Two Blues Lament One Point Loss

Seniors: 

Frustrated Prahran Assumption players, coaches and supporters were left lamenting a last minute one point defeat by Old Mentonians on Anzac Day.

In a game of wild momentum swings, the Two Blues seemed tohave finally reached safe ground when Matthew Chilton goaled to take a 12 point lead with time-on about to start.

But Old Mentonians rallied to score two quick goals and a soccered point with little more than a minute to play gave the home team the narrowest of leads.

One last desperate forward foray fizzled out and the scoreline read Prahran Assumption 19-8 (122) to Old Mentonians 19-9 (123).

Two Blues have now started the season with three losses by a combined total of just 19 points.

Sadly it continues Prahran Assumption’s struggle away from Toorak Park with a 1-11 record in the past two seasons at away venues.

This was a game the Two Blues should never have lost in many ways, yet half-way through the second quarter trailed by 20 points and were struggling to match the swift ball movement of Old Mentonians.

But six unanswered goals in eight minutes turned the game on its head.

Then the costly lapse of three successive Old Mentonians game returned the lead to the home time at half-time.

As coach Luke Egan pointed out that was the crucial stage of the game- conceding breathing space to the home team when the match was there for the taking.

Old Mentonians then kicked the first three goals of the third quarter and threatened to run away with the game yet the Two Blues slammed on another five unanswered goals.

When John Robbins, red carded in the second quarter, took a spectacular pack mark and goaled within a minute of the start of the last quarter the Two Blues extended their lead to 12 points.

But consistent with the trend of the game Old Mentonians quickly replied twice and so an arm wrestle developed.

For the Two Blues Josh Hogarth with six goals from centre half-forward was the stand out best player while Blayne Dempsey in defence made a welcome return to form.

The Two Blues now return home to Toorak Park for the first time for the season for a clash with Bulleen Templestowe who toppled ladder leader St Mary’s on Saturday.

PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 4-1 10-2 15-6 19-8 (116)

OLD MENTONIANS        5-2 10-5 14-7 19-9 (117)

Goals: J Hogarth 6, Robbins 5, Chilton, Simpson, Scicluna, Nair 2.

Best: J Hogarth, Dempsey,  Simpson, Chilton, Taylor, N Costin.

Reserves:

PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 18-19 (126)

OLD MENTONIANS 2-6 (18)

Goals: Ellis 5, Radywonik, Rice 4, Cammisotto 2, Waters, Field, Bell.

Best: Kerr, Radywonik, Waters, Cammisotto, Forbes, Ellis.

Club XIII:

PRAHRAN ASSUMPION 12-2 (74)

OLD GEELONG   8-8 (56)