Parkdale Vultures proved too strong for the Hampton Rovers in their round 3 clash at Boss James Reserve on Saturday.
Parkdale kicked with a three goal breeze and started the match well by keeping the green and gold scoreless in the first quarter. At the first break the recently merged club led by fifteen points. The Rovers lifted in the second quarter with Tregear and Zampaglione the standouts for the home team. But it was a scrappy affair with the Vultures half back line continually repelling the Rovers forward advances. Goals to the Rovers’ Power, Tregear and Fletcher saw the green and gold claw back to even with the Vultures at the main break.
The third quarter belonged to Parkdale as they slammed on five goals. The signs were ominous for the Rovers until two late goals by the busy Andersen and the tall Greenwood. Despite a deficit of 23 points at the final break, the Rovers were kicking with the wind in the last, and the game was far from over.
The fourth quarter was not pretty as the two sides battled to gain the ascendancy. Parkdale maintained an attacking, hard at the ball approach – a strategy that had worked so effectively in the first three quarters of the game. More goals to Parkdale saw them run out winners 10.15.75 to the Hampton Rovers 6.8.44.
Best for the Rovers were; Andersen, Tregear, Corp, Duddy and Zampaglione.
Goalkickers were Tregear, Andersen, Parkinson, Greenwood, Fletcher and Power.
Chairman of Selectors Richard Gillan said, “We were beaten to the footy all day long. And in the end that proved the difference.”
Next week, one of the VAFAs biggest rivalries revs up again following an absence of several years as the Rovers take on fellow Bayside club Beaumaris at Oak Street. This local derby should be a beauty as there have been some epic battles between these clubs over almost a decade.
The Rovers Reserves also had their first defeat of the season when they went down by seven goals to Parkdale with the best players Christiansen, Kezilas, Cave and Lake.
While the under 19s lost to Salesian by 41 points however showed good signs kicking 17 goals including 8 to White.
