By BEN O’BRIEN, YVMDFL Football Manager
SEVILLE knocked off coleaders South Belgrave in the Commodore Press Second Division on the weekend, and in doing so, virtually guaranteed themselves a shot at the finals.
With two rounds remaining, and the Blues two games (and considerable percentage) clear of Yarra Junction in fifth spot, Seville would need to lose both remaining games by considerable margins, and Junction win both of theirs by plenty, for the Eagles to sneak into the four an unlikely scenario.
Seville failed to kick a goal in the second and fourth quarters against the Saints, but managed to hang on and win by six points, 13.11.89 to 12.11.83. South had 10.4 on the board at the final break, but their old bogey of inaccurate kicking returned at the most inopportune time, with the Saints only managing 2.7 in the last quarter.
While the gap between second and fourth on the ladder is not great, the same cannot be said about the gap between first and third. OlindaFerny Creek hosted Powelltown, and, unfortunately for their supporters, it was the “away” Demons that turned up to play the final scoreline 26.14.170 to 8.7.55 in favour of Olinda.
Bates, Greenall and James Reid each kicked five goals in a demolition that was all over by quarter time, the Bloods having kicked 10 goals to one.
In the remaining match, Emerald overcame a sevenpoint deficit at threequarter time, and a severe case of the yips in front of goal, to edge out Yarra Glen by 11 points. Wes Wright continued his recent good form for the Bombers with a bestonground performance.
Going into the penultimate round of the season, the first week of finals looks set, with Olinda to play South Belgrave, and Powelltown to play Seville. Having said that, apparently football can be a funny game.
In the Compass Group First Division, UpweyTecoma certainly isn’t finding much amusing in footy at the moment. The Tigers have lost four in a row, which is not the best form to be carrying into finals.
While they were the underdogs in their clash against flagfavourites Monbulk, a 100point deficit at halftime would certainly not have been part of their prematch planning. An 11goal to four second half would have done little to assuage the Tiger faithful, with the final scores being 29.17.191 to 6.6.42. Tim Wragg (five goals) and Shannon Koole dominated for the Hawks, in a match that frequently resembled a training drill.
Unlikely as it seemed one month ago, Upwey could miss the finals if they don’t win one of their remaining three games they take on fifth placed Wandin this week.
Silvan confirmed they are back on track, with a determined 11point victory over form side Healesville. Moorcroft and Gasparroni were best for the Cats, but if there is such a thing as an “honourable loss”, this was it for Healesville, as they trailed by 39 points at the main break.
With Monbulk holding a twogame break over the second placed Healesville, they appear to have a lock on the double chance, when, on current form, they will face a rematch with Silvan in the first week of the finals. Woori Yallock won their second consecutive match, a victory, which sees them one game outside the five.
The Tigers also have a better percentage than fourth placed Wandin, who they defeated on Saturday by 67 points. With games against the lower placed Gembrook and Warburton in coming weeks, Woori must fancy their chances of snatching fifth place in the dying seconds of the season.
Mt Evelyn looks to finally have put the relegation bogeyman to bed, with a comprehensive 59point victory over Belgrave. Toby O’Meara kicked eight goals and Jon Dalton was best on ground for the Rovers.
The bad news for the Magpies was that bottom side WarburtonMillgrove, inspired by nine goals from Vincent Muccitelli, knocked off GembrookCockatoo by 40 points. That victory sees the Burras join Belgrave on four wins, separated by 0.36 per cent.
With both sides having tough runs home, it could be the margin of any losses suffered that decides the spoon in 2005.
Netball
IN THE Sticks Yarra Valley netball competition, Upwey won their sixth match in a row, defeating Monbulk 35 to 16 the Tigers have now beaten every team in the competition at least once.
Warburton retained their grip on top spot, defeating GembrookCockatoo 23 to 12. The odds of a BurrasTigers grand final appear to be shortening on a weekly basis.
