By JARROD POTTER
SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE – round
THE trip up the Princes Highway reaped a 19-point win for Springvale Districts against Caulfield.
Neither team had ascendency throughout the first two-and-a-half terms – as the lead flicked back-and-forth between the Bears and Demons.
Jack McTaggart’s men gritted their teeth for one last assault to push ahead in the third term and hold onto the lead via goals to Leighton Ross (3 goals), Aidan Jolly (3), David Bramble (2) and Lance Baptist (2).
Along with Chris McTaggart and Ben Laier, the goal kickers featured prominently in the best afield.
Sitting in fourth – just above a logjam of five teams separated by a game or less – Springvale Districts will look to improve its 4-3 record when it hosts wooden spoon aspirants Moorabbin on Saturday.
DIVISION 3
WAYWARD bombing by Black Rock allowed the much more accurate Sandown Cobras to sneak away with a four-point victory at home. A horrifying zero-goals-seven was the sum of Black Rock’s first quarter while Sandown had fewer shots but solidly kicked away to a 19-point lead. The lead went back and forth, but Black Rock failed to capitalise on their chances, despite snaring a slight advantage at the final change. The Jets scrambled to kick six goals and 17 behinds in the clash, but their woeful scorecard wasn’t enough to hold off the Cobras. Clint Sheedy (4 goals) was pivotal on a wet and dreary day as he kicked the lion’s share of Sandown’s tally while Anthony LaRocca, Brad Hemphill and Daniel Macklin were best on ground.
Lyndale can keep its head held high after staying in the contest against rampaging premiership favourites Mount Waverley. In tough conditions at Barry Powell Reserve, the Pumas could not convert their chances with Dale Tormey (2 goals) the only multiple scorer in the 42-point loss. Taylor Irish and Alex Kerr also impressed.
Dandenong threw away victory against a fast-finishing Endeavour Hills outfit on Saturday – conceding a third-term 21-point lead to end up 14 in arrears at the final siren.
A seven-goal Endeavour Hills’ final quarter – led by a five-goal bag from Allan McPherson – let the Falcons soar while the Redlegs trudged to the finish with only a solitary fourth-quarter major. Matt Van Schajik (3 goals) was the only multiple scorer while James Farrugia, David Barrie and Stephen Young were best on a tough day at the office.
