MPNFL

DIVISION ONE

IT was the battle for the top spot on the Division One ladder on Saturday with last year’s Grand Final winners, Frankston YCW, facing the rampaging and unbeaten Dromana Tigers.

From the outset Dromana had the upper hand with six scoring shots to three in the first quarter putting them eight points up at the first break. The Stonecats came back in the second quarter to try and right the wrong, and ground back to be just two points down at the main break.

Frankston YCW continued the grind in the third quarter and managed to get their noses three points in front at three-quarter time. But Dromana had other ideas, and pushed hard in the final, kicking five goals to the Stonecats’ four, and with a few minor scores along the way, snatched a four-point win. The final score was Dromana 13.10 (88) to 13.6 (84).

The best goal kicker for Dromana was Sam Fowler with three, while Josh Butland managed six for the losing side. The win puts Dromana at the top of the Division One ladder, while YCW sits at third.

The Pines were coming off a loss last week and Langwarrin a win, when they met on Saturday.

The Pythons got a couple on the board early, kicking two majors in the first quarter, while limiting the Kangaroos to just a couple of minor scores.

Langwarrin came to life a little in the second, with five scoring shots resulting in two goals, while the Pines slotted two majors, leaving them nine points up at the main break. The third quarter was a tight affair with both teams only kicking one major, and Pines 11 points up at three-quarter time. Not much changed in the final quarter with both teams kicked a couple more majors and Pines running out ten-point winners 7.6 (48) to 5.8 (38).

It was a battle of the bottom teams when Bonbeach met Red Hill at Bonbeach on Saturday. Neither team had notched a win for 2023, so it was a sign of who might climb up in 2023, and who’ll wallow in the doldrums.

Red Hill came out with more vigor than their opponents and managed six scoring shots to three in the first quarter to get an eight-point lead. Bonbeach pushed back in the second and managed to get within two points of Red Hill at the main break. They scored 2.6 for the quarter to Red Hill’s 2.1, inaccuracy in front of goal keeping them in arrears.

Red Hill put the pedal to the floor in the third slotting five goals to Bonbeach’s single goal in what was to be a game winning quarter. They went into the final break with a 28-point lead.

In the final quarter, the Sharks managed to peg it back a little, but not enough to reduce Red Hill’s control over the game. The final score was Red Hill 10.11 (71) to Bonbeach 6.12 (48).

Sorrento came into this round with a win last week against Pines, while Frankston Bombers were coming into the round with a loss last week against the Stonecats.

The game was never really in doubt all day with the Bombers coming out hard in the first quarter and kicking five majors to the Sharks two goals. They went into the first quarter break with and 18-point lead.

Frankston piled on six goals to two in the second quarter to pull away to a 40-point lead at half time. It was a war of attrition in the third with both teams only managing a single goal before the Bombers came out in the final quarter to cement the win.

They kicked five majors in the last to Sorrento’s four, walking away with the chocolates 17.13 (115) to Sorrento’s 9.9. (63). Khan Haretuku was the best goal kicker for the Bombers with six, while Myles Poholke managed five for Sorrento.

It was basically all over at quarter time in the match up between Mt Eliza and Rosebud. The Redlegs piled on 6.3 to Rosebud’s solitary point to hit the huddle 38 points up.

The coach must have asked for ‘more of the same’ and that’s what Mt Eliza did, adding 6.4 to the scorecard in the second and limiting Rosebud to just another point. At half time the score was a walloping 12.7 (79) to 0.2 (2) in favour of the Redlegs.

What happened in the third? You guessed it 6.2 for Mt Eliza and just a single point for Rosebud leaving them with just three points for the game and a staggering 114-point lead for the Redlegs at the last break.

Rosebud managed to finally get a couple of majors on the board in the final quarter, but it was all too little, too late with Mt Eliza running out 129 point winners 23.11 (149) to 2.8 (20). Harrison Scott was the best goal kicker for the victors with seven, and Mt Eliza now sits second on the table with Rosebud sitting second from the bottom.

DIVISION TWO

IT has been a terrible start to 2023 for the Rye Football Club. The Demons were still without a win, and they were desperate to show some spirit against Seaford Tigers at home this week.

