By ROY WARD
THE old phrase ‘make hay while the sun shines’ was given new meaning by Springvale Districts in their season-defining win over Oakleigh District at Springvale Reserve.
With rain pouring down in the first quarter and hail predicted for the late afternoon, the Demons turned on some of their finest goal kicking of the season during a sunny second term to pull away to what turned out to be a match-winning lead.
The rain didn’t come back until well after the siren but the goals continued to rain down in the second half for the Demons, who stormed home to an 87-point win, reversing a similar-sized defeat against District at Princes Highway Reserve earlier this season.
The result also forced District from the top of the Southern Football League division 2 ladder and gave the finals-aspiring Demons a major percentage boost.
After a rainstorm in the opening term the Demons took a slight lead and proceeded to add to it at every change behind the poise and quality of veterans Gavin Vassallo (six goals) and midfielder Peter O’Brien along with a host of winners at all points of the ground.
Demons coach Clint Einsiedel sported a wide smile after this side sang Grand Old Flag with gusto.
“We got something from everyone today and that was the most pleasing thing,” he said. “Nine weeks ago we were talking much differently after that loss to them.”
Einsiedel said he hoped his side would take confidence and belief from the win against a side he considered one of the top two premiership contenders alongside Murrumbeena.
“This win showed the boys what this side is capable of. We had a couple of late withdrawals today and put a few guys into the side and they performed.
”We got a super effort from everyone and this is what it will take to beat these sides. We have to go on now and match that level every week from here.”
Vassallo even turned on a few party tricks for the home supporters, kicking three match-defining goals with the wet ball in the second quarter and then making a goal from nothing in the third quarter when he volleyed the ball high over the pack and through the goals.
For more Demons pictures, click on multimedia Gallery link at upper right.
FINAL SCORES
Victorian Football League:
Casey Scorpions 11.11 (77) d Bendigo 11.8 (74)
TAC Cup:
Dandenong Stingrays 12.6 (78) d Sandringham Dragons 8.15 (63).
Southern Football League:
Division 1: St Paul’s 14.14 (98) d Heatherton 6.2 (38); St Kilda City 11.7 (73) d Clayton 9.14 (68); Dingley 11.14 (80) d Highett 4.11 (35).
Division 2: Springvale Districts 19.7 (121) d Oakleigh District 5.5 (35); Murrumbeena 19.19 (133) d Southern Dragons 4.3 (27).
Division 3: Ashwood 11.11 (77) d Caulfield 9.8 (62); Doveton Eagles 13.16 (94) d Hallam 2.3 (15); Sandown 15.16 (106) d Mount Waverley 4.14 (38); Endeavour Hills 7.10 (52) d Lyndale 3.10 (28); Moorabbin 20.10(130) d Dandenong 9.8 (62).
Eastern Football League:
Division 1: Lilydale 19.16 (130) d South Croydon 6.8(44); Balwyn 12.9 (81) d Blackburn 10.16 (76); Norwood 8.17 (65) d Knox 6.10 (46); East Burwood 12.9 (81) d East Ringwood 8.16 (64); Scoresby 16.8(104) d Noble Park 11.14 (80); Vermont 24.15(159) d Croydon 10.4 (64).
Division 2: Waverley Blues 11.12 (78) d Doncaster East 11.11 (77); Donvale 11.7 (73) d Upper Ferntree Gully 9.7 (61); Mooroolbark 9.11 (65) d Montrose 5.6(36); Mulgrave 13.7 (85) d Doncaster 10.7 (67); Rowville 17.18 (120) d Bayswater 8.11 (59).
Division 3: Boronia 12.22 (94) d Whitehorse Pioneers 4.8 (32); Mitcham 13.9 (87) d Heathmont 8.14 (62); Warrandyte 17.14 (116) d Coldstream 11.13 (79); Wantirna South 19.13 (127) d Templestowe 5.9 (39); Glen Waverley Hawks 13.9 (87) d Chirnside Park 3.4 (22); North Ringwood 10.14 (74) d Ringwood 10.8 (68).
Casey Cardinia Football League:
Narre Warren 16.18(114) d Cranbourne 9.8 (62); Berwick 14.11 (95) d ROC 5.6 (36); Beaconsfield 11.10 (76) d Pakenham 3.4 (22); Tooradin-Dalmore 14.12 (96) d Doveton 14.8(92); Keysborough 19.15 (129) d Hampton Park 6.6 (42)
For full results click on Greater Dandenong Latest sport Results link at upper right.
THIS WEEK
Victorian Football League:
Casey Scorpions, bye.
TAC Cup:
Development round, next matches July 28. Dandenong Stingrays v Eastern Ranges, Shepley Oval 1pm.
Southern Football League:
Division 1: Heatherton v Mordialloc, Ross Street Reserve 2pm; Chelsea Heights v Dingley, Beazley Reserve 2.20pm; Highett v Clayton, Turner Road Reserve 2.20pm.
Division 2: East Malvern v Springvale Districts, Dunlop Reserve 2pm; Southern Dragons v South Yarra, Keeley Park 2pm; Oakleigh District v Hampton, Princes Highway Reserve 2pm.
Division 3: Endeavour Hills v Moorabbin, Barry Simon Reserve 2pm; Dandenong v Ashwood, Greaves Reserve 2pm; Hallam v Mount Waverley, Hallam Reserve 2pm; Caulfield v Doveton Eagles, Koornang Park Reserve 2pm; Sandown v Lyndale, Edinburgh Reserve 2.20pm.
Eastern Football League:
Division 1: Balwyn v South Croydon, Balwyn Park 2.10pm; East Ringwood v Blackburn, East Ringwood Reserve 2pm; Croydon v East Burwood, Hughes Park 2.10pm; Noble Park v Knox, Pat Wright Senior Oval 2.10pm; Scoresby v Lilydale, Scoresby Recreation Reserve 2.10pm; Vermont v Norwood, Vermont Recreation Reserve 2.10pm.
Division 2: Bayswater v Doncaster, Bayswater Oval 2.10pm; Upper Ferntree Gully v Mooroolbark, Kings Park 2.10pm; Montrose v Donvale, Montrose Reserve 2.10pm; Mulgrave v Doncaster East, Mulgrave Reserve 2.10pm; Rowville v Waverley Blues, Seebeck Oval 2.10pm.
Division 3: Coldstream v Whitehorse Pioneers, Coldstream Reserve 2.10pm; Ringwood v Warrandyte, Jubilee Park 2.10pm; Templestowe v North Ringwood, Templestowe Reserve 2.10pm; Boronia v Wantirna South, Tormore Reserve 2.10pm; Mitcham v Chirnside Park, Walker Park 2.10pm; Glen Waverley Hawks v Heathmont, Capital Reserve 2.30pm.
Casey Cardinia Football League:
Berwick v Beaconsfield, Edwin Flack Reserve 2.15pm; Hampton Park v Narre Warren, LS Reid Oval 2.15pm; Keysborough v Doveton, Rowley Allen Reserve 2.15pm; Pakenham v Cranbourne, Toomuc Reserve 2.15pm; Tooradin-Dalmore v ROC , Tooradin Recreation Reserve 2.15pm.
All games on Saturday unless otherwise stated.
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