EFL 2018: Rowville rests key players in 10-point Division 1 loss to Noble Park

NOBLE Park continued its imposing record over Rowville on Saturday with an upset 10-point victory as the Hawks prepared for an elimination final against Blackburn.

NOBLE Park continued its imposing record over Rowville on Saturday with an upset 10-point victory as the Hawks prepared for an elimination final against Blackburn.

With its finals position already secured, Rowville took the opportunity to rest captain Alex Frawley and recruits James Gwilt and Ziggy Alwyn.

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Needing its next bracket of players to step up to fill the void to keep its slim top-three hopes alive, the Hawks were dealt a 11.13 (79) to 10.9 (69) defeat.

The result extended Noble Park’s winning streak over Rowville to nine, with the Bulls having not dropped a game against their neighbouring rivals since the Hawks came up from Division 2 in 2012.

“We don’t make light of the loss but we do move on pretty quick with the fact we’re pretty well positioned,” Rowville coach John Brown said.

“As I said to the playing group, that’s why you bank early season wins so you’re not chasing them at the death.”

Skipper Alex Frawley was rested by Rowville on Saturday. Picture: James Ross.

Kicking with the advantage of a wind, Rowville held a 10-point lead at the first change before the visitors started kicking away in the second quarter.

By halftime, Noble Park had established a 17-point lead and by the final change led by 24 points.

Rowville threatened to hit the front in the last term but left its run too late.

“I thought some of our players really checked out during the second quarter,” Brown said.

“Our second quarter was really ordinary, our workrate, our defensive pressure really dropped off and it improved a little bit in the third quarter but we just weren’t using the ball as effectively as we needed to.

“The last quarter we were actually kicking into the breeze and actually outplayed them but we left our best 20 minutes of footy until the end and it wasn’t enough to get the result we needed.”

Gwilt and Alwyn are certainties to return for the Round 18 clash against East Ringwood, while Frawley could spend another week on the sidelines.

Interleague representative Lachlan McDonald has played two games back through the reserves, while recruit Matt Little is also yet to return from a broken collarbone.