They came out strong in the first and managed nine scoring shots to five to establish a 14-point lead at the first break. But that’s where it went south for Rye.

In the second quarter, Seaford ground away, slotting six majors to three to get their whiskers just two points in front at the main break.

Rye couldn’t get the momentum back in the third, with the visitors managing four majors to two and going into the final break with a handy 12-point lead.

There was a bit more life in the final quarter, but it didn’t go the Demon’s way. Seaford managed five goals while Rye could only muster three majors leaving Seaford Tigers with a 31-point win, 17.12 (114) to 11.17 (83).

Chelsea and Pearcedale were both coming off losses last week when they met at Chelsea on Saturday. They’d both only notched one win for the season, and both had a lot to prove.

Chelsea came out stronger in the first, slotting four goals to two and going into the first break with a 13-point lead. This set the pattern for the day, as the Seagull ground away at The Dales.

By half time they had established a 24-point lead and by three-quarter time it was out to 29-points. It was business as usual for Chelsea in the final quarter, kicking three majors to two and lifting their lead to 35 points by the final siren. The scores for the day were Chelsea 17.10 (112) to 11.11 (77).

Crib Point came into this week after a rampaging win against Rye last week, while Hastings copped a thumping from Tyabb in the last round.

It was difficult to see who would get the chocolates this week in their clash at Hastings, but from the first bounce, the Blues made it clear.

They were quick out of the blocks slotting four goals to one in the first quarter at establish a 16-point lead by the first break. It set the tone for the day, with the Magpies unable to peg it back in the second quarter, going into the main break with a 20-point deficit.

Hastings hit the gas in the third, taking it out to a 42-point lead by three quarter time, and held it in the final to run out 46-point victors, the final score in favour of the Blues 15.5 (95) to 6.13 (49).

Inaccuracy in front of the sticks was a major issue for the Magpies, with scoring shots closely matched at 20 for Hastings and 19 for Crib.

It was a crazy first half at Saturday’s match between Somerville and Devon Meadows. You’d be forgiven in thinking it was all over by quarter time as the rampaging Eagles thumped on 4.5 (29) in the first while keeping the Panthers scoreless.

But the second quarter was a complete reversal, with Devon Meadows slotting 6.3 (39) while keeping the previously on fire Somerville without a score, holding a ten-point lead at the main break.

There was more pain to come for Somerville in the third with the Panthers opening up their margin to 16-points. But Somerville had other ideas and came out firing in the final quarter.

The Eagles managed 4.5 in the last, while holding the Panthers to a solitary point, storming home to grab a victory that looked certain after the first but in doubt for the rest of the day. The final scores were 9.13 (67) to Devon Meadows 8.7 (55).

Two strong contenders for finals in 2023 met on Saturday with Edithvale-Aspendale taking on Karingal at Regents Park.

Both sides got nicely on the board in the first quarter, but the Bulls managed a couple of extra majors to be 11 points ahead of the Eagles at the first break.  The second quarter was an even affair with both teams slotting two goals for a lead to Karingal of 14 points at the main break.

Karingal increased the pressure in the third to get out to a 29-point lead at three quarter time, and while Edi-Asp managed to peg it back a little in the final quarter, it was not happening, with Karingal running out 25-point winners.

Tyabb came into this round with a rampaging win last week against cellar-dwellers, Rye. But this week was going to be a different game altogether, coming up against ladder leaders Mornington.

The challenge for the Yabbies was evident from the first bounce, as Mornington slipped away during the first quarter to a 29-point lead. Tyabb mounted a revival, of sorts, in the second, scoring 4.2 for the quarter but Mornington’s 5.5 resulted in an increased lead for the Bulldogs.

Mornington came out blazing in the third quarter kicking five goals and keeping Tyabb to a single major. Inaccuracy cost the Yabbies in the quarter, missing the big sticks for minor scores five times.

Mornington drilled their lead home in the final quarter, adding another five goals to run our comfortable winners 21.14 (140) to Tyabb’s 9.11 (65). Mornington sits on top of the MPNFL Division Two ladder on percentage with Mornington and Karingal both sitting on 14 points.

First published in the Frankston Times – 2 May 2023