Hampton Rovers suffered a disappointing loss to fourth-placed Therry Penola in a physical encounter away at JP Fawkner Reserve in Oak Park on Saturday.
The Lions are always a tough assignment at their home ground and the task was made somewhat more difficult for the Rovers with a number of key outs.
Still, the ladder-leading Rovers showed promise early on. The home side kicked the opening goal before Adam McNeil quickly responded for Hampton. It was an even contest with three goals aside in the first term and four goals to three giving the Rovers a slender one-point advantage at the main break.
While the Rovers were clinging on, it was apparent the larger-bodied Therry Penola side were controlling the contest. They had four more scoring shots on the scoreboard and without Luke Deville (injured) and Josh Pavlou (suspended) who would normally relish Saturday’s conditions and opponents, the Rovers were lacking down back.
Coach Anthony Quon said it was a tough assignment playing away to the Lions and spoke of the outs for his side,
“Unfortunately, we currently aren’t in a position to field our strongest side, however I was pleased with the effort and energy the boys displayed.”
“We just weren’t able to execute our skills when we needed to and were undersized down back with Dev and Pav not available to control the two Bannisters.”
The third term belonged to the home side as Therry went on to kick six goals to the Rovers two. While the margin was 22 points at three-quarter time and definitely gettable, it would be a tough task to run over the home side in the last.
The Rovers could never gain control in the last quarter and a few goals late to the home side gave them a 39-point victory. Jarrod Bannister was at his best with six goals for the Lions taking his season tally to 44 from seven games.
Josh Broadley continued his magnificent form for the Rovers and was named best player in the green & gold alongside a team-high three goals from Anthony Folino. The defeat drops the Rovers to second spot on the ladder behind Ormond after 12 rounds.
A much-needed week off for the boys now before returning to Boss James Reserve to host West Brunswick.
HAMPTON ROVERS 3.0 7.0 9.4 11.7 (73)
THERRY PENOLA 3.2 6.5 12.8 17.10 (112)
Goal Kickers: A. Folino 3, D. Corp 2, B. Culvenor, S. Clements, B. Kneebush, N. Jackson, A. McNeil, C. Jones
Best Players: J. Broadley, H. Crisp, A. Folino, A. McNeil, C. Tate, B. Culvenor
The Reserves got the day off to a great start and grinded out a gutsy 34-point victory over Therry Penola. Down in personnel, the Rovers led by 10 points at the main break and then had a five goal to two second half to run out comfortable winners.
Tim Jones was best for the Rovers along with veteran Lachie Wheeler and Rory Lynch. Charlie Miles contributed with three goals and first-gamer James Lopez kicked two.
A gutsy 5-goal win by the Ressies over Therry Penola. Seniors now underway, follow the live scores: https://t.co/yoYUNPwML8 pic.twitter.com/UBE4hNoRCa
— Hampton Rovers FC (@HRAFC) June 30, 2018
At Boss James Reserve, the Thirds consolidated third spot on the ladder with a 21-point victory over Kew. Matt Ryan kicked two goals while Adam Power, Ash Hoar and Harrison McIntyre were best for the Rovers.
The Under 19s made it two from two for the Rovers at the Boss on Saturday, defeating Old Mentonians by 40 points. Clarke, Woolston, Marron and Melnjak kicked two goals each with Dillon Melnjak, Max Coughlin and Tom Marron best for the Rovers.
The Seniors Women travelled to the Keysborough Playing Fields to face Old Mentonians and played better footy but went down by 12 points. Carla Hewitt was best for the Rovers and Tarryn Hurst, Caitlin McLaren and Bianca Lenarcic kicked the goals.
As always, we thank the volunteers who helped out on Saturday as without them, the games wouldn’t go ahead.
For the Seniors, Adam Schaeche did the stats, Kam Atkins the timekeeping, Lachie Wheeler ran water and Zach Donald was the Runner.
In the Reserves, thanks to Gary Nash for boundary umpiring, Allan Jones for timekeeping, Jim Westhead for goal umpiring, and Christian Harbour and Zac Donald for Runner duties.
For the U19’s, thanks to Roz Folino for Team Manager duties, Andrew Donald for timekeeping, Steven Wilson for umpire escort duty, and Lachie Reynolds for Runner duties.
