By DAVID NAGEL
Nepean Football League
A DEPLORABLE first half of football has seen Devon Meadows hit with a 46-point reality check against top-of-the-table Rosebud at Olympic Park.
The Panthers had shown good signs in their first two outings against Pearcedale and Sorrento, but couldn’t score in the first quarter and had just two points on the board to half-time. The home side used the wide open spaces of one of the bigger grounds in the competition to run the Panthers off their legs.
The Panthers outscored the Buds, 7.2 to 6.5, after the main break… but the sting had well and truly gone out of the game.
Promising signs, on a dark day at the office, came from Glenn Michie, who kicked three second-half goals, Phil Raso and Gavin Kerr, while former Norm Walker Medallist for Tooradin, Beau Miller, worked into the game nicely after half time in his first game back since Round 7 last year.
The Panthers had no answer to the smarts of Keegan Downie and Rob Forrest, who starred for the Buds.
In other games, Luke Herrington kicked four goals in Crib Point’s 91-point victory over Tyabb, who had former Tooradin defender James Cottrell among its best.
A 4.4 to 2.2 third quarter set up Red Hill’s 16-point win over reigning-premier Sorrento at Sorrento. Jayden Pain kicked three and Paul Wintle was best on ground for the Hillmen, while Myles Pitt slotted three for the Sharks.
Second-placed Rye had to dig deep for its 22-point victory over Frankston at Greg Beck Oval. The Demons trailed by four points at the final break before a 5.5 to 1.3 fourth-quarter sealed the deal. Andrew Dean kicked four for the winners while former Hawthorn player Beau Muston slotted three for the Bombers.
Hastings remains the only unbeaten team in the competition after a hard-fought 25-point victory over Dromana at Hastings. Col McVeigh, Luke Clark, Steve Robb and Luke Hewitt all chipped in with a pair for the Blues, while Sam Fowler kicked four and Dylan and Sam Guerts were best for the Tigers.
This Saturday, Devon Meadows host Hastings while Pearcedale will be looking to back up its Anzac Day win over Somerville when it heads down to Port Phillip Bay to take on Dromana.
In other games, Crib Point host Frankston, Red Hill welcomes Tyabb, while an on-the-rebound Sorrento travels to Somerville. Rye and Rosebud have a week’s rest, having played their Round 4 encounter on Good Friday.
