Rovers suffer first defeat

The Rovers lost their first game of the 2008 season on Saturday going down to Oakleigh however they still remain three games clear on top of the ladder after all Round One results were reversed.

A loss had to come at some stage and Round 10 was the day. Missing several regulars, the Rovers had a horror day posting their lowest score of the season, just 3.11 (29).

Conditions were wet at Scammell Reserve and the surface had improved dramatically since the last time the two teams met there. The Rovers just had one of those days and never looked in the game.

At the first break, the home side was up three goals to one. This was repeated in the second term and at half time it was Oakleigh by 23 points. Not a big margin by any means by more of a concern was the fact Hampton had posted just two majors.

Oakleigh again kicked three goals in the third quarter while the Rovers could only manage two behinds. The final term saw the game open up with Oakleigh kicking six goals to one with the final margin being 76 points.

The Rovers three goal kickers were Nick Greenwood, Rob Alexander and first gamer Nathan Davidson. Best players were Mark Devereaux, Tom Curry, Gary Carr, Ben Theodore, Tom McNamara and Nick Wynne.

Remarkably, the first round of the second half of the season saw all results reversed from round one, with Mazenod defeating Ormond, Rupertswood defeating Monash, Parkdale defeating Ajax and Whitefriars defeating Melbourne High, meaning the Rovers still sit three games clear on top of the C Section ladder.

Next week the Rovers face Ormond who sit in second place in what will be a huge game away at E.E. Gunn Reserve.

HAMPTON ROVERS  1.5  2.7  2.9  3.11 (29)
OAKLEIGH  3.3  6.6  9.8  15.15 (105)
Goal Kickers: N. Greenwood, R. Alexander, N. Davidson
Best Players: M. Devereaux, T. Curry, G. Carr, B. Theodore, T. McNamara, N. Wynne