Pembroke Old Scholars full-forward Tom Evans kicks 23 goals in a game
TOM Evans’ 23-goal game is a Pembroke Old Scholars record, but the full-forward’s return is 10 goals short of the amateur league’s all-time high.
TOM Evans’ 23 goal haul is a Pembroke Old Scholars Football Club record.
No surprises there.
But the 24-year-old full-forward’s return against the hapless Kilburn last month is 10 goals short of the amateur league’s all-time high.
That belongs to Craig Manuel, who kicked 33 goals for St Paul’s Old Scholars against Kaurna Eagles in 2007.
“It’s an honour to hold a Pembroke club record but it’s bizarre to think that someone has had another 10 goals on top of that,” Evans says.
“He mustn’t have been dishing off any handballs, that’s for sure.”
Evans booted a club record 23.5 in the Kings’ thumping 436-point victory over division three struggler Kilburn at Haslam Oval on April 26.
Going into the game, Evans had kicked five goals for the season.
The Pembroke School physical education teacher kicked six in the first quarter against the Chics, five in the second term and 12 after half-time.
“I felt that I was under a bit of pressure because everyone was telling me I might kick a few goals against Kilburn but I tried to treat it like a normal game.
“At half-time the coach (Will James) told the boys to look out for me a bit ... and we made a real effort to keep a lot of space in the forward line.
“I’ve never come close to that (23 goals) before and will find it hard to come close to that again I reckon.”
Evans – the brother of Norwood goalsneak Mark Evans – joined the Kings after graduating from Pembroke in 2007.
“I’ve always been a full-forward and quite enjoy it.”
Evans is now well on his way to topping the season best tally of 70 goals he kicked last year. He says he is more concerned with the Kings, who sit seventh with a 1-2 win-loss record. making the finals.
League delegates met last week to discuss Kilburn’s situation but last week voted against demoting Kilburn to a lower division at the club’s request.