VAFA ROUND 2.indd - Victorian Amateur Football Association

PREMIER B
Jonathan Hibbert
ELYSIAN
FIELDS
Double, double, toil and trouble. Shakespeare’s
three hags might have been invoking the weather
gods on Saturday as the wind howled and torrid
rain spattered distastefully on bruised limbs and
grazed knees. Disdaining fortune, Caulfied and
Beaumaris both toiled away, their boots smoked
with bloody execution, carving opening wins
against the grain. In opposition, the two truants
from Premier had a rude come-uppance, though
with most results tight, this season is all for the
taking.
On Bluff Road, portents of things to come, as the
Rovers and SKOB’s partook in a thrilling match.
Out for revenge after last year’s round 18 clash, St
Kevin’s clawed ahead through the middle quarters,
Giansiracusa booting four and the Dowds working
tirelessly. With Daniel Corp leading by example,
and regrouping from 16 points down at the last
break, Hampton scraped ahead by a meagre
seven points with minutes remaining, the wind at
their backs. Desperate football ensued, each side
having their opportunities to capitalise, Hamish
Townsend and Gary Carr in the thick of it, only for
the match to end in a bleak and desperate draw.
Not far from Boss James Reserve, it was a a sore
and sorry Old Brighton team that returned to
lick their wounds and recuperate after a bruising
day out at Chelsworth Park. Winning the play in
the second and third quarters, the Red and Blue
lacked a solid conversion rate, and working from
behind the whole day against players such as the
sold Simon Fragiacamo, Low and Weatherley, the
Tonners needed inspiration. Thomas Mentiplay
and Josh Homann took the task to heart and
proved the yardstick. With a number of rookies
joining the senior ranks, Old Ivanhoe managed to
hold out, staying goal for goal in the last term.
Past Grange Road, along the Eastern Freeway, the
Eagles caught another case of the blues, this time
courtesy of the Blacks, a first round loss not doing
anything to sate the fever of relegation. Though
kicking with the wind, Marcellin’s constant thrusts
forward were halted by ‘Tugboat’ Howgate. Scott
Weekley and Michael Cousens provided run and
support, while Tyran Bell drove home a valuable
major. The Eagles’ Jarrod Carlson and Matthew
Holmes were valiant in defeat, almost climbing
from the brink in the last quarter, but the Students
kept the foot firmly to the floor and Andrew ‘Rusty’
Else proved the dominant force, contested marks
across the oval à la Richo, helping his team to a
healthy victory.
In a rather local affair, Premier C victors the Sharks
held at bay a determined Krusher contingent
in a high-scoring affair. Piling on scores in a
resoundingly confident second quarter, Beaumaris
marched on its way, Scott Gower beating the
drum with five betwixt the sticks, supported by
cornerstones Matt Duggan and Callan Buckley.
The entertaining scorecard belied the fact that
defence was lacking somewhat on the smaller
W.A. Scammell Reserve, as only a couple good
kicks were needed to break open either backline
and provide sustenance for the forwards; Dion
Lucas a prime example bagging five goals, Tim
Goldsmith and Lee Barrand the Krushers’ other
best.
The impenetrable fortress of the Snakepit was
broached as the Snow Dogs were surprised and
comprehensively thrashed by Caulfield while
a howling gale descended over Buckley Street.
Opening under a warm and sunny sky, the Fields
TODAY
Selections in BOLD
BEAUMARIS v OLD IVANHOE
OLD BRIGHTON v OAKLEIGH
ST KEVINS v MARCELLIN
CAULFIELD GRAMM v HAMPTON ROVERS
UNIVERSITY BLACKS v ST BERNARDS
4 THE AMATEUR FOOTBALLER 2011
SPORTS INJURY CASUALTY - 316 Malvern Road, Prahran