Hampton Rovers have won back-to-back premierships, defeating Parkdale Vultures by 27 points in front of a big crowd at Trevor Barker Oval on Saturday. It was double-success for the club with the U19s also claiming the flag earlier in the day.
The Rovers went into the season-decider as favourites and were looking for their ninth-straight win, on the same ground where the club tasted premiership success 12 months ago. Saturday’s team had 10 new faces from the premiership side that defeated Ormond last year.
In sunny conditions, Hampton came out firing, kicking the first four goals of the game into the breeze within ten minutes with Jay Ting, Josh Verlin, Guy Martyn and Ed Turner getting on the board early.
With Martyn playing, Owen took on the coaching duties and at the break, reinforced the team rules that had been applied all year – win the ball inside, release our runners, fast ball movement, forward line pressure and adapt to the game.
A 19 point quarter time lead would extend to a game-high 49 points late in the second term. Corp and Martyn combined for a quality finish and the vocal Rovers crowd erupted. Mat Care followed up with one before Jack Toouli calmly slotted one from 50 out and Jay Ting laid a tackle and was rewarded with a set shot which he slotted. It was only a couple of late goals to the Vultures that brought the margin back to 38 points at the main break.
Aside from Ed Turner’s early goal and the opening eight minutes, the third term belonged to Parkdale as they dominated play kicking four goals in a 13 minute spell. That momentum continued into the last as a 25 metre penalty allowed the Vultures’ Nathan Ng to kick his only goal and reduce the margin to 11 points.
But from there it was the Rovers who controlled the remainder of the game, responding with a snap from Cam Sharp for a much need goal followed by another major from Martyn. Playing-coach Guy Martyn kicked his sixth late on, an unbelievable snap from a tight angle late on to seal the 27 point victory in a match-winning performance.
The Rovers back six were again in control for the majority of the game. Jesse Lovig was given the job on Parkdale’s captain and key forward who was best on in the Prelim, and managed to keep him right out of the game, goalless, in a repeat performance of the 2013 GF. Jay Ting was back to his very best in the middle after his recent return from injury.
By quarter-time Leigh Fletcher had dominated the clearances, collecting five from the extended reach of Charles Kelso who dominated in the ruck all day. The pace of the Rovers and their ability to find space on the newly-extended Sandringham ground was a major factor in the win.
The win was enjoyed by a large contingent of Rovers supporters amongst an impressive crowd at Trevor Barker Oval. Participants from Rovers Auskick handed out each of the player’s premiership medals while they also played during half time.
It’s the ninth senior premiership for the Hampton Rovers and the first time the club has won senior back-to-back flags since 1946 & 1947.
Coach Guy Martyn told the Rovers supporters at last year’s premiership celebrations that this team would be promoted again but he cautioned another jump into Premier section.
“The jump from D1 to C isn’t that great but from C to B is massive.”
Incredibly, after Round 6, the first third of the season, the Rovers were seventh (3-3) and the Vultures eighth (2-4) but Martyn then predicted his club would power home.
Both Martyn and Parkdale coach Sam Radford are teaches at St Bedes and while both had regularly discussed footy throughout the year, that knowledge-sharing dried up in recent weeks.
“I was disappointed though not to be given the chance to speak on the dais — I wanted to acknowledge what a job Sam has done with this team after losing so many great players (to retirement),” Martyn said.
Hampton Rovers midfielder Jay Ting was awarded the Ritterman medal for the best on the ground.
Celebrations continued well into the night at Boss James Reserve while plans are well underway for a successful season in Premier B section in 2015.
HAMPTON ROVERS 5.4 10.6 11.7 14.7 (91)
PARKDALE VULTURES 2.3 4.4 8.8 9.10 (64)
Goal Kickers: G. Martyn 6, E. Turner 2, J. Ting 2, C. Sharp, J. Verlin, J. Toouli, M. Care
Best Players: J. Lovig, G. Martyn, J. Ting, R. Atkins, D. Corp, L. Fletcher
Crowd: 3,500 at Trevor Barker Oval
Hampton Rovers 2014 Premier C premiership line up:
B: C Carnovale, R Lynch, J Schmitz
HB: R Atkins, J Lovig, A McNeil
C: N Smith, L Fletcher (C), J McPherson
HF: M Care, J Verlin, J Ting
F: G Martyn, E Turner, S Burggraaff
R: C Kelso, M Devereaux, D Corp
I: J Toouli, S Clements, C Sharp, B Traeger-Haig
Match highlights
Watch the full match replay on Rovers YouTube >
The Under 19s got the day off to the best possible start for the club, recording a big 60-point win over Ormond to claim the 2014 U19 South Premiership. Ormond had beaten the Rovers on both occasions during the season and went in as favourites however the Rovers were the form side, having won their past 11 matches.
Hampton held an eight point lead at half time but took total control of the game in the third term, kicking seven goals to one while four goals to two in the last ensured a big victory over the arch-rivals. Cam Jones and Conor Clarke both kicked four goals while Tom Fisher, Harry Hodges and Harry Hill were best for the Rovers.
After nine rounds, the Rovers were eighth on the ladder with a 3-6 record. They had nine wins to finish the season in fourth and won their three finals to cap off a remarkable season.
Read the full U19 Grand Final match report here.
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