Two late goals from nowhere gave the Rovers a remarkable four-point victory over local rivals Old Haileybury at Boss James Reserve on Saturday.
Throughout the game, the margin never extended beyond 10 points and with just a few minutes remaining in the final term, the visitors held an eight point lead and looked in control. Then seemingly from nowhere, Rich Atkins who played a midfield role, took a mark 35 metres out and kicked truly.
Haileybury had a free out of the ensuing centre bounce and the ball remained in their forward fifty for what seemed an eternity. With barely half a minute remaining, the Rovers finally extracted the ball out of the opposing fifty with handballing and running the ball up the field. It ended with Nathan Smith who had run the length of the ground and he was taken high. He took his time, backed himself, and converted from 45 out to give Hampton the lead. With less than 20 seconds remaining, the Rovers did enough to hang on and claim the third win of the season.
It was cold and blustery conditions for the round 13 clash at Boss James Reserve and the Rovers were looking to defeat the Bloods for the second time after a strong victory earlier in the season. Just two changes to the side meant the Rovers had a settled line-up – the least number of changes in 2016.
It was largely a dour affair up until the final break with just eight goals in the first three quarters and 10 booted in the last. Haileybury’s accuracy on goal struggled, kicking the first four behinds on the match. Down back, Zac Donald, Josh Pavlou and Christian Carnovale were performing well and gave their opponents no easy avenue to goal. The rain belted down and there was even hail falling from above.
Eventually, it was the Rovers who kicked the opening goal of the game, through Ned Fallon, his first of four for the day. Two goals to one had the Rovers up by two points at the first break. Hampton kicked another two in the second and one in the third while the Bloods kicked one major in each term, for the Rovers to lead at every break and hold a four-point lead at three-quarter time.
The game came alive in the last with the lead changing on six occasions in all. The first major came from Leigh Fletcher in game 201, who ran onto a bouncing ball, calmly took possession and slotted it through the middle from in front of the members stand to take goal of the day honours. Haileybury kicked the next two to regain the lead for the first time since mid-way through the second. Ned Fallon responded and it was goal-for-goal until the Bloods kicked consecutive majors to give them an eight point advantage.
The visitors were finishing stronger and it appeared they would hold on to record the win, but the Rovers never gave up and found a late spark to get within a kick as Richard Atkins kicked it through the middle on the 30-minute mark, before Nath Smith had all the composure in the world to convert from 45 and win it for the Rovers as the crowd went wild.
It was a great victory and the emotion shown by the players as the final siren blew was something to saviour. The win was the first for the Rovers at Boss James Reserve in 2016 and it was music to the ears to hear the club song belted out for the first time by the seniors at the Boss this year.
Adam McNeil led the team off in his 100th VAFA game for the club. Nathan Smith was best for the Rovers and was well supported by Zach Donald who had one of his best games for the club, Roland De Biase, Ned Fallon who was the only multiple goal kicker, Sam Clements and James Prosser.
Next week, the Rovers make the short trip to face ladder-leaders Beaumaris Sharks, and will be looking for an upset victory as was the case last time the two teams met at Banksia Reserve a few years back (watch).
HAMPTON ROVERS 2.1 4.4 5.5 10.6 (66)
OLD HAILEYBURY 1.5 2.9 3.13 8.14 (62)
Goal Kickers: N. Fallon 4, L. Fletcher, A. Folino, S. Clements, N. Smith, E. Turner, R. Atkins
Best Players: N. Smith, Z. Donald, R. De Biase, N. Fallon, S. Clements, J. Prosser
In the Reserves, the Rovers held a five-point lead at the main break, but it was Haileybury who finished the game stronger, going on to reverse the result from earlier in the season and claim an 18-point victory. Jack Campion kicked three for Hampton. Vinnie Camera, Jesse Lovig and Tim Jones were best.
With so many of the U19s playing up in the seniors, it has been a difficult season for coach John Cesario. Already low on numbers going into Saturday’s clash against Ormond, the task at hand being harder with goal kicker Cam Hetherington forced out due to the flu. The Rovers started with 16 players and were reduced to 15 during the game. The scoreboard doesn’t tell the story and the boys battled hard all day and gave it their all. For that they must be commended.
The skipper, Scott Ebbot, was sensational in the midfield, had to play the full 100 minutes unchanged. Matty Rieniets, on the wing and on the ball put in a solid performance as did Andrew Woolston on the other wing.
Down back Matt Oswald was better for last week’s first game back and Corey Jones, playing on Ormond’s gun full forward clearly had the better of him on the day. They were assisted by Liam McCartney who was solid all day. Next week, the boys play Marcellin away at Bulleen at 2pm.
ROVERS AUCTION NIGHT
This Saturday night at the Boss
