Mounties take a bold step towards YCW with thumping win over Pines in Peninsula league qualifying final
MT ELIZA broke its finals hoodoo with a resounding 61-point win over Pines in the Peninsula league qualifying final.
Mornington
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MT ELIZA broke its finals hoodoo with a resounding 61-point win over Pines in the Peninsula league qualifying final at Frankston Park on Saturday.
Having been bundled out of their past two finals campaigns in straight sets, the Redlegs had a point to prove.
They unleashed a ruthless first half, in which they kept Pines goalless while hurrying to a 50-point lead.
The goals continued to flow in the second half, with Mt Eliza winning 18.8 (116) to 8.7 (55).
Impressive teenage Redlegs Robbie Turnbull and Jordan Capkin kicked four goals apiece, while James Anwyl, Daniel Gormley, Rohan Heasley and ruckman Matt Lillie combined beautifully.
Pines, without Tim Bongetti (ankle) and Paul Scanlon (ill), couldn’t get its running game going. Coach Paddy Swayn said: “We just didn’t use the ball well.’’
Aaron Edwards was the Pythons’ shining light, booting five goals, but he lacked support. Swayn said Bongetti and Scanlon would return to the side for this weekend’s first semi-final.
Mt Eliza, which has won eight of its past nine games, will face Frankston YCW in the second semi-final on Sunday, with the winner to go into the grand final.
On Sunday, Bonbeach ran rampant after halftime to end Edi-Asp’s season with a 76-point win in the elimination final.
After a tight first half, in which the lead changed three times, the Sharks cracked the game open with five unanswered goals in the third quarter to open up a 35-point lead.
They then piled on eight goals in the last quarter as the floodgates opened.
Bonbeach won 19.17 (131) to 8.7 (55).
Luke Damon provided a strong target up forward for Bonny, kicking four goals in the first half and then slotting the opening two goals of the third term after combining with Daniel Smith and then Shane McDonald.
When 17-year-old Tom Hogan - a rangy, athletic boy - steered through his first goal in senior footy, he was swamped by teammates and Bonbeach, out by 16 points, had momentum.
Alex Trowell kicked the next goal, followed, seconds later, by a beauty on-the-run by Justin Bennett, who gave a double fist pump to the Sharks supporters.
Suddenly Bonbeach was up by 29 points and the contest was as good as over.
At three quarter time, Bonbeach coach Steve Hughes poured praise on tough midfielder Gary Carpenter, who ignited the Sharks in that third term.
McDonald was also behind the Shark surge, shooting out handballs, dashing through the middle and generally making things happen.
Bonbeach’s big men Dylan Jones and Chris Bryan were also outstanding. Damon finished with six goals, ably supported by Owen Hulett (three).
In-form and with growing belief, Bonbeach progresses to the first semi-final in which it will face Pines. The game, which offers a ticket into the preliminary final, is on Sunday.
BEAU’S boys are off to the big dance…
Beau Muston’s Frankston Bombers are just one win away from premiership glory after dispatching Rosebud by 45 points in the Nepean league second semi-final at Rye on Saturday.
The minor premiers will take a seven-game winning streak into Saturday week’s grand final.
“We are definitely excited,’’ Muston said.
“The club hasn’t played in a grand final since 2009 when they won it so we are really looking forward to getting our preparation right over the next couple of weeks and giving ourselves the best chance to jump out of the blocks.’’
Inspired by a best-on-ground display by former St Paul’s-East Bentleigh premiership star Luke James, who booted five goals, the Bombers led throughout against Rosebud.
They led by nine points at quarter time, 21 at halftime and 25 at three quarter time. Rosebud made a late charge, kicking the first two goals of the last quarter, but the Bombers had all the answers and pulled away to win 15.12 (102) to 8.9 (57).
Rosebud coach Michael Kraska rued missed opportunities.
“It was pretty hot footy. Their pressure was really good,’’ he said.
“We had our chances to get back into the game, even halfway through the last quarter, we got within two kicks, but we let ourselves down a bit.’’
James slotted three goals before halftime to spark the Bombers, while Ryan Marks-Logan, Brian O’Carroll, Jarryd Amalfi, Sam Fox and Ryan Kitchin also did well.
For Rosebud, which now must win the preliminary final to keep their hopes of back-to-back flags alive, Ben Dwyer, Ryan Spooner and Jackson McRae were best.
“We worked hard to get the double chance and I don’t see any reason why we can’t hit back and get another crack at it at Frankston in a couple of weeks,’’ Kraska said.
So, the Frankston Bombers will finish the season where they started it – at Frankston Park. Back in March, with Brendan Fevola in the line-up, they began 2016 with a win over Pearcedale. Fev won’t be playing on Saturday week but the Bombers will look to put the cap on a fine season.
“We really like the Frankston ground,’’ Muston said.
“We were lucky enough to play on there with Brendan Fevola on Good Friday, so we feel like we play that ground really well.
“It’s nice and big and we can use our strengths on there.’’
On Sunday, Somerville’s premiership hopes evaporated as a slick Hastings scored a 28-point win in the first semi-final at Glover Reserve.
Hastings won 12.12 (84) to 7.14 (56) to book a place in the preliminary final against Rosebud.
THIS week:
Peninsula league:
Saturday, at Frankston Park: 2nd Semi-Final: Frankston YCW v Mt Eliza.
Sunday, at Frankston Park: 1st Semi-Final: Pines v Bonbeach.
Nepean league:
Saturday, at Tyabb: Preliminary Final: Rosebud v Hastings.
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