Oakleigh gave undefeated Mazenod some worrying moments at Central reserve on Saturday in the VAFA Premier C division seventh round. Going in rank outsiders, the Oaks weren’t expected to trouble the ladder leaders on their home turf and it seemed like it was going to be a long hard day for Oakleigh as the Nodders posted the first goal of the match in the opening ten seconds but the Krushers hit back and went goal for goal with their hosts before Mazenod put some breathing space between the teams taking a 22 point lead into quarter time. Oakleigh took the initiative in the second term with the breeze and levelled the scores before a couple of late Mazenod goals set them back a little but another surge before the half-time bell had the Krushers trailing by 5 points at the long break.
The Oaks battled hard in the third quarter but couldn’t break through a tight Mazenod defence and it was the Nodders inaccuracy that probably kept Oakleigh in the game although trailing by 29 points at the last change. The Krushers continued to fight hard but couldn’t capitalise on their many forays forward and Mazenod managed to steady to win by 33 points. Aaron Cloke led Oakleighs goal kicking with 4, Tim Doherty and Ben Still added 2 each. Gary Bennett, Chris Mercuri and Liam Gillard were some of Oakleighs best. Trevor Bromley played his 250th Senior game.
The reserves game saw Oakleigh begin well taking a 10 point lead into the first change but it was all downhill from there kicking only one goal in the next two quarters to Mazenods 9-7. The Oaks rallied a bit in the last quarter but it was a case of too little, too late and the damage had been done with Mazenod proving too strong and running out 68 point winners. Chris Grant, James Hunt and Nathan Miller each kicked 2 goals for Oakleigh with Matt Aranha, Matt Wass and Mason Ansell among the Oaks best.
Once again it was the U/19s who showed the way for Oakleigh after travelling to Thomas Carroll Reserve in Dandenong to do battle with St.Johns. The young Krushers led at every change and may well have been further in front but for the breeze playing havoc with their kicking, particularly in the first quarter. Nevertheless, the Oaks opened up a 30 point lead by the long break and weren’t seriously threatened from there winning by 4 goals. Anmol Malhotra, Lucas Cloke, Dylan Goodwill and Corey Moore kicked 2 goals each with Kevin Baras, Koby Sikorski and Ryan Powell in the best players. Oakleigh are now sitting fourth with a big game coming up next week against undefeated De La Salle at Scammell Reserve.
Final Scores:
Seniors:
Oakleigh 4.1.25 9.7.61 9.9.63 11.12.76
Mazenod 7.5.47 10.6.66 13.4.92 16.15.111
Goals: Aaron Cloke 4, Tim Doherty 2, Ben Still 2, Trevor Bromley, Dermot Cleary, Tim Scott
Best: Gary Bennett, Tim Doherty, Chris Mercuri, Liam Gillard, Dermot Cleary, Leroy Moeller
Reserves:
Oakleigh 3.3.21 3.3.21 4.3.27 7.5.47
Mazenod 1.5.11 5.10.40 10.12.72 16.14.115
Goals: Chris Grant 2, James Hunt 2, Nathan Miller 2, Jaryd Wines
Best: James Hunt, Chris Grant, Matt Aranha, Nathan Miller, Matt Wass, Mason Ansell
U19s:
Oakleigh 3.7.25 7.11.53 9.13.67 12.15.87
St Johns 2.2.14 3.5.23 6.6.42 9.9.63
Goals: Anmol Malhotra 3, Lucas Cloke 2, Dylan Goodwill 2, Corey Moore 2, Rob Smith, Ed Standish, Jamie Whelan
Best: Kevin Baras, Dylan Goodwill, Koby Sikorski, Corey Moore, Ryan Powell, Jake Ford
