MPNFL: Rosebud breaks through for first win of the season in Division 1

Several exciting youngsters starred as the Buds scored a vital win to boost their hopes of avoiding relegation in MPNFL Division 1.

Rosebud coach Nick Jewell singled out Buds youngster Logan Paunov for his outstanding game on Saturday. Picture: Valeriu Campan

The future is rosy at Rosebud.

The Buds snapped a 10-game losing streak on Saturday, edging Red Hill by five points in a nail-biter at Olympic Reserve.

And it was several young guns who were at the heart of the 8.4 (52) to 7.5 (47) victory.

Teenager Logan Paunov, Blake Kuipers and Brodie Winsor shone as Rosebud dug deep after Red Hill hit the front halfway through the last quarter.

“We came back with a couple of goals,’’ Rosebud coach Nick Jewell said.

“The message came down from the timekeepers box that there was about five minutes to go so we had to try and hold on.

“They were just outstanding. The leaders were terrific. Sean Downie played his best game for the year, Liam McKenna in the midfield was superb, but young Logan Paunov, he played on Jake Mitchell all day, tagged him, and we probably gave him our best on ground. He was terrific, outstanding.’’

Sean Downie

Jewell said Paunov, who is still eligible for under-19s, is “going to be a bloody good player’’.

“When he learns the game he’s going to be fantastic because he’s quick, a left footer and tackles hard,’’ he said.

Jewell also praised young Winsor for his dashing display on a wing, Matt Baker at centre half back and Tom Baker, who clunked contested marks up forward and slotted two goals.

Kuipers kicked a clutch goal from the boundary in the last quarter, capping a splendid four-quarter game.

It was a past players day at Rosebud and the rooms were packed with smiling faces after the stirring win.

“It was great for the boys to get a bit of reward,’’ Jewell said.

“Their training and everything has been terrific, they’ve been working really hard.

“It’s been a lot of grind.

“We’ve been doing it for two quarters and three quarters. We finally put it together for four quarters yesterday.’’

Rosebud is now level on points with Edi-Asp and Jewell said avoiding relegation was his side’s aim.

“We’ve got seven games left so who knows,’’ he said.

“If we keep improving at the rate we have, being able to hold on in games for longer...’’

He said key players Christopher Giampaolo, Stephen Cumming and Liam Tidd were due to return from injury “over the next week or two’’, further strengthening the side.

“We need that top end talent,’’ he said.

Rosebud hosts Bonbeach next weekend before facing Mt Eliza, Frankston YCW, Pines, Edi-Asp, Dromana and Frankston Bombers.

Bonbeach’s Owen Hulett.

In other games:

*Owen Hulett kicked a “golden point’’ with five minutes to go to help Bonbeach snatch a one-point win over Mt Eliza, 6,6 (42) to 5.11 (41). Bonbeach led for most of the game before Mt Eliza kicked the first two goals of the last quarter to surge ahead. Bonny responded, though, with goals to Shane McDonald and Calvin Lee, before Hulett’s important behind.

“It was tough and tight, with plenty of stoppages,’’ Bonbeach coach Adrian Connolly said.

“Both teams were very valiant.’’

*Frankston YCW’s midfield men Blake Mullane, Luca Goonan and Bailey Schmidt were superb as the top-of-the-ladder Stonecats led throughout to beat Dromana by 51 points, 11.13 (79) to 3.10 (28). Kev Lylak returned from injury after eight weeks, while Mackenna Hura, Josh Patullo and Brenton Lambert were also among the best players.

*Sorrento came from 26 points behind at quarter-time to beat Frankston Bombers by two points, 12.9 (81) to 11.12 (78) at Greg Beck Oval. Charlie Stokes turned in another best-on-ground display for the Sharks, while Daniel Grant, Daniel Hughes, and Rourke Fischer also impressed. Curtis Bywater was lively up forward, kicking four goals, and Myles Poholke slotted three.

*Pines improved its record to 6-5 with a hard-fought 39-point win over Edi-Asp, 14.7 (91) to 7.10 (52). The Pythons were missing several key players, including Shane Savage and Johnathan Haidon. But grand final hero Nick Boswell returned and played well.