Sandringham delivered a crushing blow to the Bendigo Bombers at the Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Saturday when they left the visitors floundering after producing two stunning ten-goal quarters with the aid of the strong breeze in the first and third terms respectively to set the scene for the team's second big victory on end.
Skipper Peter Summers won the toss and had no hesitation taking the northerly wind advantage and kicking to the Alf Beus Can Hill end of the ground. It took no longer than twenty seconds from the opening bounce for the decision to pay dividends when Addam Maric snapped a beautiful angle goal from 50 metres out to start proceedings. Three minutes into the game and further goals from Ezra Poyas and Nick Sautner had set the tone for the day. The Bombers steadied for a few moments with a goal of their own but the Zebra onslaught continued.
With young Jake Spencer controlling the rucks and Shane Valenti and Summers irresistible on the ball, the scoreboard ticked over at the rate of knots with goals shared among the players. Ben Holland was the perfect foil for Sautner in the forward pocket and Rod Crowe was putting in the hard work at centre half forward. Most pleasing for Zebra fans would have been the contributions of newcomers Shane Tregear and first gamer Chris Waller, a local from Beaumaris, who not only fitted nicely into the team but each scored some great goals.
Despite the Zebras losing Poyas with a leg injury by the first change, the game was effectively over as a contest as they led by 50 points and they added to Bendigo's woes by managing to bottle up the game very effectively in the second quarter when, despite kicking into the strong breeze, they managed two goals to Bendigo’s three for the term. By the main break, they held a commanding 43-point lead and had the knowledge that they had the wind advantage to come on their return to the ground.
The visitors were however, not to be deterred. They managed to boot the first two goals of the second half to draw to within 31 points but any suggestion of complacency on the part of the Zebras was snuffed out quickly. A free kick from an infringement by the Bendigo runner allowed Chris Johnson to goal and the procession began again. By three quarter time Sandringham led by 89-points as a dark gloom descended on the ground.
The Bendigo players applied themselves in the final quarter and outscored Sandy by five goals to two but it was not enough to stave off a solid 70-point victory for the Zebras by 24.15.159 to 13.11.89.
Sandringham coach Andy Lovell was happy with the way his charges have responded in the past two weeks to their narrow defeats at the hands of stand alone sides Port Melbourne and Frankston in Rounds 2 and 3.
"Last week I thought we played really well for two quarters, (today) we played really well for three. We were really team-focused and everyone played their part. In the second quarter we didn't play the conditions too well."
His team had no shortage of good players with Valenti's 15 kicks and 19 handballs for the day heralding an outstanding performance of on ball mastery.
Peter Summers (25 touches) and former skipper Chad Liddell were inspirational with their strength and hard work while Demons Matthew Bate and Adem Yze (16 kicks, 12 handballs, two marks and two goals) added a lot of bite and much skill to the team. Ben Holland and Nick Sautner finished with four goals each although Holland might have been a trifle unlucky when his shot at goal after the siren was adjudged a point.
Although it was not under a great deal of pressure this week, the defence was as usual rock solid. Stef Martin was great in the unfamiliar centre half back position and Simon Buckley (33 disposals) and Chris Johnson were irresistible as running half backs who turned defence into attack in the blink of an eye.
The Zebras have a week off as they prepare for their next assignment – a tough road trip to Point Gellibrand where their old rivals Williamstown await them.
Sandringham 10.4.64 - 12.5.77 - 22.12.144 - 24.15.159
Bendigo Bombers 2.2.14 - 5.4.34 - 8.7.55 - 13.11.89
Goals
Sandringham Holland Sautner 4 Tregear 3 Bate T Johnston Liddell Waller Yze 2 Bode Maric Poyas
Bendigo Bombers Daniher 4 Williams 2 Coghlan Crameri Dick Hartigan Holmes Johnson Skipworth
Best
Sandringham Summers Valenti Crowe C Johnson Bode Liddell
Bendigo Bombers Daniher Chartres Skipworth Hislop Atkinson Holmes
Skipper Peter Summers won the toss and had no hesitation taking the northerly wind advantage and kicking to the Alf Beus Can Hill end of the ground. It took no longer than twenty seconds from the opening bounce for the decision to pay dividends when Addam Maric snapped a beautiful angle goal from 50 metres out to start proceedings. Three minutes into the game and further goals from Ezra Poyas and Nick Sautner had set the tone for the day. The Bombers steadied for a few moments with a goal of their own but the Zebra onslaught continued.
