In what was a big day at Boss James Reserve on Saturday, it was Ormond who came out in top in the latest instalment of the big rivalry which has built up over more than 70 years.
There is something significant about ANZAC Day at the Boss every year and it was again the case on Saturday. The luncheon was attended by more than 100 guests, where the presence and life of 102-year-old Francis Nicholls was acknowledged, a service women herself in WW2, a member of the Hampton RSL and has had a grandson who played with the Rovers in the juniors. This was followed by the on-ground ANZAC ceremony, featuring a 13-year-old bugler who performed a faultless rendition of the Last Post and Reveille, against the backdrop of the gums of the Boss and absolute silence of the big crowd in attendance.
The main game was a dour even battle. You can see from the scoreboard that it was a seesawing affair and at half time, while Ormond held at 24-point advantage, nothing was settled. Everything went right for the visitors in the second term as they held a four goal lead at the main break.
Just before the three-quarter time break it was Cam Morris, to the delight of his cheer squad, popped through a goal from the 50m line to reduce the margin to seven points. But that wasn’t the real story. The Rovers looked great, continuing the form of 2022 the boys moved the ball forward with precision and accuracy but were let down time and again by some poor decision making, dropped marks and kicking for goal.
There were bright spots, Liam O’Driscoll continued on with his dominance in the ruck and another BOG performance. In fact, in the first 10 minutes of the last quarter it was his precise ruck work in the centre that enabled Hampton to jump to a 12 point lead at one point during the quarter. With the skipper in the middle at that time the drive that he and Liam gave was sensational.
The two returnees to the side this week in Cam Morris (three goals) and Josh McPherson (two goals) gave the Rovers some valuable targets up forward and while they kicked five between them it could have been double that with greater accuracy. Max Coughlin playing up the ground was prominent all day and his strong marking was a feature of his classy display.
The Rovers backs seemed to be on top of their opponents but Ormond to their credit were able to keep kicking those impossible goals. The backs were not disgraced and some of the ball movement from one end of the ground to the other was a treat.
With five minutes to go, the Rovers were seven points ahead and appeared to have the game under control. The players seemed to relax and with a simple dropped mark inside 50, a great passage of team work rewarded with a strong mark in the square was upset when we played on and the opposition pounced. Both times Ormond whipped the ball to the other end of the ground against the play and kicked easy goals. The cream for them was the goal kicked after the siren to seal a 11-point win.
The Buxton Cup was off to Ormond together with the Barnes Family Medal that went to the Ormond skipper.
A huge crowd was in attendance in the rooms after the game and for a few hours thereafter celebrating or commiserating about the one that got away. Great to see so many players from the earlier games still present and the large contingent of Ormond players and supporters.
Hampton Rovers 4.3-27 5.5-35 10.10-70 13.14-92
Ormond 2.4-16 9.5-59 12.5-77 16.7-103
Goal Kickers: C. Morris 3, J. McPherson 2, A. Folino 2, C. Carnovale 2, M. Rieniets, L. Cairns, C. Perkins, J. Gray
Best Players: L. O’Driscoll, C. Carnovale, M. Coughlin, C. Perkins, M. van der Straaten, D. Melnjak
NEXT HOME GAME LUNCHEON – MOTHERS DAY MAY 13, 2022
It is 14 years since Hampton Rovers last had a home game luncheon when the seniors were not playing at home. On May 13, the seniors have a bye due to Old Mentonians’ late departure from the competition, and consequently the club has decided that rather than miss Mothers’ Day & BCNA Pink Sports Day, we’d take the opportunity to celebrate the day with the Senior Women playing in the early game and the in-form Under 19’s kicking-off at 2pm. The club urges all parents of the Seniors, the Women and Under 19s to make the effort to book for lunch on this day and watch what should be two cracking games. Early bookings are looking good and we expect it to sell-out. Further details will be announced shortly. Bookings can be made online here.
OTHER RESULTS
ROVERS WOMEN
Hampton Rovers AFC 0.0 2.0-12 2.2-14 3.3-21
Old Camberwell Grammarians 2.2-14 3.3-21 5.4-34 5.4-34
Goal Kickers: G. Robertson 2, H. Gould
Best Players: N. Morris, M. Behnke, M. Miller, H. Lance, M. Evans, J. Hensen-Thompson
RESERVES
Hampton Rovers AFC 5.3-33 8.7-55 12.8-80 18.11-119
Ormond 1.2-8 2.3-15 4.5-29 7.8-50
Goal Kickers: C. Jones 5, J. Bowditch 2, N. Jackson 2, J. Manning 2, A. Woolston 2, A. Hug, L. Costello, H. Bottomley, J. Beames, J. Dartnell
Best Players: C. Jones, C. Carmeni, H. Crisp, L. Sharp, J. Wilson, H. Lay
UNDER 19S
Mazenod OC 1.0-6 1.5-11 2.8-20 6.11-47
Hampton Rovers 5.9-39 7.18-60 12.22-94 17.27-129
Goal Kickers: C. Kilburn 3, O. Brown 2, W. Crawford 2, J. Delaney 2, J. Grima 2, J. Smith, D. Lyon, C. McSwain, J. Keys, L. Coughlin, H. Garrow
Best Players: J. Delaney, J. Keys, K. Carrigan, C. McSwain, L. Coughlin
