By Tania Martin
UPWEY-TECOMA Football Club’s seniors won bragging rights in the second annual Anzac Day clash on the weekend.
They shot to a handy two-point lead in the first five minutes of the emotional match.
Hundreds of footy fans braved freezing temperatures on Saturday afternoon for one of the few Anzac Day sanctioned matches.
Monbulk RSL sub-branch president Ted Beard led a moving service prior to the first bounce of the match.
Local youngster Lauren McAllister played the bugle while Karen Noonan led the Dandenong Ranges Sing Australia choir in the national anthem.
Despite the Tigers’ taking an early lead the Hawks clawed their way back into the competition leaving Upwey with a slim one-goal lead at quarter time.
It was only the last quarter, where Upwey booted six goals to two, which finally dashed Monbulk’s hopes.
The Van Hoorn brothers were Upwey’s best with Michael Charles and Tim Harris playing excellent around the ground. Monbulk was served well by Jared Devers, Billie Hicken and Ryan Mitchell who battled relentlessly to keep their team in touch.
But in the end, the Tigers reigned supreme for the second year in a row by an impressive 29-points
The final score line was Upwey-Tecoma 14.18.102 d Monbulk 11.7.73.
