10 17.12 (114)
GOALS:
Sandringham: PEAKE 3 Lynch 2 Gamble 2 Siposs 2 Heyne 2 CRIPPS Lourey Magner Irving
Port Melbourne: Valenti 2 Keely 2 Edwards 2 Rose 2 Bentick McMahon Deluca Galea Dillon Baird Dwyer Fanning Lynch
BEST:
Sandringham: Simpkin Magner CRIPPS Archer Eddy Ferguson
Port Melbourne: Dillon Sandilands Johnston Pleming Dalton Baird
Last Modified on 19/04/2011 12:48