NEPEAN LEAGUE
THE divide between the best and worst teams in MPNFL Nepean division is widening, with a number of big blow-outs on Saturday.
Despite wet and windy conditions, the better sides in the competition still booted big scores and restricted the lesser sides to tough afternoons.
Sorrento booted 24 goals against Pearcedale, Frankston kicked 17 majors against Rye, Hastings kicked 18 goals against Crib Point and Red Hill nailed 20 goals against Tyabb. Five of the six matches were blow-outs with Devon Meadows and Somerville predictably the closest match of the round.
After just five rounds, we can draw a line through Tyabb, Crib Point, Rye and Pearcedale in 2017, while the Meadows and Somerville are just behind the top five. Sorrento, Hastings, Frankston, Red Hill and Rosebud, in no particular order, appear to be the teams most likely to play finals in 2017.
Red Hill’s clash against Hastings in Round six in two weeks, up at the hill, will determine whether the Hillmen are the real deal. On Saturday, Red Hill had 40 scoring shots to Tyabb’s eight and won 20.20 (140) to 6.2 (38).
The first half was reasonably tight, the Hillmen leading by just 26 points. However, the visitors booted seven goals in the third quarter and a further six in the last. The Hillmen also rolled-out a new player in the reserves, Shane Bloomfield, a former star forward of the Geelong FL, who dominated against the MPNFL when it last player the GFL in interleague footy a few years ago. Bloomfield kicked 1.5 in the reserves in his first game in 12 months. He is expected to play one more in the twos before joining Ben Hughes deep in the Red Hill forward line.
Hastings and Crib Point is usually a hotly contested game regardless of the where the neighbouring clubs are on the ladder – Saturday was a fizzer. The game was tight at quarter time when the Blues led by two points, however, the visitors booted 17 goals to six after the first change to win 18.17 (125) to 6.8 (44).
Jay Reynolds booted five goals and Scott Foster four majors in Frankston Bombers’ 17.19 (121) to 3.8 (26) win against Rye. The Bombers booted 9.12 to 1.3 in the first half and should have been much further in front.
Josh Francis with a couple of majors and Jarryd Amalfi dominated for the Bombers while skipper Mitch Bosward was also at his best. Adam Kirkwood and Harry Witty were the best of the Demons while Leigh Morse continues to play well for them.
Sorrento had 42 scoring shots to Pearcedale’s 11 on Saturday at Tractor Park, again highlighting the great divide between the best and the worst. The most exciting thing to happen at Pearcedale, besides Sorrento dominating the scoreboard, was Melbourne players Max Gawn and Jack Trengove sitting in the back of a ute with a dog watching their old teammates Luke Tapscott and Chris Dawes run around for the Sharks.
Somerville had 23 scoring shots to Devon Meadows’ 21 on Saturday but lost the game 6.17 (53) to 8.13 (61).
At half-time, the Eagles had booted 1.10 to the home side’s 3.7. Bad kicking is bad footy and despite the Eagles having chances to win the game, Devon Meadows won its third game on the trot.
Dromana’s woes continued, smashed by Rosebud to the tune of 56 points.
The Tigers can thank Rosebud’s inaccuracy in front of goal that it was able to lose by less than 10 goals.
The Buds led 5.11 to 3.5 at half time and by the end of the match, it was 12.20 (92) to 5.6 (36).
First published in the Mornington News – 9 May 2017
