Daniel Corp was best for the Rovers. Photo © Dave Savell
Daniel Corp kicked six as Hampton Rovers defeated Caulfield Grammarians by 24 points to record their third win of the 2015 season.
In perfect conditions at Boss James Reserve, the Rovers led all day but the visitors were always within striking distance. Mark Devereaux opened the scoring with a goal after a minute, getting the ball from a throw-in and kicking truly. Four unanswered goals – two each either side of quarter time – had the Rovers 28 points up and in full control, threatening to run away with the contest, before the visitors responded with three of their own.
Hampton were dominating the ruck with Charlie Kelso back in the line-up while the forwards were doing the job, highlighted by a best on ground performance by Danny Corp who finished with six goals.
From that point the margin remained relatively steady, 6 points at half time and 16 points at three-quarter time. It wasn’t the prettiest game of footy but the Rovers were improving as the game progressed. After kicking the last of the third term, the Rovers kicked the first four of the last including a major from Sam Bradford in the first 30 seconds.
Rovers by 16pts at 3qtr time pic.twitter.com/thhPLWnqeO
— Hampton Rovers FC (@HRAFC) May 16, 2015
The margin got out to 39 points mid-way through the final term and the contest all but over. A few goals late on brought it back to 24 points. Coach Guy Martyn was frustrated with the performance but was glad to see the boys claim a victory while not playing at their best.
After six rounds, the Rovers sit in fifth position on the VAFA Premier B ladder, with three wins and a healthy percentage of 104%. Next week, Hampton travels to the Junction Oval to face Old Melburnians, before matches against the two bottom sides Ajax and Fitzroy to round out the first half of the season.
HAMPTON ROVERS 6.2 8.6 13.10 18.10 (118)
CAULFIELD GRAMMARIANS 3.4 7.6 10.12 13.16 (94)
Goal Kickers: D. Corp 6, E. Turner 2, M. Robbins 2, S. Bradford 2, J. Ting 2, N. Fallon 2, L. Fletcher, M. Devereaux
Best Players: D. Corp, L. Fletcher, J. Ting, J. Dillon, S. Bradford, N. Fallon
VIEW: Photos | Match Replay | Highlights
The Reserves got the day off to a great start, recording their first win of the 2015 season over Caulfield. It was a low scoring affair and it was the visitors who looked most likely in the first half, leading at each break. After kicking just two goals in the first half, the Rovers slotted four in the third to claim the lead and two goals apiece in the last gave Anthony Quon his first win as coach back at the Rovers. Josh Pavlou was the only multiple goal kicker with two while Olly Jewell, Will Wright and Lachie Wheeler were best for Hampton.
The Under 19s fell to their third successive defeat after winning the first three of the season. They went down to Old Camberwell by 11 points away from home. Tom Nicholls kicked three and Cam Jones two. Corey Jones, Jack Stewart and James Benjamin were best for the Rovers. After two matches on the road, the boys play their next two at home, against St Bernards and Old Geelong.
Seniors scoreworm:
