Redbacks bounce back
By: Samuel Zito
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Panton Hill responded emphatically to its shock opening round loss by accounting for St Mary’s by 49 points in the Round 2 NFL Match of the Day.
The Redbacks overcame a poor opening 10 minutes before cruising to a 13.17 (95) to 6.10 (46) win at Whatmough Park.
Tristan Kreymborg was dominant in the ruck and was deservedly named the Narellan Pools Player of the Day as he controlled the game around the ground.
The big man dominated the hitouts all day and ran his opposing talls ragged. He often marked as the loose man in defence, and also pushed forward hard to set up countless attacking thrusts.
After succumbing to a shock four-point loss to Parkside in Round 1, the Redbacks were again slow out of the blocks as they trailed the Burras early in proceedings.
They trailed by seven points midway through the first term, however that deficit should have been greater but for inaccurate kicking in front of goal on St Mary’s behalf.
The home side kicked a wayward 1.3 and another out on the full in the early stages as they failed to make a genuine impact on the scoreboard despite their early dominance all over the ground.
However, after settling with the last three goals of the first term – including one to Kreymborg after a strong mark and 50m penalty – the Redbacks were never truly troubled. Once in front the visitors took complete control of the match.
In his first game of the season, playing-coach Dean Haydock was superb through the midfield and across half forward. His composure under pressure and precise delivery set up numerous goals for teammates.
A major beneficiary was Ben Finnin who finished the day with four goals, booting one in each quarter. Superboot Joffa Byron was kept goalless but was lively up forward and provided assists for a handful of goals.
St Mary’s kicked the first goal of the game through Dillan Ronalds after a strong mark in the goal square. It was deserving reward for a dominant opening 10 minutes, however it only served to swing Panton Hill into action.
Zac Williams responded with the Redbacks’ first from the resulting centre clearance and when Finnin goaled shortly after the visitors took an unlikely lead. They wouldn’t trail again all day.
Leading by 16 points at quarter-time, Panton Hill smashed its younger opposition in the second term.
Despite Myles Guldon kicking the first of the second quarter for the hosts, Panton Hill responded with the next four to take a commanding 33-point lead into the main break.
With Kreymborg and Haydock controlling the midfield and Ben Strongman and Brendan O’Connor repelling everything from defence, Panton Hill assumed complete dominance all over the field.
Nick Lowther responded a minute after Guldon’s opening goal with a goal from a 50m set shot, before Finnin, Ryan Graham and Lloyd Toffolon followed with majors of their own to stretch the margin beyond five goals at half time.
Simon Amore got busy in the third term and kicked a lovely 50m goal on the run after smothering an errant St Mary’s handball, before Finnin capped off a lovely coast to coast play from defence with his third goal to stretch the margin to 47 points early in the third.
With the scoreboard threatening to get ugly, St Mary’s hung in bravely and reduced the deficit to 38 at the final change.
Scott McLaughlin booted a long set shot to get the Burras’ third of the afternoon, before Haydn Bryce marked strongly and converted to make it consecutive goals for the first time all day for the hosts prior to the three-quarter time siren.
James Ind made it three on the trot early in the final term as St Mary’s threatened to challenge, however a Luke Groves major from the goal square killed off any hope of an unlikely comeback.
The Redbacks were then ruthless, piling on another three goals in quick succession to stretch the margin to a game-high 56 points.
Michael Costanzo – who was St Mary’s best alongside Lee Minuz – then kicked a late goal to cut the final margin to 49 points.
After flexing their muscles against the Burras, the Redbacks now prepare themselves for a home game against Watsonia this coming Saturday. St Mary’s will continue its search for its first win when it hosts Thomastown.
Final score: St Mary’s 6.10.46 def by Panton Hill 13.17 (95)
Last Modified on 21/04/2013 07:54