CRIB POINT FC – By Jared Newton
MONEY can buy you good footballers, however it can’t buy you passion. Three Crib Point sides ventured down to Sorrento, three sides trailed all day, three sides pinched the lead with less than ten minutes to go, and three sides managed to hold on and win in what will go down as one of the more memorable home and away matches for the Pies in a long time. The fire and passion which has only been present in patches presented all day and the results fell the Magpies way.
The win could be the catalyst the senior side needs to get the season fired up heading into another bye.
After losing Waide Symes in the first five minutes to a knee injury, Sorrento kicked away to an early six goal lead and looked as though he result could have been another foregone conclusion 20 minutes in.
However the Pies fired back with three quick goals late in the quarter into the wind to stay in touch.
Despite playing good footy and going goal for goal most of the afternoon, neither side were able to get a run on and the lead stayed pretty static in the 15–25 point range.
At the final change the Magpies found themselves 15 points down kicking with a strong breeze and through the dominance of James Cook in the ruck won clearance after clearance, laid tackle after tackle and swamped the Sharks, pinching the lead 22 minutes into the final term to run out victors by 17 points.
It was a gutsy win, especially being down to two rotations shortly after half time. Dean Warry kicked four and gave plenty of grief to Sorrento’s defence, and Brad Davidson added three. Brad Arnold had his best game for 2015, and James Cook was a clear-cut BOG with a lone hand dominant game from the ruck.
The reserves were shown little respect in their clash and refused to go away and like the senior game swamped Sorrento late to run out winners by 20 points.
Once they got a sniff Sorrento capitulated under the relentless pressure and folded once Crib finally took the lead.
Neil Clark gave the team a massive target up forward snagging two and goal sneak Matty Blake added three. Sam Austin and Dan White gave plenty of drive from the middle with plenty of football; Quinn and Condick getting plenty of the pill in the back half.
The under 19s stamped themselves as genuine contenders for the flag with a gutsy come from behind victory over third placed Sorrento.
The boys didn’t have the kicking boots on in the windy conditions mustering 1.10 in the opening three quarters but were never out of the hunt as they scrapped their way to a 10 point win on the back of a six goal final quarter.
Jayden Deas is playing his best footy again, and Billy Heritage was best on field with two goals from the middle. The quieter Espenschied had another ripper game for the boys and has been in the best the last four games as they run to 5-1 and firmly entrench themselves as second on the ladder for now.
Not many clubs can boast they travelled to Sorrento, took home three wins in the footy and swept the netballers too. While it doesn’t quite make up for the hurt of last year’s grand final it might just be the confidence boost the Pies need to get the belief back that made them such a good side in 2014.
First published in the Western Port News – 2 June 2015