With young Jake Spencer controlling the rucks and Shane Valenti and Summers irresistible on the ball, the scoreboard ticked over at the rate of knots with goals shared among the players. Ben Holland was the perfect foil for Sautner in the forward pocket and Rod Crowe was putting in the hard work at centre half forward. Most pleasing for Zebra fans would have been the contributions of newcomers Shane Tregear and first gamer Chris Waller, a local from Beaumaris, who not only fitted nicely into the team but each scored some great goals.
Despite the Zebras losing Poyas with a leg injury by the first change, the game was effectively over as a contest as they led by 50 points and they added to Bendigo's woes by managing to bottle up the game very effectively in the second quarter when, despite kicking into the strong breeze, they managed two goals to Bendigo’s three for the term. By the main break, they held a commanding 43-point lead and had the knowledge that they had the wind advantage to come on their return to the ground.
The visitors were however, not to be deterred. They managed to boot the first two goals of the second half to draw to within 31 points but any suggestion of complacency on the part of the Zebras was snuffed out quickly. A free kick from an infringement by the Bendigo runner allowed Chris Johnson to goal and the procession began again. By three quarter time Sandringham led by 89-points as a dark gloom descended on the ground.
The Bendigo players applied themselves in the final quarter and outscored Sandy by five goals to two but it was not enough to stave off a solid 70-point victory for the Zebras by 24.15.159 to 13.11.89.
Sandringham coach Andy Lovell was happy with the way his charges have responded in the past two weeks to their narrow defeats at the hands of stand alone sides Port Melbourne and Frankston in Rounds 2 and 3.
"Last week I thought we played really well for two quarters, (today) we played really well for three. We were really team-focused and everyone played their part. In the second quarter we didn't play the conditions too well."
His team had no shortage of good players with Valenti's 15 kicks and 19 handballs for the day heralding an outstanding performance of on ball mastery.
Peter Summers (25 touches) and former skipper Chad Liddell were inspirational with their strength and hard work while Demons Matthew Bate and Adem Yze (16 kicks, 12 handballs, two marks and two goals) added a lot of bite and much skill to the team. Ben Holland and Nick Sautner finished with four goals each although Holland might have been a trifle unlucky when his shot at goal after the siren was adjudged a point.
Although it was not under a great deal of pressure this week, the defence was as usual rock solid. Stef Martin was great in the unfamiliar centre half back position and Simon Buckley (33 disposals) and Chris Johnson were irresistible as running half backs who turned defence into attack in the blink of an eye.
The Zebras have a week off as they prepare for their next assignment – a tough road trip to Point Gellibrand where their old rivals Williamstown await them.
Sandringham 10.4.64 - 12.5.77 - 22.12.144 - 24.15.159
Bendigo Bombers 2.2.14 - 5.4.34 - 8.7.55 - 13.11.89
Goals
Sandringham Holland Sautner 4 Tregear 3 Bate T Johnston Liddell Waller Yze 2 Bode Maric Poyas
Bendigo Bombers Daniher 4 Williams 2 Coghlan Crameri Dick Hartigan Holmes Johnson Skipworth
Best
Sandringham Summers Valenti Crowe C Johnson Bode Liddell
Bendigo Bombers Daniher Chartres Skipworth Hislop Atkinson Holmes
.................................
Sandringham Reserves
The Zebra reserves crushed Bendigo Bombers to retain top spot on the VFL Reserves Ladder.
Sandringham 3.4.22 - 11.6.78 - 15.13.103 - 21.15.141
Bendigo Bombers 1.1.7 - 3.2.20 - 5.5.35 - 8.9.57
Goals
Sandringham Eaton Zomer 4 Monaghan Weetra 2 Cleeve Hardiman Lockwood Lyall McConnell McNamara Plymin Shakaib Vickers
Bendigo Bombers Ford Stroobants 2 Davies Granger Mathieson Thomson
Best
Sandringham Dean M Johnston Monaghan McConnell Plymin Lockwood
Bendigo Bombers Weeks Wanganeen Granger Ayton Ford Stroobants
Sandringham Reserves
The Zebra reserves crushed Bendigo Bombers to retain top spot on the VFL Reserves Ladder.
Sandringham 3.4.22 - 11.6.78 - 15.13.103 - 21.15.141
Bendigo Bombers 1.1.7 - 3.2.20 - 5.5.35 - 8.9.57
Goals
Sandringham Eaton Zomer 4 Monaghan Weetra 2 Cleeve Hardiman Lockwood Lyall McConnell McNamara Plymin Shakaib Vickers
Bendigo Bombers Ford Stroobants 2 Davies Granger Mathieson Thomson
Best
Sandringham Dean M Johnston Monaghan McConnell Plymin Lockwood
Bendigo Bombers Weeks Wanganeen Granger Ayton Ford Stroobants
