From Saturday’s loss to Mazenod it now appears the Rovers may again struggle in the B grade competition unless they can quickly recover several players from injury and regain the ball attacking intensity shown in their earlier two victories.
Mazenod stayed just that 2 goals ahead of the Rovers at each break and held on to run out fairly comfortable winners by 10 points. The last quarter effort by the Rovers to outscore Mazenod showed some hope for the future.
Rovers Anthony Browne again underlined his value to the team, producing a quality four quarter effort as he marked strongly all over the ground and capped off the performance with a bag of 4 goals. His determination however did not overflow to several other experienced Rovers who were not prepared to make the necessary sacrifice to gain success.
Tim Wilmott, Travis Barker and Nick Greenwood again tried their hearts out but together could not stop the opposition talls with their superior leg speed from gaining the points.
Probably the only highlight for the Rovers was the unveiling of another two promising junior players in Gravina and Burggraaff as coach Norm Goss sticks with his youth policy.
Next week the Rovers face the long haul to Bundoora to play the fast improving and equal second position Old Paradians.
Score: Mazenod 17.9.111 d Rovers 15.11.101
Goals: Power 5 Browne 4 Barker, Burggraaff, Gravina, C.McKellar, Rayson, Wilmott.
Best: Browne, Wilmott, Greenwood, Barker, Boyd, Wheeler.