Rovers thrash Ajax

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Hampton Rovers kicked off the 2004 VAFA season with a 54-point win over Ajax at Boss James Reserve on Saturday.

 

Rovers full forward Adam Power starred with 7 goals, but was well supported by all his team mates further up the ground.

 

In blustery weather conditions at Boss James Reserve, the Rovers captain Michael “Chief” Fletcher won the toss and kicked with the aid of a four goal wind.  Despite the advantage, the Rovers started slowly and it took until the 10 minute mark before veteran Matt “Kid” McKellar goaled.  Ben Artz and Adam Power followed up with one each.  Power then got two more – one courtesy of a blistering pass from Barker and the other when the big Rovers forward showed great agility in evading two Ajax players.  At quarter time the Rovers led 5.2.32 to 0.2.2.

 

Ajax fared no better in the second term and despite kicking against the wind, the Rovers slammed on 5 more goals to their opponents one. Power got 3 more as the ball was propelled forward with tremendous speed by Carr, Adams, Woods, Barker and others.  At half time, the Rovers had a 10 goal advantage and Ajax headed for the change rooms a disconsolate group.

 

The third quarter saw the Rovers add four more goals as they continued to dominate the centre breaks.  Two individual highlights of the quarter were the performances of Danny Hughes playing in his first game.  While Gary Carr’s 60 metre plus goal brought a huge roar from the large crowd late in the quarter.

 

Ajax came back strongly in the final quarter and used the wind well to kick six goals, but the Rovers ran out easy winners 17.14.116 to 9.8.62.  The win puts the Rovers at the top of the ladder after round 1.

 

Hampton Rovers  5.2  10.6  14.12  17.14 (116)
Ajax  0.2  1.3  3.3  9.8 (62)

Goals:  Power 7, B Artz 3, Hughes 2, Andersen 1, Carr 1, Lawrence 1, M McKellar 1, Pucella 1.
Best: Power, Carr, Artz, Hughes, Adams, Devereaux.

 

The Hampton Rovers reserves team, buoyed by the influx of more than 30 recruits in 2004, had a good win over Ajax.  While only one point separated the two teams at three quarter time, the Rovers piled on nine goals in the final quarter to triumph 15.7.97 to 5.12.42.  Best for the Rovers were Flynn, McCarthy and Terech.  While James Hanlon, one of the eight Old Haileybury footballers to join the Rovers in 2004, was also amongst the best.

 

On Saturday April 24, the Rovers take on Parkdale Vultures at the Gerry Green Reserve in Parkdale (on Nepean Hwy).

 

Click here for photos from the game.