A Pirate among Cobras: Parkmore Pirate Danny Casset takes a strong grab surrounded by five Sandown players. Casset booted five goals and helped Parkmore win its first senior match in club history. Picture: Mike Richards.By Glen Atwell
POINT, goal, goal.
Danny Casset’s first three kicks as a Parkmore Pirate had the scoreboard attendants at Wachter Reserve blowing dust from number tiles that were regularly unused last year.
The star full-forward booted five goals and led the Pirates to a 41-point victory against local rival Sandown Cobras in a heated opening game of the Southern Football League (SFL) Division Three season.
Questions were answered as the Pirates held the Cobras scoreless in the first quarter and proved capable of supplying Casset with lace-out kicks inside their forward line.
Ex-Hampton Park defender Terry McKinley was inspirational in the backline, while Kevin McLean – also a former Redback – kicked four goals for the Pirates in a stand-out performance.
In blustery conditions, the Pirates led by 19 points at half-time as the Cobras struggled to find a marking option in the forward line.
Parkmore assistant coach Gary Connolly urged his players to stay focused on the ball.
“Forget about fighting – stay disciplined and we will win,” he said.
Casset had three direct opponents at some stages of the third quarter, but somehow managed to continue splitting the packs and grabbing the ball.
The Pirates piled on six goals to the Cobras’ one to put the game beyond doubt by three-quarter time.
The 41-point win both pleased and disappointed Connolly.
“It was the club’s first ever senior win, that’s something to remember,” he said.
“But all the fighting and the lack of discipline was the worst I’ve seen in my coaching career.”
The former Dandenong Demons coach said the Pirates still had plenty of improving to do.
“We will definitely keep getting better and we have plenty of talent to work with,” Connolly said.
For Cobras coach Stephen Jasiak, the result on Saturday wasn’t a true indication of how good his Cobras were.
“It was a very different sort if game, it was far from our best performance,” he said.
Sandown player Robert Kreskas was reported for striking Pirate Ben Duperouzel.
Parkmore’s Ken Piggin was also reported for striking, has pleaded not guilty and will front the SFL tribunal next Tuesday.
