By JARROD POTTER
SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Division 3 – round 17
THE Jets scrammed out of Barry Powell Reserve quickly on Saturday following an impressive 60-point win for Lyndale.
A close affair at the first break – with Lyndale only ahead by 19 – the Pumas pounced in the second to shatter Black Rock hopes of a double chance.
Lyndale’s hit-up forward Trevor Kumetaitis (4 goals) continued to impress from the forward 50 while Trent Day (3 goals) also jagged himself a handy haul.
The hit-out work of Ben Mayers gave Lyndale’s midfielders a clean shot at the footy in most instances as Black Rock failed to stop the high-calibre running of Ordell Buntine, Jared Henshaw and Tommy Clappers.
Lyndale coach Rod Benstead said the boys bid farewell to their home-ground for another season in style and left the Pumas’ naysayers with something to ponder in the lead-up to finals.
“I was really happy that we made a statement today,” Benstead said.
“I know a lot of people think it’s between two clubs, but we’ve got some pretty experienced players and we’re playing our best football at the right time of the year.
The win gives the Pumas a crucial one-game buffer heading into the final round of the season, with a match away against Mt Waverley another ‘mini-final’ for Benstead and his charges.
The battle to hold onto their double-chance is imperative for Benstead, but believes the match against the Mountain Lions isn’t run-and-won yet despite Mt Waverley’s impressive 16-1 record.
“We’ve got our best team in at the moment… we like being the hunters… no one expects too much from us but we’re pretty confident from within,” Benstead said.
In other games Sandown elevated itself to fourth with a comprehensive 183-point thumping of SFL minnow Hallam.
Lining up for a bag each were Jason Toan and Clint Sheedy – drilling seven goals apiece – while Frank Martinicchio (5 goals) also cleaned up against the Hawks.
A whopping 12-goals-seven was booted by the Cobras in the final term as Sandown eyes pointed towards next week.
A win for Sandown in its own mini-final this week away at Black Rock and loss for Lyndale will have the sides switch positions on the ladder – with the Pumas only ahead by .11 per cent over the Cobras.
The wins kept flowing in SFL Division 3 as Dandenong knocked off South Yarra 18.8 (110) to 12.9 (81).
David Barrie drilled five while Chris Arnold, Brodie O’Laughlin (4 goals) and Matt Van Schajik led from the front.
The Redlegs will now face Endeavour Hills in the cross-town showdown at Greaves Reserve.
Division 2 – round 16
The season can’t come to an end quickly enough for Springvale Districts as it fell to Doveton Eagles by 58 points.
The Eagles danced all over the Demons’ finals’ chances, snuffing the flame out for good with a clinical 10-goals-to-four effort after half time.
Justin Doust and Gavin Vassallo showed their experience in the form of countless possessions while David Monaghan also impressed.
The Demons bid farewell to Newcomen Road for another season as it hosts Caulfield in its final home game of 2014.
