Lightning stops play as weather lashes Round 1 of Nepean league

TWO Nepean league games were called off early in the last quarter as a dramatic electrical storm hit the Mornington Peninsula on Saturday afternoon.

Former league man Andrejs Everitt booted a goal in Somerville’s 36-point win over Red Hill in Nepean league on Saturday. Picture: Brendan Francis

TWO Nepean league games were called off early in the last quarter as a dramatic electrical storm hit the Mornington Peninsula on Saturday afternoon.

Lightning forced players from the ground in several games in a spectacular opening to the 2017 season.

The Somerville-Red Hill game was stopped at the seven-minute mark of the last quarter, and the Pearcedale-Devon Meadows match was also called off as umpires deemed conditions dangerous.

There was no further play in both games.

Play was halted in the Rosebud-Sorrento game for about 15 minutes, but the game restarted.

“I thought the world was going to end,’’ quipped Pearcedale coach Leigh Stewart after the storm hit Pearcedale.

A hailstorm and then lighting lashed the Somerville ground. Red Hill coach Tony Blackford said he’d never seen anything like it.

“It’s the first time in 30 years that I’ve been involved in senior footy that we’ve had the game called off,’’ Blackford said.

Somerville and Red Hill players battle it out on Saturday. Picture: Brendan Francis

At Baxter Park, play continued between the Frankston Bombers and Dromana, despite torrential rain in the last term.

“There were a couple of bolts of lightning and it was absolutely bucketing down. I think I’ve only ever played in one other game in my career like that. It was weird,’’ Frankston Bombers coach Beau Muston said.

According to the rules, the team in front when play is halted is deemed the winner.

Somerville's Justin Allsopp capped a best-on-ground display with three goals.

Pearcedale was six points ahead of Devon Meadows at the time after Luke Murray booted a goal late in the third term.

“We were in front for only five or 10 minutes of the game and that was it,’’ Dales coach Stewart said. “You could tell as soon as it came we weren’t getting back on, it was nasty.’’

Former West Coast Eagles champ Daniel Kerr played for Pearcedale and was prominent as the Dales got on top in the third quarter.

Pearcedale forward Glenn Anderson kicked four goals in the win, and Patty Heijden three, while ex-Stingrays captain Luke Dalmau and Troy Jacobson were outstanding in the midfield.

The Frankston Bombers thrashed Dromana by 69 points, even though only one goal was scored in the last quarter.

Bombers on-baller Jason Kingsbury was best-on-ground, while Corey Micari did a terrific job in the ruck and ex-Dolphin Corey Buchan booted two goals.

Bombers coach Muston said: “I thought we played okay ... I was relatively pleased. I think Dromana will be a pretty good side this year, they seemed a lot more structured than what they were last year. I think they’ve improved. We’ve improved, too, though.’’

Ex-Carlton player Andrejs Everitt boots Somerville forward.

Somerville's Marcus Bate and Red Hill's Seamus Thomson try to win the tap out. Picture: Brendan Francis

Somerville started with a rousing win after it was 36 points in front of Red Hill when play was halted. Former Carlton player Andrejs Everitt kicked a goal but was well held in his return game for Somerville, his junior club. Young Red Hill player Jonah Siversen kept Everitt quiet. The Eagles were dominant, with Justin Allsopp (3 goals), Adrian Speedy, Steve Crowe and Billy Rolfe starring. The win was salted, though, by a serious injury to Somie ruckman Justin Farrelly (broken arm and dislocated wrist).

“They played all over us. They deserved to win,’’ Red Hill coach Blackford said.

Sorrento recruit Justin McCleary was best on ground in the Sharks’ 12.12 (84) to 75 (47) win over Rosebud. Leigh Poholke, back from Karingal, booted five goals in the win and Nick Corp three. Sorrento’s star recruit Chris Dawes was a late withdrawal from the game after tweaking his hamstring at training — he’s expected to miss another two games — while ex-Essendon star Andrew Lovett booted a goal on debut for Sorrento. Tom Stoffels was Rosebud’s best.

A red-hot Waide Symes fired off eight goals to help Crib Point to an impressive 71-point win over Tyabb. Symes was unstoppable as the Magpies ran amok, inspired by Taylor Stratton, Dean Warry, Ethan Smith and Mitch Chopping.

Hastings unfurled its premiership flag and celebrated with a comprehensive 42-point win over Rye. Former Dolphins spearhead Luke Clark kicked six goals in a best-on-ground display, while Shaun Foster (3 goals), Luke Hewitt (3), Aaron Vinson and Jake Hewitt impressed.