Costly Lapse Consigns Two Blues to First Season Loss
Seniors:
A costly second quarter lapse consigned Prahran Assumption to its first loss for the VAFA Division 1 season at Toorak Park on Saturday.
In a first half shoot out, winless Whitefriars held the edge at quarter-time with a 7-3 to 4-1 scoreline.
But with a stiff southerly breeze at their back the Two Blues hit back with goals to Matt Wall, Alex Simpson, and two from Jamie Robbins to take a one point lead.
But in a huge momentum shift Whitefriars steadied with four of the last five goals of the quarter to take a 16 point lead into half-time.
It proved a winning advantage as the visitors held on to win by 26 points 17-13 (115) to 13-11 (89).
Any chance the Two Blues had of a repeat of the last quarter heroics the Reserves delivered earlier in the day was ruined by inaccuracy with a 2-7 return.
One of the offenders was Robbins who missed two gettable goals but he still managed five for the day to be the best forward afield.
By contrast last week’s match winner Paddy Harris could not get into the game with Robbins and Wall the only reliable goal kickers.
While the Two Blues effort could not be faulted and at times their handball exchange was exciting to watch, the growing injury toll and list of absentees for a host of other reasons has cut deeply into their talent bank.
Too many fumbles and turnovers proved costly while Whitefriars was clearly slicker with their delivery.
Best for the home team were on baller Trent Rogers and key defender Tim Webb.
The match was preceded by an Anzac Day ceremony shown on the Toorak Park colour digital scoreboard with the ode delivered by Robert Kirkwood from Caulfield RSL.
The Two Blues venture a few kilometres down the road to Como Park to take on neighbour Old Geelong next Saturday.
PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 4-1 9-4 11-4 13-11 (89)
WHITEFRIARS 7-3 11-6 15-9 17-13 (115)
Goals: Robbins 5, Wall 3, Simpson, Ellis 2, Adams.
Best: Robbins, Rogers, Webb, Williams, Taylor, Simpson.
Reserves:
A remarkable final quarter surge saw the Two Blues Reserves continue their unbeaten start to the season.
Outplayed for three quarters, somehow the Two Blues rallied to add 5-5 to zero with Matt Sampson the hero with a career best four goals and 2011 premiership captain Leigh Northway dominant in a defence after a lengthy retirement.
PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 2-0 3-1 5-2 10-7 (67)
WHITEFRIARS 3-3 6-7 9-9 9-9 (63)
Goals: Sampson 4, Sleight 2, Montebello, Parsons, St John, Der Jeu.
Best: Northway, Forbes, Bamford, Sampson, Mason, Der Jeu.
Club XXIII:
PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 17-7 (109)
MELBOURNE HIGH SCHOOL 10-7 (67)
Goals: Berger 7, McGrath 5, Dakin 2, Morton, Chatfield, Slaven.
Best: McGrath, Berger, Chatfield, Heald, Stewart, Gouin.