NEPEAN LEAGUE
Picture: Scott Memery
SOMERVILLE is no longer in the race for MPNFL Nepean Division finals after being overrun by a fast finishing Dromana on Saturday.
With both teams being locked together on 32 points on the ladder, along with Red Hill, it was always going to be near impossible for the loser of Saturday’s game to make it.
The Eagles have now fallen a game behind Dromana and Red Hill with just two games remaining.
While Somerville is out of the equation, the race is hotting up between Red Hill (fifth place) and Dromana (sixth).
There is less than one percent separating the sides on the ladder.
Dromana faces Pearcedale and Rye in the final home and away games of the season.
Red Hill finishes with Crib Point and Tyabb.
It’s all going to come down to percentage.
Red Hill was lucky to escape from Devon Meadows with a win, falling over the line by the smallest of margins, 8.15 (63) to 8.14 (62).
At half time the Hillmen led by 22 points and Devon Meadows was goalless at that point in the match.
However, with injuries to Dan McNamara (concussion), Tom McEnroe (hamstring) and ruckman Harry Wynne-Pope, the Hillmen were lacking rotations and barely hung on.
The Meadows drew level late in the last quarter and had the ball deep inside their attacking 50 metre line when the siren went, however, they never got their noses in front.
Jono Ross was superb for the Hillmen again with four goals while Jonah Siverson and Chris Irving were at their best.
Scores were level at half time between Dromana and Somerville. However, some subtle changes that saw Dromana’s Beau Cosson and Ethan Johnstone moved to half back and Rikki Johnstone forward saw the match turn.
Sam Guerts was sensational across four quarters also for the Tigers as they booted nine goals to four in the second half to win 15.11 (101) to 10.9 (69).
Andrejs Everitt made the most of his limited opportunities for Somerville with five goals.
Hastings breathed some life into the 2017 season with a hard-fought game against Sorrento.
The Blues got within two points of the Sharks in the last quarter before going down by 28 points, 13.13 (91) to 9.9 (63).
Leigh Poholke was superb for the Sharks with four goals while Max Gardner and Danny Stephenson were also outstanding.
Ricky Ferraro, on the back of being named the new Hastings coach for seasons 2018 and 2019, was Hastings’ best, along with Shaun Foster.
Pearcedale recorded a comfortable 57 point victory against Tyabb, 16.15 (111) to 8.6 (54).
Pat Heijden booted five goals for the Dales while Harry Prior dominated through the middle.
Rosebud continued its domination of the opposition with a 19.17 (131) to 3.3 (21) win against Crib Point. Keegan Downie booted six goals and Dale Stephens and Fraser Hustwaite dominated for the Buds.
In the final game, Frankston Bombers restricted Rye to just one goal in each of the first and second halves to win 19.16 (130) to 2.10 (22).
James Degenhardt booted three majors for the Bombers and proved how important he is to this team while Sam Fox and Mitch Bosward dominated at the stoppages.
Joel Wills and Harry Wilson were Rye’s best.
First published in the Mornington News – 8 August 2017
