Oakleigh Amateurs womens team showed the men how it’s done on Saturday with a strong win over third placed UHS/VU at Scammell Reserve in their seventh round Division 2 clash. In cool but not unpleasant conditions, the Oaks began well with 2 goals in the opening term although the visitors may well have fared better had they kicked straight going to the first change with 5 behinds on the board and trailing by 7 points. Oakleigh burst from the gates in the second term with three quick goals rocking UHS before they could blink. UHS rallied and kicked 2 goals to bring the deficit back to 13 points at the long break.

The Krushers, who lost their coach before the first bounce to a finger injury sustained during the warm-up and effectively coached themselves during the first half, were on a roll and piled on 4 goals during a huge third term and went to the last change with a  commanding 31 point lead. The Oaks went off the boil a bit in the last failing to kick a goal but did enough to keep UHS to 2 goals and the Krushers finished 20 points up at the bell. Casey Morris was dominant in front of goal for Oakleigh with 4, Stephanie Wood added 3 with Madelaine Bregazzi, Ella Madigan and Jade Farrugia among the best.

The men travelled to W.R.Ruthven Reserve to do battle with Preston and they were probably lucky the Bullants couldn’t kick straight in the first term as the game may well have been over at the first break instead of there being a 13 point difference in favour of the home side. Preston 3-7 to Oakleigh 2-0. The second term was pretty even with both sides posting 5 goals, the Oaks added 5 behinds to 3 to narrow the gap to 11 points at the long break.

Preston 8-10 Oakleigh 7-5. The third quarter proved to be Oakleighs undoing with the Bullants swarming over the Oakleigh defence to add 6-7 for the term, the Krushers could only manage 2-5 and went to the last change 37 points down. Preston 14-17 Oakleigh 9-10. A final quarter fightback by the Oaks fell short of what was hoped and Preston proved too strong on the day winning by 24 points. Aaron Cloke led the Oaks goalkicking with 5, Trevor Bromley added 3 to take his club tally to 700, and Jon Rutter along with Tim Scott added 2 each. Gary Bennett, Liam Gillard and Pat Ioannidis were among the best.

In the early game, the Oaks got jumped and were under the pump from the outset trailing by 22 points at the first break. The second term was much the same as Preston peppered the goals with inaccuracy being the only thing keeping the Oaks in it. At the long break, the Bullants had opened up a 39 point lead and things looked grim for the Krushers, however, a third quarter fightback saw the Oaks keep the Bullants goalless as they clawed their way back to within 16 points at the last break. They couldn’t maintain the momentum in the last and Preston regained their composure to run out 36 point winners. Joshe Abela booted 3 goals for Oakleigh with Dan Costigan adding 2. Dylan Ruddy, Scott Murray and Zac Thiessens were among the best.

The U/19s didn’t play after receiving a forfeit from Fitzroy.

Final Scores:

Seniors: Oakleigh 14.14.98 lt Preston 17.20.122
Goals: Aaron Cloke 5, Trevor Bromley 3, Jon Rutter 2, Tim Scott 2, Hayden Everett, Chris Pearson
Best: Trevor Bromley, Gary Bennett, Liam Gillard, Pat Ioannidis, Luke Pappon, Andrew Murray

Reserves: Oakleigh 8.9.57 lt Preston 13.15.93
Goals: Josh Abela 3, Dan Costigan 2, Chris Grant, Ryan Powell, Zac Thiessens
Best: Dylan Ruddy, Scott Murray, Zac Thiessens, Chris Grant, Joed Cook, Mark Bennett

Womens: Oakleigh 9.7.61 def UHS-VU 5.11.41
Goals: Casey Morris 4, Stephanie Wood 3, Madeline Bregazzi, Ella Madigan
Best: Casey Morris, Madeline Bregazzi, Ella Madigan, Jade Farrugia, Stephanie Wood, Jordyn Bethune

 U19s: Defeated Fitzroy on forfeit