Hampton Rovers got their 2014 season off to the best possible start on Saturday, defeating Parkdale Vultures by 85 points at Boss James Reserve and shooting to the top of the ladder.
It was perfect conditions at the Boss to get the new season underway. Just prior to the main game, Anton Duddy unfurled the 2013 division one premiership flag in front of the many Rovers supporters, while around 80 people were in attendance at the pre-game luncheon included a strong Parkdale presence.
Some 42 inward player transfers in 2014 means numbers are as strong as ever and the club fielded four senior teams on Saturday including the Thirds now playing in the Premier C Thirds competition. They got the action underway early on with Parkdale proving too strong in the end, holding on to win by 20 points. The Reserves had a disappointing final term to go down while the U19s recorded a big victory at Melbourne High School.
In the main game at Boss James Reserve, it was difficult to predict the result going into the match with the Rovers coming up a division, Parkdale dropping a division coming down from Premier B, and both sides losing some experienced players.
The first quarter was a tight contest. At the 10 minute mark, Parkdale had kicked the only goal of the game and they had the Rovers measure. The Rovers responded and at quarter time held a four point lead. That was extended to 13 points at the main break but it would have been more if not for a double 25-metre penalty that lead to a certain goal and that momentum carried over to another major almost immediately after.
The coach praised the second efforts of Josh Pavlou, Mark Devereaux, Jay Dillon and Josh Schmitz and the great ruck work of big Jack Wilson, on loan from Sandringham Zebras. However, the game was still in the balance.
Hampton produced some of their best footy in recent memory in the third term, banging on nine unanswered goals while the visitors only managed a goal on the siren. The margin had blown out to 66 points and the result was all but sealed.
There were a couple of great efforts: Stu Burggraaff’s long raking kick for goal from the far flank and again the effort from young Ben Treager-Haig – a 150m sprint down the member’s wing only to be rewarded by another 150m sprint back again to intercept the Parkdale push forward, a tap to Pav and a pass to ET for the 6th goal for the quarter.
Danny Corp was playing out of the goal square at the David Street end in the final term and he added four to take his tally to seven for the game while Ed Turner was the other major goal kicker finishing with four of his own. It was a seven goal to four final quarter with the Rovers strolling to the final siren to record an easy first-up win of the season.
Hampton had some eight changes from the premiership winning side. With a bit of experience gone, in came some youth while we saw the return of veteran Paul Adams to the club after seven years out of the game and coach Guy Martyn who is pulling on the boots for the first time in a while this year.
The Rovers were in control all over the park with Jay Ting, Adam McNeil and first-gamer Ben Traeger-Haig amongst the best.
This Saturday, the Rovers take on second-placed Marcellin in what will be a good test against a tough opponent.
HAMPTON ROVERS 3.1 7.2 16.8 23.15 (153)
PARKDALE VULTURES 2.3 4.7 5.8 9.14 (68)
Goal Kickers: D. Corp 7, E. Turner 4, G. Martyn 2, D. Morton 2, J. Pavlou 2, S. Burggraaff 2, J. McPherson, J. Ting, K. Pinto, J. Donald
Best Players: J. Ting, A. McNeil, B. Traeger-Haig, J. Dillon, J. Schmitz, L. Fletcher
VIEW THE FULL MATCH REPLAY ON VAFATV >
Massive win by the seniors & a 67 point win by the U19s also. Thirds & Ressies went down. #gorovers
— Hampton Rovers FC (@HRAFC) April 5, 2014
The Reserves trailed the Vultures all day and while they were close at three-quarter time, the visitors stepped it up in the final term to win it by 31 points. Adam Power and Chris Long kicked two each while Mat Care, Sam Clements and Marlon Woltering were best for the Rovers.
The Thirds played their first game in the Premier C Thirds competition, moving from Club XVIII, and with improved depth from previous years, put in a good performance. However it was Parkdale who got the jump on the Rovers in the first term kicking four goals to zip, and holding on to win by 20 points. Thomas Rowse was best for the Rovers, also kicking four goals.
The Under 19’s, also with improved depth in 2014, had a great win away from home, defeating Melbourne High School Old Boys by 67 points at South Yarra. Campbell Jones kicked five goals, Jordan Baravelli four, and three each to Sam Care and Conor Clarke. Lachlan Cairns was best on ground for the Rovers. Click here to read the U19s report.
Seniors scoreworm:
