MPNFL

DIVISION ONE

SORRENTO picked up a good win last weekend to finish Round 17 in fifth place, but they may need to beat the premiership favourites to secure their finals spot.

The Sharks travelled to play last-place Bonbeach on Saturday. Both sides were all square after the first term, but Sorrento soon showed their quality.

Sorrento established a ten point lead in the second term, then put the game to bed with a five-goals-to-one third quarter. Sorrento won the battle of the Sharks 8.7 (55) to 14.14 (98).

Unfortunately for Bonbeach, the loss means they cannot move off the bottom of the ladder. They have picked up just two wins this season.

The win put Sorrento into fifth place. They overtook the Frankston Bombers, who were narrowly defeated by Red Hill on Saturday.

The Hillmen took the lead in the second term, and kept the Bombers at bay for most of the day. Frankston Bombers got close in the final quarter, but Red Hill did enough to win.

Red Hill beat the Bombers 9.6 (60) to 8.7 (55). Tom Slattery, Liam Reilly, and Daniel Frampton were Red Hill’s best.

Sorrento only lead Frankston Bombers by percentage. The Sharks play ladder leaders Dromana on Saturday, and the Bombers host fourth placed Mt Eliza. The results will determine which side claims fifth place.

Mt Eliza played second-placed Frankston YCW on Saturday. The Redlegs won 12.12 (84) to 10.8 (68) to pick up some momentum heading into the final round of the season. Pines will be the final team in finals this season – the Pythons finished the weekend in third place despite losing to Dromana by 40 points.

The final game of the round saw Rosebud defeat Langwarrin comfortably 14.13 (97) to 6.7 (43).

DIVISION TWO

PEARCEDALE has pipped Edithvale-Aspendale to the post to claim a finals spot.

Edithvale-Aspendale entered the final round in fifth place with a massive percentage advantage over their fellow finals contenders. Pearcedale overtook them on Saturday afternoon after a close win against Seaford.

After a cagey opening half, Pearcedale led Seaford by four points. Pearcedale opened up a bigger lead in the third term, but Seaford hung in there. The Tigers closed the lead to nine points, but couldn’t get over the line.

Pearcedale moved into fifth spot with a 10.10 (70) to 11.13 (79) win. Luke Daniel booted four goals.

With Pearcedale moving ahead, Edi-Asp were tasked with beating ladder leaders Mornington that night to regain their finals place. Mornington and Edithvale-Aspendale played under lights at Frankston’s Kinetic Stadium.

Mornington established an early lead over Edithvale-Aspendale, and managed to hold onto it all night.

Edithvale-Aspendale worked hard to stay in contention, but the might of the Bulldogs proved too much. Mornington won 12.10 (83) to 9.9 (63). The loss doomed Edi-Asp to sixth place, and locked up top place for Mornington.

Karingal finished second – the Bulls smashed Tyabb by nearly 80 points on Saturday to end the home-and-away season on a high note – and Devon Meadows finished fourth. Somerville ended the season in third spot, doing so off the back of a mammoth 4.4 (28) to 28.38 (206) win over Rye on Saturday.

The other games of the round saw Chelsea beat Hastings by 33 points, and Tyabb beat Devon Meadows by seven.

The first round of finals begins this Saturday. Karingal plays Somerville at Chelsea Recreation Reserve in the qualifying final. It will be do-or-die for Devon Meadows and Pearcedale on Sunday afternoon. Baxter Park will host the elimination final.

First published in the Mornington News – 15 August 2023