Springy, Dingley crash

By Paul Pickering
FIRST-round winners Springvale Districts and Dingley came thudding back to earth on Saturday, lowering their colours to more-fancied Division One opponents.
The Demons hit the road to face reigning premier St Paul’s East Bentleigh, and the home side wasted no time in flexing its muscle.
The Bulldogs took full advantage of a gale-force wind in the first term to boot 9.5 as the visitors went scoreless.
With that the Demons surrendered any chance of an upset, but they did manage to reclaim some respectability by breaking even over the remaining three quarters to lose by 61 points.
St Paul’s did squander some chances, finishing with 15.25 for the match, and Demons coach Steve Hughes later conceded that the scoreline may have flattered his troops.
“They used the ball really well and just broke the game open in the first 30 minutes, and we were always behind the eight ball from then on,” he reflected.
“We played reasonably well in the last three quarters, and we played the conditions better as the game progressed, but it was just fundamental skill errors that cost us.”
Experienced recruit Matt Sheahan was standout again for the Demons, providing some poise across half-back.
Nigel Scott found plenty of footy in the middle, Gavin Vassallo (three goals) was typically dangerous up forward and key defender John McMurray made life difficult for Bulldog gun Richard Cooke.
St Paul’s had every right to be disappointed in kicking 6.20 after quarter-time, but the performances of Damen Shaw, Tom Dewar (three) and ex-Casey Scorpion Paul Mercoulia (three).
The Demons will host 1-1 Cheltenham on Saturday, and Hughes is priming his charges for a big start after dropping both 2008 clashes with the Rosellas on the weight of ordinary first terms.
Elsewhere in the top division, Dingley succumbed to Tooronga Malvern by 13 points in a four-quarter slog at Dunlop Reserve.
The Dingoes kicked 28 goals against Mordialloc last week, but could manage just two on Saturday as they slumped to a 15-point deficit.
Young guns Josh Boyle and Lee Wonnacott helped guide their new club to within four points at the last break, but the home side steadied to draw clear again.
Tim Ford was Dingley’s only multiple goal-kicker with two, while defenders Daniel Atkin and Paddy Edwards effectively held back the tide.
Midfielder Cameron Main and roaming forward Andrew Frost also made sound contributions.
In Division Two, Lyndale was goal-less in the second half of its Anzac Day clash with 2008 grand finalist Heatherton.
The Tonners turned a 28-point half-time advantage into a 66-point win, leaving a bitter taste in the Pumas’ mouths post-match.
Daniel and Matt Bastin led a familiar list of contributors for the home side, including skipper Jeff Dudi, Dale Weston and Anthony Grace.
Meanwhile, the Doveton Eagles won their second local derby in as many weeks in overpowering Sandown by seven goals at Edinburgh Reserve.
An upset was on the cards when the Cobras trailed by just one point at half-time, but the Eagles soon pulled away to win in a canter.
Man-mountain Ricky Ramsdale booted five for the visitors, but it was Michael Gardner, Troy Humphries and Kaine Bundy who orchestrated the second-half assault.
Sandown was led by Buln Buln recruit Michael Robinson, while ex-Scoresby pair Ben Kinniburgh and James Tate continued their early-season form.
Clint Sheedy and Matt Davies booted two each for the Cobras.
At Greaves Reserve, Dandenong paid the ultimate price for a poor start, losing by 25 points after giving Hampton a six-goal head start in the first quarter.
Off-season acquisition David McKean (three) was the shining light for the Redlegs, while Jayde Handfield and Glenn Kemp contested strongly throughout the afternoon.
** Round 2 match-ups: Div1: Springvale Districts v Cheltenham, Dingley v Clayton. Div 2: Lyndale @ Highett. Div 3: Doveton Eagles v Cerberus, Sandown @ Hampton, Dandenong v Skye.