By JARROD POTTER
SANDOWN Cobras fell to the vengeance of Doveton Eagles in a 30-point loss in Southern Football League Division 3.
After their straight-sets elimination at the hands of Sandown in last season’s preliminary final, the Eagles soared across the field at Edinburgh Reserve, piling on 16.5 (101) to the home side’s 9.17 (71) at the Cobras’ usual stronghold.
A flash from the past, Eagles superboot Ricky Ramsdale, who drilled 117 and 86 goals in 2008 and 2009 for the team, kicked six goals to open his 2013 account and the Eagles had a glut of options up forward with Nathan Wilson (three goals) and Peter Dye (three).
With the match in the balance after half-time, the Eagles dominated proceedings as they kicked eight unanswered goals.
Sandown fought back through Jake Chapman (three goals), and the continued efforts of Mitch Mcgovern, Daniel Macklin and Mitch Gersbeck, but their wayward kicking in the fourth quarter proved detrimental.
The Cobras kicked four-goals-nine in an opportunity they will rue missing, while the Eagles held on to take the six-goal win.
Sandown faces Mount Waverley in a ladder-shaping clash on Saturday at home.
DANDENONG had a 30-point win over Ashwood – with their forwards David McKean (four goals), Matt Van Schajik (four) and coach Dan Atkin (three) proving hard to stop as Dandenong belted nine second-half goals to Ashwood’s four.
Dylan Bracebridge, Trent Alexander and Regan Hall featured in the best for the Redlegs.
LYNDALE continued its hot-streak, with a 35-point win over demoted Black Rock.
Fighting back from a nine-point deficit at three-quarter-time, the Pumas endeavoured to kick seven goals to one and take the points.
Trevor Kumataitis was unstoppable in the forward arc – drilling eight goals – in a best on ground performance, while Adam Read, Trent Day and Shannon Rainey were also impressive.
In SFL Division 2, Springvale Districts defeated Moorabbin by 28 points.
VAFA
St John’s couldn’t push back into positive territory against Kew – downed by four points.
Rohan Scott kicked three goals while Jarrod Gaget, Corey Ladson and Kane Arnold were best.
Masala went two rounds in the ring against Kew, but lost puff after half-time, downed by 76 points.
Full-back David Crkvenac continued his good form while Srirangan Giritharan and Habib Mohammadi also impressed.
VWFL
In the match of the South East season so far, Keysborough had St John’s on the ropes, but couldn’t hold on in a 5.7 (37) to 6.7 (43) loss.
A three-goal last quarter pushed the Burras ahead before Michelle Densley got on the end of a lace-out ball with a minute left – slotting her third of the afternoon to give the JOCs a six-point win.
Best for the Burras were Lauren Foley, Riplee Mclachlan and Kylie Williamson while St John’s was led by Emma Pearce and the indefatigable duo Brownyn Rogan and Elizabeth Whitfield.
DANDENONG FIXTURE
EFL: Noble Park v Lilydale. SFL: Springvale Districts v Bentleigh, Sandown v Mount Waverley, Hallam v Dandenong, CPL v Lyndale. VAFA: St John’s v Therry Penola, UHS-VU v Masala. VWFL: Seaford v St John’s, Keysborough v Cranbourne.
