Marcellin sees off longtime rival PEGs to hold top spot on Victorian Amateur Football Association Premier C ladder

Marcellin’s grip on top spot in Premier C tightened with a win over PEGS at home on Saturday

s52wg202 VAFA (Premier C): Oakleigh v Marcellin at WA Scammell Reserve, Oakleigh. Marcellin coach Greg Fremantle.

Marcellin’s grip on top spot in Premier C tightened with a win over PEGS at home on Saturday.

Marcellin started strongly, booting four goals to one behind in the first term and, by the main break, the lead was five goals.

“We played a good first half, which pleased us greatly,” Marcellin coach Greg Fremantle said. “They were playing for their season, and I think theirs is a fierce rivalry that goes beyond C-Grade amateurs and begins when the boys enter high school in year 7.

Four goals to one in a frantic third term saw PEGS reduce the deficit to just 13 points at the final change.

PEGS continued its charge in final term and, by the 20-minute mark, the lead had evaporated and the visitors took the lead. But, Marcellin rallied with two late goals to secure the win, 10.10 (70) to 8.12 (60).

“We know that when they play their best football we can really be tested so it was great for us to dig deep and get the win,” Fremantle said. “It was a struggle all the way and our third quarter again let us down a bit, so that’s certainly something we’re trying to address.”

With two rounds remaining, Marcellin tops the ladder, one game clear of the Hampton Rovers.

Marcellin is hopeful that captain Jake Symes could return after missing the season with a finger injury.

“Coming towards finals we’d like to think we’re travelling reasonably well and I think our form backs that up,” Fremantle said. “We’ve kicked the most points for and we’ve got the second best defence, now we’re just fine tuning and working on little things like remaining consistent over four quarters.”

In other games, Old Trinity was defeated at Beaumaris 13.17 (95) to 11.12 (78) in Premier, while in Premier B Old Carey, went down at home to AJAX 12.10 (82) to 9.11 (65). In Division 1, Bulleen Templestowe was crushed by Old Mentonians 17.12 (114) to 8.17 (65), Whitefriars was beaten by Old Geelong 14.12 (96) to 9.6 (60) and the Manningham Cobras beat Point Cook, 11.7 (73) to 10.9 (69) in Division 4.