Seniors – Win A Thriller At HQ
In a pulsating game at Elsternwick Park, University Blues overcame Old Carey by three points to consolidate a spot in the four. With only a single percent separating the two teams on the ladder, it was always going to be a hard-fought game and the players did not disappoint. The conditions were perfect for football with not a breath of wind and Old Carey got the jump on the Blues, kicking three of the first four goals. The Blues defence was under pressure until Sam Roache started asserting himself in the ruck, giving his mid-fielders first use of the ball. The Blues kicked six for the first quarter to go in with an eleven point lead. The second quarter was the Blues’ best thanks to key forward Jack Watts. The big man stood tall, taking a couple of grabs and kicking four in the quarter. The Blues doubled their lead into the main break, but the game was still very much in the balance.
The first ten minutes of the second half are always crucial and thankfully those officiating the game were less impulsive after the break. Ben McConnell was proving energetic and productive through the middle, as was Matt Kilpin (2 goals) on the wide wings of Headquarters. The Blues kicked away to a 35 point lead and looked to be in a winning position. The Panthers hit back hard during time on bring the margin back to 16 points in time for the lemon break. The final term was an amateur football classic. Players were frenetic in their efforts to win the ball, tackle and pressure. At one point four kicks in a row were smothered after a centre bounce. When players had the ball, they showed skill and guile occasionally moving the football from one end to the other without giving their opponents a chance to intercept. Old Carey managed to break through the Blues defences a couple of times to get the margin back to three points. When a Panther kicked a checkside goal from a tight angle to put Old Carey three points up, the Blues’ supporters were silent. When the Panthers kicked another to be nine points up with only minutes to play, depression was starting to sink in. Just as the Old Carey crowd were starting to crow, Sam Chadwick started finding plenty of the footy. He had a couple of touches to move the ball into attack before Pat Hayes kicked one of his two goals to reduce the margin. Moments later Andrew Lowcock kicked his fourth and the Blues were back in front. They kicked another to move out to a nine point lead before Old Carey replied. Thanks to a ruthless defensive effort, lead by Mark McLeod and Al Austin, the Blues held on to win. It was an outstanding effort from both teams. The Blues remain in fourth place on the ladder with only two games of the home and away season to play.
University Blues: 18 – 9 – 117
Old Carey: 18 – 6 – 114
Best: S.Chadwick, M.McLeod, S.Roache, M.Kilpin, J.Watts, A.Austin
Goals: J.Watts 4, A.Lowcock 4, M.Kilpin 2, P.Hayes 2, M.Steinbach 1, S.Toulmin 1, R.McMahon 1, B.McConnell 1, J.van de Pol 1, C. Shaw 1
Reserves – Do Enough To Take The Chocolates
The Mighty Uni Blues Twos travelled to Elsternwick Park to fine-tune their game plan in the run into finals. Old Carey sat third bottom and did not look capable of knocking off the top-placed Blues. But it was the Panthers who got the first couple of goals and kept the Blues to three points in the first quarter to stun the crowd. The Blues defence was under pressure from Old Carey and experienced player Jack Heinz stood firm. Along with David Withers, the key back weathered the Panther storm and went in to the quarter time break looking to fire up his team-mates. The Blues responded in the second term with some high quality football. There were no surprises as to who led the charge with Ben Millard standing up to kick a couple of goals. The Blues' runners in Tim O'Hare (2 goals) and Nick Hardie-Grant got moving, helping their team kick six goals for the quarter. At the long break, the Blues held a 14 point advantage in a surprisingly tight affair. Both sides kicked two goals in the third quarter but it was the Blues that had more of the play. A couple of bad misses kept Old Carey within striking distance. Jason Maguire was his usual ruthless self, diving in to win the hard ball and performing tackles and shepherds to aid his team. Old Carey threatened at the beginning of the final term but a couple of experienced Blues stood tall in the forward line. Dirk Heinz and Pat Smith, both freshly off the plane from extended periods abroad, took some strong marks and kicked goals. Smith finished with two for the quarter as the Blues ran out 38 point winners. The win means that the Blues have sewn up the minor premiership. But they will need to work hard to improve on this game's effort in the remaining two rounds. No doubt Coach Baumgartner will be doing his level best to have this side at its peak. Go Blues.
University Blues: 11 – 15 – 81
Old Carey: 5 – 13 – 43
Best: T.O'Hare, B.Millard, D.Withers, J.Heinz, N.Hardie-Grant, J.Maguire
Goals: B.Millard 2, P.Smith 2, T.O'Hare 2, J.Eastman 1, W.Hartnell 1, B.Laidlaw 1, J.Maguire 1, D.Heinz 1
* The Thirds won by forfeit against Werribee and the Under 19s had the bye. Go Blues.
