Two Blues Hang on for Fourth Victory of Season
Seniors:
It won’t go down as the most memorable game of football, but for Prahran Assumption it will go down as four points, something that has been scarce for the Two Blues this season, as they defeated Old Mentonians by 16 points at Toorak Park on Saturday afternoon.
Much like last time, when the two sides met on Anzac Day, the conditions were wet, cold and slippery, but it was the Two Blues this time who avenged a one point loss that day to record a 10.8.68 to 8.4.52 victory.
Paul Donahoo battled manfully and was arguably Prahran’s best, whilst youngster Thomas Keaney showed promising signs playing predominantly in the ruck as he filled in the for absent Stephen Conlan. Tim Maya and Ged Hogarth both booted two goals in a tough day for forwards.
After a shaky start conceding the first three goals, the Two Blues responded with two of its own, to bring the margin back to four points at the first change. The second term was not exactly a shoot-out. A total of two goals were kicked between the two sides, as we had to wait until the eight minute mark for the first score of the quarter, a John Robbins point, and 12 and a half minutes before Old Mentonians broke through for the first major.
Harry Taylor evened up the ledger when he put through Prahran’s lone goal of the term. Taylor’s goal began a run of dominance for the Two Blues, which saw them kick seven consecutive goals between the 24 minute mark of the second quarter to the middle stages of the final term.
Prahran looked to have had the game wrapped up when Hogarth put through his second and Prahran’s seventh straight, to blow the margin out beyond five goals. Old Mentone then rattled off three consecutive goals in almost as many minutes to bring the game back to life and have all involved in the Two Blues tense up just a little bit.
In anti-climactic fashion though the final siren sounded in what felt like an extremely short quarter and cut short Old Mentonians brief stint at a comeback.
Prahran now go into its final bye of the season in a log jam with Old Mentonians and Whitefriars. The three sides all sit at four wins and eight losses, the Two Blues though have the highest percentage and sit in sixth spot, but are still three games and 12 points behind St Mary’s Salisian, who currently occupy the fourth and final spot in the finals.
Prahran will also fancy themselves in the next game after the bye, when they face the winless Yarra Valley at home on July 18.
Reserves:
In what could probably be the most unconvincing 23 goal win in recent memory, Prahran Assumption defeated Old Mentonians 26.15.171 to 4.7.31. In bizarre circumstances, a lack of players for Old Mentonians, to run out with just 14 men for the first half, before Prahran sent over two players for each of the final two quarters to soften the burden for the visitors. John Rice was the stand out for Prahran with eight goals in miserable conditions.