By Mark Gullick
ANOTHER strong finish saw ROC record its second successive win at EG Allen Oval on Saturday. The Kangaroos kicked seven goals to three after half-time to defeat Devon Meadows by 29 points.
Devon Meadows had all the early running with four goals to one in the opening term, but ROC hit back in the second term with five goals to one.
With the game evenly poised at the long break, it was the ROC youngsters who led the charge to victory.
After an Adam Jago goal reclaimed the lead for the Panthers, ROC kicked three of the next four goals to take control of the match.
Devon Meadows remained a chance, but an early goal to Greg Tivendale in the last term closed the door on the Panthers.
ROC kicked three goals to one in the final term.
Promising ROC names to keep en eye on included Travis Woodfield, Matthew Clarke and Matthew Rogers. Woodfield kicked six goals, Clarke was busy in the forward line and Rogers continues to impress around the ground.
Add James Canty and ROC has an enviable pool of emerging talent.
Captain Ben Tivendale was superb across half-back, big man Matthew Payne imposed himself on the contest and Andrew Logan was steady on the last line of defence.
For the vanquished, Lochlan Burke and Nathan Dumergue continued their excellent early-season form. Scott Young was staunch in defence, Daniel Velardo was prominent at both ends of the ground and captain Jesse DeHey never stopped trying.
Brandon Wapshott is developing into a quality midfielder and Joel Alder kicked three goals.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Beaconsfield v Tooradin-Dalmore
A SERIOUS neck injury to Tooradin-Dalmore’s David White marred Beaconsfield’s 54-point win over Seagulls at Perc Allison Oval.
“(The match) was called off with about five minutes to go in the third quarter,” Tooradin-Dalmore coach Beau Miller said.
White, who is in his first year with the Seagulls after joining brother Ryan, was injured in a tackle.
“It took him about an hour to get off the field, he lost all feeling down the left-hand side of his body,” Miller said. “He had a big shock to his spinal chord, which was causing the loss of feeling, but he was up and walking (on Sunday morning), which was great. He’s a very lucky man.”
Beaconsfield was racing away to an impressive win when the injury happened.
After an even opening term, Beaconsfield kicked eight goals to two in the second term, and then four goals to one in the shortened third quarter.
“We just played so badly,” Miller said. “We couldn’t concentrate and tie them down for even five minutes and they scored pretty heavily in that second quarter. There wasn’t much we could do about it.”
According to Miller, his players went away from the team concept and instead focused on themselves.
“It’s a little bit worrying,” he said.
Tooradin-Dalmore went into the match favourites, but was blanketed by Beaconsfield in the midfield and outgunned up forward.
Cleyton Bertoncello, Daniel Harrison and Daniel Mislicki kicked three goals.
Best players in a solid term effort were Troy McDermott, Daniel Calteri in the forward half, tough nut Aaron Gwozdziewski and gun midfielder Robbie Taylor.
The classy Bertoncello maintained his excellent form and Harrison continued to impress in his first year with the Eagles.
After a bright start to the year, it was a dirty day for the Seagulls, who scored only three goals after quarter-time.
Of the few players that performed for Tooradin-Dalmore, James Cottrell, Michael Hobbs, Paul Ray, Adam Splatt and Scott Szucs did their part.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Cranbourne v Narre Warren
CRANBOURNE has raced into early premiership favourites with a 71-point thumping of reigning premiers Narre Warren.
The Eagles were unstoppable, doubling their opponents’ score.
In the opening term, both teams showed earnest commitment to rapid ball movement and the play zipped around the park.
Narre Warren goaled first after a piercing Josh Tonna pass found Ben Wragg, who converted. Lee Boyle promptly added the Magpies’ second goal.
Cranbourne hit back with a Curtise Barker goal, which sparked the Eagles, who added three more goals to lead by 12 points at the first break.
The Eagles captain Marc Holt goaled from the opening bounce of the second term after a strong juggling mark, and quickly added another.
Laurence Angwin soccered a goal from 20 metres and when Holt kicked his third of the term, Cranbourne was clearly on top.
The Magpies hit back with two late goals to Nick Scanlon, but Cranbourne kicked six majors to three for the quarter to lead by 33 points at the long break.
Cranbourne outscored Narre Warren 11 goals to five in the second half to record an emphatic win.
“They let go a few good opportunities to put scores on the board, which is normally our forte,” Cranbourne coach Doug Koop said.
“In the second quarter, we said if we could maintain the pressure, that we might get a break on the scoreboard and that’s pretty much how it panned out. Our delivery in the forward line was a lot better in the second and third quarters and we benefited from that.”
Eagles captain Marc Holt played the prototype full-forward game; he took a plethora of contested marks and assisted in numerous scoring chances while kicking nine goals.
“His effort is always first class, regardless of whether he’s kicking goals or not,” Koop said. “He never goes out there and gives any less than his very best. It was an outstanding captain’s game from him.”
Caleb Tiller impressed on the back-half line and Luke Martin, in his 150th appearance, played well.
Versatile big man Michael Boland worked hard, Berry overcame the close-checking work of Jackson Parker to influence the contest and Nick Barker was strong at centre-half-back.
Narre Warren had not played since April 16 – a fact not lost on Koop.
