The last round of the season and for the top 4 nothing could really change. The finals schedule was already set – HR v Ajax and Bentleigh v Mentone. The irony was that the last home and away game saw HR play Mentone and Bentleigh play Ajax. The only surprise was that the Bentleigh boys gave Ajax their biggest shellacking for the year. Lets just hope they don?t regroup in time for next week.
Again Quonnys instructions were to kick against the wind in the first, which we did and while down a couple of goals at quarter time we had withstood the Mentone pressure. At the half time break the scores were level as we looked forward to another hard fought second half.
With our back six again looking composed the Mentone forwards were starved of opportunities and you could see their level of frustration rising. Nick Hoban putting in one of his best games for the year was causing grief with the Mentone forwards who could handle his attack on the ball. With Rich and Britts completing the triumvirate on the last line they?re looking solid for the finals campaign. With Max and Robbie J playing hard footy through half back opportunities were opening up for our forwards. The spread of goals was wide and there was concern at one point that Mat Innes would spoil his record of scoring at least one goal in every game for the year. Keep it up for the finals!
With Gossy and Zeke on target with three goals each and Robbie J slipping in for a couple of his own they were taking advantage of the Grammar boys looseness in defence.
After the main break it was clear that when we held our opponents to two goals with the wind in the third while kicking two ourselves that the advantage of the wind in the last would be vital. Thats how it proved to be, a four goal last quarter saw us again run over the top of our opponents to score a 7 point win. Another solid game from Jack Sperring and with Tom Youl back in form it was a handy warm up for the finals to come.
A rousing rendition of the club song accompanied by Zeke being drowned in water ended a season where we certainly exceeded the expectations we had at the start of the year.
Next week it all starts again. Who would want to be in the coachs shoes in trying to fit Baxter,
Scores
HR 2.1 5.3 7.4 11.4 70
Mentone 4.4 5.5 7.8 9.9 63
Best Hoban, Sperring, Youl, Stevens, Britton, Greenway, Lewis
Goals Goss 3, Lewis 3, Johnston 2, Innes 1, Stevens 1, Youl 1
