Two Blues Near Perfect Day Ends with Loss
Seniors:
A near perfect day for Prahran Assumption had a deflating finale when Glen Eira scored an exciting come-from-behind win in VAFA Division 2 on Saturday.
On a balmy autumnal evening, the occasion was all going to script for the Two Blues on the occasion of its historic first night game at Toorak Park.
The Reserves won by 107 points, an Anzac Day ceremony with the ode delivered by Prahran RSL president Rod Coote was respectfully recognised, and at half-time Prahran Assumption held a 27 point lead in a high standard game.
Coach Ash Mills warned his players Glen Eira, who won 15 games in succession last season, would come back hard, and how prophetic those words proved to be.
In a game of huge momentum swings the Two Blues run of seven unanswered goals from midway through the first quarter to late in the second quarter sparked a burst of five goals in the first 10 minutes of the third quarter from Glen Eira to take the lead.
As the dew settled in and players tired, the bigger bodies of Glen Eira proved significant and the Two Blues' swift ball movement stalled.
But the Two Blues responded with a goal to Harrison Taylor restoring the lead going into the last term.
A Taylor pass to Tom Quinn in the goal square at the four minute mark gave the a Two Blues a nine point lead and renewed hope.
But three quick goals from Glen Eira regained the lead for the visitors which they held to win 15-7 (97) to 13-8 (86).
In the end the difference between the teams was Glen Eira full-forward Ben Crowe who duly iced the game with a long goal from outside 50m.
The Two Blues' forward structure all but collapsed in the second half resulting in a miserly 3-1 return to the 9-3 from Glen Eira.
For the Two Blues 2011 premiership players Paul Donahoo and Adam Sleight wound back the clock with impressive contributions on ball.
A sour postscript to the game was the diagnosis of a serious leg injury to Two Blues ruckman Tom Keaney suffered in the first quarter.
PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 5-3 10-7 11-7 13-8 (86) v GLEN EIRA 4-3 6-4 11-4 15-7 (97).
Goals: G. Hogarth 3, J. Williams 2, H. Taylor 2, J. Hogarth, D. Freeman, J. Simonetta, T. Quinn, M. Bremner, A. Sleight
Best Players: P. Donahoo, A. Sleight, H. Taylor, T. Freeman, T. Atwell, T. Webb .
Reserves:
PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 21-8 (134) d GLEN EIRA 4-3 (27)
Goal Kickers: D. Challis 7, E. Scicluna 6, R. Garthright 6, R. Ellis 3, J. Brereton 2, W. Candy, A. Hall, E. Delahenty
Best Players: D. Challis, E. Scicluna, L. Kerr, L. Burton, W. Candy
Club XXIII:
PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 16-8 (104) d RICHMOND CENTRALS 8-7 (55)
