Finally Two Blues Register First Win for 2015

Seniors:

What a difference a week makes in footy.  

After blowing a two goal lead in the dying minutes of last round’s match to slump to 0-3, Prahran Assumption has toppled Bulleen Templestowe by 53 points on Saturday afternoon to relieve some of the pressure beginning to mount on the club and record its first victory of 2015.

Returning to Toorak Park for the first time this season, Prahran Assumption could sense the enormity of this game and weren’t about to let arch rival Bulleen send them to four consecutive losses to start the year.

An eight goal final term was the catalyst for Prahran, who ran out 18.13-121 to 10.8-68 winners, giving new head coach Luke Egan his first victory in charge.

Club favourite James Musster, playing in his first game for year, did not miss a beat for the Two Blues, whilst skipper Jack Matherson was at his usual calm and composed best. 

Fellow defender Blayne Dempsey also provided good attack coming out of the backline.

Meanwhile up forward Josh Hogarth and John Robbins combined for nine goals, kicking five and four respectively.

In a fairly even first quarter, two late goals to Hogarth were the only thing separating the two sides as Prahran took a 12 point lead into the first break.

Early second quarter domination from Bulleen went reasonably unnoticed and certainly unrewarded, with the Bullants only managing to kick one goal from a host of forward thrusts.  After withstanding Bulleen's early onslaught with no major scoreboard damage the Two Blues shifted momentum back on its own side and capitalised with four straight goals to get some breathing space at half time.

A Hogarth snap goal from outside 50 and a Dempsey specky for the second week in a row were the highlights of the second term as Prahran took a 23 point lead into the main break.

It was tale of missed opportunities for either side in the third quarter.  

A total of two goals 11 (Prahran one goal seven, Bulleen one goal four) were kicked between the Bullants and Two Blues, and that’s not including a handful of shots that either failed to make the distance or were put out on the full!

The crowd had to wait until the 12 and a half minute mark for the first major to be slotted, an evasive spin move followed by a dribble goal to Bulleen’s’ Mark Coulston.

Another 13 minutes elapsed before Matt Shaw marked 40 metres out and kicked truly to secure the Two Blues first major of the quarter, 26 minutes in the making.

With its first win within sight, the Two Blues were hell bent to make sure last weeks late final quarter fade out wouldn’t be a reoccurrence, and when Robbins slotted a wonderful running goal from the boundary line early into the final term, a collective sigh of relief could be felt amongst all involved with Prahran.

Eight goals to four in the last quarter the perfect way for the Two Blues to end its losing streak and topple the arch enemy.

It was not all smiles though, with Two Blues ruckman Michael Radywonik stretchered off the ground and taken to Alfred Hospital with suspected neck and concussion issues.  Radywonik was left motionless on the ground after being involved in a heavy pack marking contest.

Prahran Assumption will now look to build on its promising form when Ormond Football Club pay a visit to Toorak Park next Saturday. Ormond are coming off a convincing 69 point thumping against St Mary’s and will be a very strong test for the Two Blues.

PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION  5-1 9-3 10-8 18-13 (121)

BULLEEN TEMPLESTOWE 3-1 5-4 6-8 10-8 (68)

Goals: J Hogarth , Robbins 4, Scicluna, Pell, Taylor, Simpson 2, Adams.

Best: N Costin, Musster, Conlan, J Hogarth, Simonetta, Robbins.

Reserves:

A special moment for all those involved with Prahran Assumption was shared prior to the start of the Reserves match, as the club raised the 2014 Premiership flag.

The Two Blues certainly look like reigning premiers, as they disposed of Bulleen 15.16-106 to 2.2-14.  The Reserves are now four and zip to start the year.

PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 15-16 (106)

BULLEEN TEMPLESTOWE 2-2 (14)

Goals: Rice 5, Cupples 3, Cammisotto, Nair, Fisher, Williams, Kerr, Forbes, Keaney, Boylan.

Best: Williams, Bremner, Rice, Fisher, Durnan, Waters.