Chelsea and Pines in a drawn-out draw in Peninsula league nailbiter
PINES AND Chelsea fought out a draw but Pythons coach Paddy Swayn suspects the Seagulls won by a point.
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THEY’RE calling it the most bizarre finish to a Peninsula league game in memory.
A scoring error led to agony, ecstasy and in the end total confusion in the Chelsea-Pines clash on Saturday.
In a frenetic finish, Chelsea stormed home from 33 points down at three-quarter-time to hit the front by a point late in the game.
In the dying seconds, Pines surged forward. Star Python Aaron Edwards marked within range but passed off to his young teammate Reece Stewart, who was unmarked. Stewart, 25m out, took the mark and the siren sounded.
The scoreboard showed Chelsea was a point up. Under huge pressure, fourth-gamer Stewart came in for his set shot after the siren to win, but missed everything.
Chelsea players were delirious with joy and headed for the rooms to celebrate, belting out their song with gusto.
It was only then — nearly 10 minutes after the game had finished and after umpires conferred — that the score was changed to a draw: 96-96.
“It was bizarre,’’ Chelsea coach Brett Dunne said.
“The kid (Reece Stewart) has missed everything and we’re jumping out of our skin thinking we’ve won the game by a point, gone in and sung the song and then they’ve come back and said it looks like it’s a draw.
“I was about to address the players and I looked around and saw all these strange looks on the supporters’ faces and people murmuring. A couple of people nodded and said, yeah it’s a draw.
“What do you do? It’s the first time I’ve ever sung the song after a draw.’’
But in a late development, Pines coach Paddy Swayn watched the video of the game late on Saturday night and believes Chelsea may have still won by a point.
“We video it ourselves so I went home and watched it and about 11.30 last night I walked into my lounge room and said to my missus, ‘I think we got done’,’’ he said.
“I believe they’ve scored four points. We had four kick outs anyway. I don’t know if they’ve waved the flags on all four.
“I don’t know the process is or what they do but if they’ve kicked their four points in the last term they deserve the one point win and the four (premiership) points on the day.
“We probably stole two points in the first place. And we might have lost them anyway.’’
Century goal kicker Justin Van Unen made his first appearance for Mt Eliza this season in the Redlegs’ 63-point win over Karingal at Madsen Reserve.
Van Unen booted three goals before tweaking his hamstring after halftime. Redlegs forwards Tim Strickland (two goals) and Zallec White (four) led the way.
Seaford opened its winning account with a stirring seven-point win over Mornington at the Tiger Den. Former Cheltenham star Matty Andrews slotted five goals as the Tigers came from a goal behind at the last change. Mitch Finn did a mighty job in the ruck against Mornington champ Mick Gay, while Josh Stokes and Aaron Walton were also key contributors for Seaford.
The Barry cousins, Byron and Anthony, ran rampant in Frankston YCW’s thumping 107-point win over Langwarrin. The Stonecats kept Langy goalless in the first half before recording an 18.16 (124) to 2.5 (17) win at Lloyd Park. Lew Roberts (four goals) and Anthony Bruhn (three) led YC’s scoring.
In Nepean league, Hastings belted reigning premiers Rosebud by 103 points on Saturday, but it was a record 101 tackles that most pleased Blues coach Brendan Dunne.
A rampant Hastings kicked 15 goals to Rosebud’s one after quarter time to win 20.11 (131) to 3.10 (28) at Thomas Barclay Oval.
“Yesterday we had 101 tackles which I’ve never seen,’’ Dunne said.
“I do tackle stats and I’ve never had that. I’ve seen it in the 90s a couple of times but we had 101 tackles which is unbelievable. That’s a record for us.
“We’ve got KPIs we try to reach and tackling and pressure is one of them. And we’ve met our mark in both games. That’s a thing we are driving this season: our pressure and intensity at the contest.’’
Former Hampton Rovers ball magnet Mark “Cracker’’ Devereaux was named Hastings’ best, while Luke Hewitt booted four goals and Andrew Booth starred.
“We’ve got a different looking midfield this year, we are a bit inside midfield this year,’’ Dunne said.
“(Luke) Smith and Cracker and also (David) Hull is running through there and Nath Gray, they can all crack in and win contested footy.
“We’re winning the ball at the contest a bit more than we had the last couple of years.
“Cracker has been good for us. There are no frills, he just goes about his business. He’s a very good player.’’
Rosebud coach Michael Kraska said: “It was a disappointing effort from us. We went from one extreme to the other after our win against Dromana. If you don’t turn up with the right attitude you are going to get beaten.’’
Last season’s grand finalist, Somerville, banked its first win when it finished strongly to beat Frankston Bombers by 54 points. The Eagles capped the win with a seven-goal last term. Luke Rowe kicked four goals, while Ben Crowe and Tom Shaw booted three apiece.
A red-hot Ben Mitchell fired off eight goals to help Pearcedale record a rousing 38-point win over Crib Point.
Mitchell was unstoppable as the Dales won 16.16 (112) to 11.8 (74). Alex Harnett, Lachlan Marshall, Joel White and Dylan Hoare also fuelled Pearcedale’s charge.,
Red Hill made it 2-0 with a resounding 51-point win over Tyabb. Former Pearcedale defender Nick Walsh was best on ground, while Blake McCormack and Michael Dillon impressed. Red Hill coach Tony Blackford was pleased with the 13.15 (93) to 6.6 (42) win but praised Tyabb’s efforts.
“They played really well, Tyabb. You’ve got to give them credit, they did everything right except punish us on the scoreboard, really,’’ he said.
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