Karingal breaks its two-year duck, beating Langwarrin in PFNL season opener
IT’S taken nearly two years, but Karingal is finally back on the winner’s list with a thumping win over visiting Langwarrin on Saturday.
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NEARLY two years after its last victory, Karingal got back on the Peninsula league winner’s list with a thumping 19.6 (120) to 11.10 (76) win over visiting Langwarrin on Saturday.
With new coach Michael Triep calling the shots and recruit Leigh Polholke (Sorrento) booting six goals, Karingal led at every change to win its season opener at Ballam Park and claim the Shane Wells Cup.
The Bulls, who have just eight returning players from last year’s winless side, led by just a goal at quarter-time. But they booted nine goals to Langy’s two in the second quarter to take charge despite the fact that there was little wind at their backs.
“It is a great start. Everyone is up and about and very excited,’’ Triep said. “I knew we would be a very competitive team this season and was definitely confident before the game started. I just didn’t know how we would match up with the others.’’
“In the second quarter we just opened it right up. Leigh was great and (Christopher) Hay was actually better. It says he kicked three but he kicked about five to Polholke. They struggled to match up with them.’’
Triep took off several of his older players in the last quarter when the game was in the bag to rest them for the next two weeks. The Bulls have tough games with Mt Eliza and Frankston YCW ahead of them.
“We’re pretty realistic. The next two will tell us where we are at,’’ Triep said.
The Bulls welcome back two players who were injured in last week’s practice match back for Saturday’s game at Mt Eliza and will be at full strength.
Kieran Albanese booted six goals for Langwarrin and was his side’s best. Callan Dixon was Karingal’s best.
Elsewhere in the Peninsula league Mt Eliza was a 22-point winner over Pines at Eric Bell Reserve.
Mt Eliza led by just seven points at halftime and pulled away in the third quarter when it booted 5.2 to Pines’ 1.3.
Redlegs Jay Neratzoglou, Rohan Heasley, Timothy Strickland and James Clayton each booted two goals.
Aaron Edwards kicked three goals for Pines.
Reigning premier Frankston YWC smashed Seaford by 88 points at John Coburn Oval, winning 16.15 (111) to 3.5 (23).
YCW kicked six goals in the second and third quarter and kept Seaford goalless in the second and fourth terms.
YCW had 11 separate goal scorers with Scott Macleod booting three.
Mornington kicked seven goals in the second and third quarters to take a big lead and then held off a fast closing Bonbeach to win 17.11 (113) to 15.10 (100).
The Sharks were 51 points in arrears at three-quarter-time and kicked 6.3 in the last term and held the Bulldogs to just one behind.
James Cameron and Jackson Calder each booted three goals for the winners. Shane McDonald booted three goals for Bonbeach, which has dropped its first two games.
His best days are behind him, but Rye’s former Vermont champion Matt Greig will still keep Nepean league backmen busy this season.
The left-footer booted five goals in the Demons’ 26-point victory over 2015 grand finalist Somerville on Saturday.
It made for a memorable 150th senior match for skipper and key defender Adam Kirkwood. The coaches named him best-afield.
Rye’s other former Vermont star, Ryan Mullett, had his customary 40 possessions.
Demons coach Josh Moore said Greig, the son of North Melbourne’s Brownlow Medal champion Keith, had been an excellent acquisition to the club.
“He’s still a very hard match-up for the opposition,’’ he said.
“We had eight or nine goalkickers yesterday and what ‘Greigy’ does is straighten us up and take the opposition’s best backmen and release a few other players.
“He’s really good for our structure, and what he’s also brought is leadership. Since he committed to us in early January he’s not missed a training session. He’s found a new lease of life to his footy career. He’s loving his footy and that’s half the battle. With his natural talent and his passion for the game, it’s a pretty good mix.’’
As for Kirkwood, Moore declared: “He’s been super-consistent his whole career. He’s one of the best local footballers I’ve come across.’’
Young forward Brady Egan was a late inclusion to the Rye team. He phoned Moore late on Friday night saying he’d been evicted from the TV show The Recruit and wanted to play against Somie. He was called into the team on Saturday morning when Dane Thompson, hit by a bug, could get out of bed.
For Somerville, former VFL Dolphins Scott Simpson and Ben Crowe were outstanding.
Rosebud shared two points with Rye from the Good Friday clash, but took all four when it clouted Dromana by 64 points. Keegan Downie fired off five goals.
Sorrento finds itself in unfamiliar territory — in the lower rungs of the ladder — after its second loss of the season. Hastings cleared away from the Sorras in the second half to win by 33 points.
Ex-Frankston VFL player Sam Fox slotted seven goals as Frankston Bombers trounced Tyabb, and Devon Meadows had a 10-goal victory over Pearcedale, Glenn Michie booting five.
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