MPNFL: Sorrento beats Frankston Bombers in strong start to Division 1 season

Sorrento’s new four-pronged forward line could barely have been more impressive, while Red Hill and Mt Eliza scored eye-catching wins in MPNFL Division 1.

Sorrento coach Leigh Poholke kicked four goals on Saturday. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Curtis Bywater slotted five.

Leigh Poholke booted four.

And Rourke Fischer and Nick Corp kicked two apiece.

Sorrento’s new four-pronged forward line could barely have been more impressive as the Sharks powered to a 44-point win over Frankston Bombers in MPNFL Division 1 on Saturday.

Former Chelsea spearhead Bywater got hot in the second quarter of his Sorra debut, kicking three goals for the term, while former Seaford captain Fischer marked strongly and moved well in his first outing as a Shark.

Sorrento trailed by a point at quarter-time but took control with a seven-goal second term…and won 20.13 (133) to 13.11 (89).

Sorrento coach Leigh Poholke said one of the Sharks’ aims this season was to kick more goals.

“Between Rourke, Corpy, Curtis and myself we kicked 13 or 14 goals. It’s just hard to match up on four guys,’’ he said.

“We didn’t much enjoy footy last year. It wasn’t much fun kicking eight goals a game and trying to hold sides to seven.

“It’s much more fun kicking 20 goals.’’

Sorrento’s Nick Corp.

But Sorrento’s victory was soured by a hamstring injury to champion midfielder Mitch Hallahan.

“It’s just a little one, he’ll miss a week or two,’’ Poholke said.

Sorrento’s returning ruckman Jonathan Croad set the standard when he won the opening tap out and went on to play an outstanding four-quarter game.

Another of Sorrento’s recruits, former VAFA star Nick Wood, also impressed as he combined strongly with Myles Poholke in the midfield.

Shannon Gladman was also lively, capping an excellent game with two goals, while Nathan Ryan was outstanding in the backline.

Flynn Wood and Dale Sutton the Frankston Bombers’ best two players. Wood kicked three goals, as did Jarrad Grant.

Red Hill had 38 scoring shots as it thrashed Rosebud by 87 points, 14.24 (108) to 3.3 (21).

The dynamic Hillmen kept Rosebud goalless in the second and third quarters as Josh Mold, Jonah Siversen and VFL-listed Dan Frampton dominated.

Former Seaford forward Matt Ravenall provided a strong target for Red Hill, kicking 2.5.

“We are a bit of a changing side with a few senior boys moving on and a lot of youngsters played yesterday and they played really significant roles,’’ Red Hill coach Jamie Mollo said.

“That was backed up by our senior boys, such as Jonah (Siversen), Marcus (Dal Lago), Popey (Harry Wynn-Pope), Josh Mold…

“I thought the youngsters brought the pressure and that supports the way we want to play and structure.’’

Red Hill’s Josh Mold.

Mollo said Red Hill’s Tom Slattery (2 goals) in the midfield, along with Harry Sullivan and Aidan and Luke Marchesani, were outstanding.

“They set the tone with their pressure,’’ he said.

“That real sense of wanting to hunt rather than be hunted was there.’’

Debutant Tynon Bresnan, 19, also impressed in a half forward role, while champion Chris Irving led Red Hill’s scoring with three goals.

Former Frankston Dolphin Nathan Scagliarini was best-afield in Mt Eliza’s fast-finishing 16-point win over Bonbeach at Madsen Reserve.

The Redlegs trailed by 16 points at the last change but kicked five unanswered goals in the final term.

Scagliarini, Tom Kelly, Bailey Breen, Braden Nelmes, William Antonie and Jordan Rouse (3 goals) led the last-quarter surge.

Bonbeach coach Adrian Connolly was in Covid isolation and the Sharks’ coaching duties were shared by Steve Capp and Ron Verma.

It was Mt Eliza’s first win of the season, while Bonbeach is winless after two games.

“We’re not playing real well that’s for sure,’’ Connolly said.