2 July - Victorian Amateur Football Association

PREMIER BJonathan HibbertVARSITY ASSASSINSUni Blacks are like women. No, it’s not thecoiffed hair or the dashing social agenda, northe delightful scones they offer; this team simplyfunctions in a manner incomprehensible to mytiny brain. After being humiliated by Beaumaris,Blacks bounced back by knocking off contendersOld Ivanhoe, and then scraping over Oakleigh onthe road; and now, have beheaded the previouslyundefeated ladder leaders. With Blacks leading athalf-time, the five goal deficit spurred Caulfield’sRyan Lewis and Simon Widjaja to counter attack,while Justin Perkins steered two straight; andby the last break, the Fields were abreast by twostraight kicks. Though, storming home with thewind in the final quarter were the crafty Blacks,delivering the coup-de-grace in a coup-d’état; onballersScott Weekley and Dan Costello ferocious,Huw Lacey pronounced a saviour, with Levi Kalmsand Tugboat Howgate dependably gluing thebackline fortress together.Having pushed SKOB’s and Caulfield in recentweeks, Beaumaris made amends for their R4 lossto the Eagles, by dealing out justice, with interest.With Matt Petering and Sam McBain on target, theSharks strode ahead at the main break by just overfour goals. Though windy conditions in the thirdquarter kept play tight, Marcellin’s Trent Carlsonproviding impetus, feeding Alastair Evans whobooted seven for the day. Still five goals downand desperate for final quarter heroics, Marcellin’stentative grip on the game was permanentlyloosened, Kelvin Barnes and Anthony Carroll bothsnagging majors, as the Sharks settle into fifthposition, just above Old Ivanhoe and Oakleigh.Casting a shadow over the ladder’s midsectionare Old Brighton, hitting their straps after a fifthsuccessive victory, this time after dumping OldIvanhoe, with a majestic eight goal final term intothe coastal squall. With a strong side, including EdGreer and Brandt Harrison, and with Weatherleybagging another four; kicking with the windin the final term, the ‘Hoes looked to challengethe Tonners. But taking advantage of a brilliantmidfield, Tom Mentiplay managed to convert,returning upon his promising form early in theseason. Eliciting faithful commitment from histeammates, Ben Skinner’s attack and courageinspired and provoked, while Jimmy Davis’exploits on the wing were electric, as Brightonloped home the victors, atoning for Round 1, nowpreparing for another home game, hosting thepositively fizzing Blacks.Heartbreak last week for the Snow Dogs asOakleigh somehow managed to slide onto thevictors’ podium, after a last minute free kickand goal from fifty metres out. The game hadeverything, great marks, great bumps, great goals,and even a wayward truck wheel rolling acrossthe pitch, no doubt a rare sight at football games.Despite wayward kicking in the first quarter, StBernard’s began to make amends in the dyingstages with a three goal lead: Ryan Schroder andAlex Singleton their most laudable, as Tom Cavenin his 100 th game held Lee Barrand goalless all day.That is, until the last minute, when Barrand wasawarded a free outside the arc. Floating straight,the goal silenced the frothing St Bernard’s pavilion,as the Krushers celebrated the win, relegating theSnow Dogs to eighth, and threatening ignominy.T.H. King Oval really hasn’t stacked up this season,its chequered condition hardly desirable, lastweek resembling a cow paddock. Perhaps thisTODAYSelections in BOLDBEAUMARIS v ST BERNARDSOLD BRIGHTON v UNIVERSITY BLACKSMARCELLIN v ST KEVINSOAKLEIGH v CAULFIELD GRAMMHAMPTON ROVERS v OLD IVANHOE4 THE AMATEUR FOOTBALLER 2011SPORTS INJURY CASUALTY - 316 Malvern Road, Prahran