Round 6 - Saturday 23 May 2009 at Boss James Reserve, Hampton.

HAMPTON ROVERS v OLD MELBURNIANS

SENIORS, by Lurch.

1^ST Quarter:             OMs                5.3.33                        HR                  1.3.9

2^nd Quarter:             OMs                7.5.47                        HR                  7.5.47

3^rd Quarter:              OMs                12.10.82                   HR                  11.8.74

Full time:                   OMs                20.13.133                 HR                  13.15.93

Goals:  Tom Paule (4), Ned Morrison (3), Will Harvey (2), Steven Greene (2), Michael Davis (2), James Beaumont (1), Tim Cudlipp (1), Jono Miller (1), Charlie Wilmoth (1), Simon Beaumont (1), Tom Seccull (1).  

Best:  Charlie Wilmoth, Steven Greene, Jono Miller, Tim Davis, Charlie Gardiner, Ned Morrison.

The Dark Blues fronted up to Boss James Reserve in Hampton, home ground of the Hampton Rovers. The Rovers had just come up from C Grade, and much of the game was reminiscent of the recent battle with Ormond, the other former C Grade side. Fortunately, this battle had a happier ending. Boss James Reserve is more of a circle than an oval, and the drought has been particularly unkind to it, rendering it a hard dustbowl. The day was warm and slightly breezy.

Hampton started the game in attack, but the OMs’ defence held firm and only conceded a point. Eventually a defensive kick found Harvey in the centre. He took a strong contested mark, kicking to James Beaumont, who also marked well before kicking it to Morrison, who goaled. Minutes later Beaumont was important again, setting up Bachet for his goal. It was the start of a trademark OMs’ first quarter blitz. Seccull took a typically strong mark, and goaled from about 50m. Greene scored his first goal. Morrison ran hard to mark, and kicked it to Paule, who sprayed his shot at goal. However, the OMs were making their own luck, and the umpire gave Paule another shot, which was true. The score was 30-1. Hampton scored its first goal, and the OMs missed a chance immediately afterwards to get it back. Paule, in a great 50-50 contest, beat his opponent to keep the loose ball inside the boundary line, ran around his opponent to get the footy, and kicked to James Beaumont, who found Morrison. Morrison’s set shot was unfortunately astray.

The second quarter was a stark contrast to the first. Hampton stepped up its intensity and the OMs did not adequately respond. Although Hampton was first into attack, the OMs’ defence stood up and repelled it, giving Simon Beaumont a strong mark. He kicked to Greene, who goaled. There followed several failed attempts by the OMs to score a goal, after which Hampton kicked four goals without response. After a complicated and chaotic lead-up, the ball ended up in the safe hands of Harvey, who kicked the OMs’ second and last goal of the quarter. Hampton responded immediately, and its next goal levelled the scores. Freezer acted with icy coolness to mark in defence and stop Hampton taking the lead. The OMs had had few opportunities inside 50m, and seemed nervous in front of goal. When the pressure was taken off, Hampton showed it was a capable and damaging side.

At halftime drastic action had to be taken. The OMs were given The Word according to Rev. Lovejoy, delivered with a spray which didst their heads anoint like holy water. The third quarter was an improvement on the second quarter, but a mere harbinger of things to come. It opened worryingly, with Hampton goaling to take the lead. The OMs then remembered Rev. Lovejoy’s words foretelling of doom from the Book of Malachi. A goal was desperately needed, so Paule came on and gave one within minutes. Hampton attacked but missed, and Captain Turner kicked out of defence to Gardiner, who gave it to Paule, who gave the OMs another goal. Gardiner was involved in the next one, coming quickly through the centre, finding James Beaumont, who goaled. Hampton had just tried and failed to score goals, and Michael Davis then marked and scored his first goal. Wilmoth goaled, and the momentum was with the OMs, who now led 80-55. However, they then fell asleep briefly, allowing Hampton’s strong forwards to mark and kick three consecutive goals. Cudlipp, whose name is Koori for “Man Who Walks on Clouds”, made a welcome return to the Seniors, and took a screamer. His accurate shot for goal was inexplicably deemed a behind, with the only possible reason being the blinding clouds of dust which were an unfortunate feature of the game. The OMs ended the quarter with a narrow eight point lead which owed a lot to Wilmoth stepping up his efforts in the centre.

The game – which at times had been hard to watch – became eye candy in the last quarter. It was initially ominous as Hampton goaled and then almost took the lead but for a bouncing shot hitting the post. Fortunately for the OMs, it was one of seven points by Hampton. Paule, who had stepped up at a critical point in the third quarter, burst loose and goaled beautifully on the run. James Beaumont missed a set shot, but his brother Simon got to the kick-out, shot out a falling handpass to Miller, and he slotted a stylish running goal from the SW pocket. The score was 95-84. Minutes later, Michael Davis marked in the same pocket. Despite the man on the mark desperately using Hampton’s natural defences – kicking up dust – Davis goaled. From the centre bounce the Man Who Walks on Clouds soon took possession and ran in through that part of the oval which will be forever Old Melburnian – the SW pocket – and rammed home a stylish goal on a tight angle. The score was 107-84. Morrison ran onto a loose ball, beating his pursuers, and goaled. Simon Beaumont took a skilful and painful mark, falling to the concrete-like surface with the tightly-held ball landing on the goal line. He goaled. Harvey crumbed from a tap down and goaled. Morrison and the Man Who Walks on Clouds teamed up to beat one opponent. Morrison ran parallel to the goal line before skilfully screwing the footy around through the big sticks. They had attacked through the OM-friendly SW pocket. Hampton scored only one other goal in the face of the OMs’ eight goal onslaught. The OMs’ superior fitness was key to their explosive final quarter.

In addition to those already mentioned amongst the best players, Tim Davis bravely  threw his light frame into the thick of the action all day, having successfully taken up Lurch’s challenge earlier this season to outshine his older brother.

It was eventually a very good win, albeit with some worrying lapses which allowed Hampton to quickly get back into the game. Although two good quarters were enough this time, a more consistent effort will be needed to win next week.

The Dark Blues remain on top of the ladder, with five wins and a loss. In second place is St. Kevin’s, also with five wins and a loss. The OMs have the best attack in the competition, whilst St. Kevin’s ranks only 8^th, with their strength being the best defensive side. The two sides meet this Saturday on St. Kevin’s home turf, Righetti Oval, in what will be a great test of the OMs. Be there to support them in their bid to remain on top of the ladder.