Pre match drama and another Two Blues loss

THERE was pre-match drama at Toorak Park on Saturday when word had passed around several rival Penleigh Essendon Grammar School (PEGS ) players were delayed on the West Gate freeway because of a serious car accident.

Eventually all players arrived safe and sound so the Prahran v PEGS Premier C Grade game got off to a late 2.30 pm.

The hosts were first out of the blocks with a Rory Brodie kick landing in the arms of Taylor Bamford who duly slotted the first goal off the game after two minutes.

What followed for the rest of the quarter was a carbon copy of the Two Blues season.

PEGS slammed on six unanswered goals, some from improbable angles, and it was game over.

The second term was even after PEGS kicked the first goal with three goals each, Jake Stent-Powell ended the goal drought with a long shot while first season player Diezel Brousse de laborde rammed home and even longer goal in his best game for the club and then Matthew Clifford goaled from a free kick.

When Brodie marked and goaled in the opening minute of the third term the margin was back to 24 points and fleetingly it was game on again.

But again PEGS flexed their muscle and romped away with another six unanswered goals kicking to the end favoured by a northerly breeze.

In a horror patch the Two Blues coughed up four goals in six minutes as the turnovers mounted.

Trailing by 65 points a three quarter-time coach Craige Milward implored his players not to throw in the proverbial ’white towel.’

To their credit the Two Blues showed some grit with goals to Clifford, Riley Hogan and Jake Stent-Powell while holding PEGS goalless.

The bottom line, however, is the Two Blues remain winless and with four games remaining are relegation bound back to Division 1.

PRAHRAN 1-1 4-3 5-3 8-5 (53)

PEGS 6-0 9-2 15-8 15-12 (102)

Goals. Clifford, Stent-Powell 2, Brodie, Bamford, Hogan, De La Borde.

Best. Diezel Brousse de laborde, Mackenzie Mayne, Ryan Smyth, Riley Hogan, Shaun Chapman, Otto Langtry-Kierce.

RESERVES

An opening quarter 8-3 to zero blitz set up a commanding 102 point win for the Reserves.

The forward line twin targets of James Elwin (five goals) and Josh Stefanutti (four goals) feasted on the constant delivery from further afield.

The win places Prahran two points out of the four behind Ajax, with a must win game v third placed Beaumaris next Saturday.

PRAHRAN 8-3 9-6 15-11 20-16 (136)

PEGS 0-0 4-3 5-4 5-4 (34)

Goals. Elwin 5, Stefanutti 4, Hume 2, Musster, Perez, Amalfi, Woods, Alekna, Bowes, Graham, Pavlou, Edwards.

Best. Angus Perez, James Elwin, Joel Hume, Jackson Partridge, James Musster, Benjamin Oakley

 WOMENS

THIS week we played Wattle Park - our first game against this opposition. Looking at previous scores and the ladder it's hard to judge an opposition team.

In a day that we were promised rain and high winds - we thankfully enjoyed an incredibly mild day with no rain. Fresh from a two week break our team took to the field  with two new players - that made up our entire bench.

Our first quarter effort was good with our backline applying pressure that made it hard for Wattle Park to score goals. Unfortunately, the second quarter saw Wattle Park, with the aid of the breeze, peppering the goals with more luck this time and the game started to get away from us.

Half time we refocused and repositioned the team, along with wise words from Dr Kerr and the coach.

We must have said something that triggered our team to play one of our best quarters of footy for the season, almost stopping Wattle Park’s scoring altogether. Our defence was outstanding!!!!!

Unfortunately, our team’s Achilles heel continues to be our inability to score as it has been all year - Wattle Park were a well skilled team with a number of more experienced players – we incurred a couple more injuries to key players and Wattle Park ran out the game and ended up comfortably defeating us!!!!

The good news is we are continuing to get so much better - The TEAM is building on and off the footy field with every game.

Our real strength is in the bonding and friendships of our players who continually encourage each other!!!!

We look forward to playing Elsternwick this week for what should be a very competitive game.

PRAHRAN 0-0

WATTLE PARK 1-7 4-13 4-14 7-18 (60)

Best. Rebecca Rose, Milley Stonnill, Taylor Blaydon, Jessy Brown, Bridie Elith.