In the VAFA Premier C division round 8 on Saturday, Oakleigh Amateurs hosted Monash Blues in the first local derby for the season at Scammell Reserve. With Monash coming off 6 straight wins and Oakleigh with only 3 wins from 7 the Blues were the hot favourites in this encounter, the Oaks with Gary Bennett playing his 100th Senior game however, had a different view. With a strong, gusting wind blowing across the ground, scoring was never going to be easy and the first term was testament to that with only 3 goals scored for the quarter and Oakleigh taking a 4 point advantage into the first change. It was much the same in the second with neither side able to make a break and the long break came with the Krushers lead shaved to 3 points.
The concern at this time for the Oakleigh faithful was the number of unremarkable third quarters that the team had produced in the season to date and would this day be any different. Their concerns were allayed when the Krushers began to press harder, refusing to give Monash any space to run and as the intensity increased the Blues began to wilt and Oakleighs lead increased to 12 points at the last change. The Krushers could sense a victory in the final term and kicked it up another gear and the Blues began to crack trying to stay with them and when the lead blew out to over 5 goals midway through the quarter the Oaks knew they had it and held off the Blues for a hard earned 28 point win. Trevor Bromley led the goal kicking for Oakleigh with 5, Liam Hard added 3 and Aaron Cloke kicked 2 with Pat Di Siervi, Shane Borland and Stuart Wines among Oakleigh’s best.
In the reserves game Oakleigh struggled to keep up with the visitors in the first half and looked to be heading for the receiving end of a shellacking when they fell some 8 goals behind during the third term but a gutsy fight back got the Oaks to within 31 points at the final bell. Rod Gonzalez was the Oaks top goal scorer with 3 and Josh Revere added 2. Chris Grant, Adam Mattheison and Jaryd Wines were in Oakleigh’s best.
In the curtain raiser, the U/19s Section 4 clash saw tenth placed Oakleigh take it right up to fourth placed Monash and shock the Blues by leading at every change. The Blues, however, took the Krushers to task in the last quarter keeping them goal less and running out 14 point winners. It was a disappointing finish for the young Krushers who had played so well. Alex Swan led the goal kicking with 3 and Ryan Henderson kicked 2 for Oakleigh. Nick Di Cioccio, Lucas Cloke and Chris Pearson were among Oakleighs best players.
Final Scores:
Seniors: Oakleigh 13.10.88 def Monash Blues 8.12.60
Goals: Trevor Bromley 5, Liam Hard 3, Aaron Cloke 2, Pat Di Siervi, Tim Scott
Best: Pat Di Siervi, Shane Borland, Stuart Wines, Baden Wass, Robbie Holden, Tim Scott
Reserves: Oakleigh 7.4.46 lt Monash Blues 11.11.77 Goals: Rod Gonzalez 3, Josh Revere 2, Jake Benoiton, Adam Mathiesson
Best: Chris Grant, Adam Mathiesson, Jared Wines, Rod Gonzalez, Josh Revere, Tom Nolan
U19s Oakleigh 8.13.51 lt Monash Blues 10.15.75 Goals; Alex Swan 3, Ryan Henderson 2, Lucas Cloke, Nick Di Cioccio, Nathan Fredericks
Best: Ryan Henderson, Nick Di Cioccio, Lucas Cloke, Alex Swan, Chris Pearson, Nathan Fredericks
