Two Blues Late Rally in Vain
Seniors:
Not even a late last quarter burst of six unanswered goals could avert a humiliating loss for Prahran Assumption in VAFA Division 1 on Saturday.
In what could only be termed a bizarre game, fifth placed Prahran Assumption, still harbouring finals aspirations, bounced out of the blocks against ninth placed Bulleen Templestowe.
Away wins in the VAFA are like gold and the challenge for the Two Blues was to amend their abymsal 2014 of just one win, against bottom-of-the-ladder Melbourne High School Old Boys.
All season the Two Blues had struggled away from home against lowly teams.
Into time-on in the first quarter the Two Blues were coasting and on track to buck the trend, leading 3-4 while the host was scoreless .
A Bullants goal late in the quarter proved to be the prelude to a second quarter that was akin to a horror movie for Two Blues supporters.
Bulleen Templestowe rattled on 5-5 while the Two Blues stumbled, and fumbled its way through their worst quarter of football for the season with a solitary goal.
A third quarter arm wrestle ended with the Bullants 16 points in front and coach Ash Mills challenged the Two Blues to repeat their come-from-behind win at the same venue last season.
But the first 20 minutes of the quarter was all Bulleen Templestowe as they continued to drill goals from the boundary line and added four unanswered goals to take a 40 point lead and seemingly ice the game.
What followed in the final 10 minutes was barely believable.
Tom Keaney ended the Two Blues goal drought with a mark and long conversion.
Then Jamie Robbins, who had looked threatening all day, goaled.
Pat Harris marked a James Musster pass and goaled and Robbins swooped on a Tim Maya handball for another goal to make it four goals in four minutes.
Suddenly the centre clearances which had been one way traffic for two quarters were all being won by the Two Blues courtesy of Adam Sleight’s ruckwork.
Another Harris goal from a Maya mis-kick then another to Robbins meant six goals in about seven minutes and the difference was three points with about three minutes to play.
A rushed shot by Musster to take the lead narrowly missed and the siren sounded soon after to signal a four point defeat and yet another away loss for the Two Blues.
To make the pain of the defeat even worse fourth placed Old Geelong was defeated and so the Two Blues frittered away a chance to return to the four.
The Two Blues return to Toorak Park on Saturday for the daunting task of taking on unbeaten Therry Penola.
PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 3-4 4- 5-10 11-13 (79)
BULLEEN TEMPLESTOWE 1-1 6-6 8-8 12-11 (83)
Goals: Robbins 5, Harris 4, Keaney, Sleight.
Best: Kenny, Anglin, Dempsey, Field, Adams, Rogers.
Reserves:
A top two and double chance finish is within the grasp of the Two Blues Reserves aftere another comprehensive win.
The Reserves have now won their last nine games in a remarkable winning streak and a win over third placed Therry Penola at home on Saturday will all but seal a top two finish.
After 15 rounds the reserves are second two games clear of Therry Penola but are yet to play top of the ladder Williamstown CYMS.
PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 3-6 11-9 15-14 18-20 (128)
BULLEEN TEMPLESTOWE 0-0 0-0 1-1 2-1 (13)
Club XXIII:
PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 0-1 0-1 0-2 1-5 (11)
MT LILYDALE 2-5 6-8 10-12 13-13 (91)