Pythons hit back to strangle Sharks

JONTY’S JOTTINGS

Finals Week 2 Sunday
by Brendan Rhodes
Photos by Rab Siddhi, RPPFM Peninsula Photos

(please support my fundraising effort at https://beardsofhope2016.gofundraise.com.au/page/BrendanRhodes)

PINES snapped out of its late season malaise just in the nick of time to charge into the Peninsula League Preliminary Final with a convincing 33-point victory over Bonbeach in the Telstra Stores Mornington and Rosebud First Semi Final at Frankston Park on Sunday.

The Pythons had dropped four of their previous five games, including being caught like a rabbit in the headlights when poleaxed by Mt Eliza in the Qualifying Final, while Bonbeach was the form team of the competition behind Frankston YCW, having won 12 out of 15 games including a 76-point belting of Edithvale-Aspendale in the Elimination Final.

But you could have been forgiven for thinking they had swapped guernseys as Pines showed exactly why it has been camped in the top three all season.

Having not won a final since their most recent Grand Final year of 2002, the Pythons brought more than 700 games of senior experience into the team to face the Sharks in Paul Scanlon, Tim Bongetti and Luke Houldcroft.

And it gave them a whole new lease on life, led by Mornington Peninsula Brewery Man of the Match Scanlon, who would have racked up at least 15 quality possessions in the first term alone on his way to 40-plus in one of the great finals performances, despite still feeling the lingering effects of a bout of Bali Belly that saw him miss the loss to Mt Eliza.

https://www.facebook.com/RabSiddhi/videos/1097212777039351/

Patrick Jackson went along for the ride with an outstanding display of running and breaking the lines, while Guy Hendry regained top form and Aaron Edwards backed up his excellent performance from the previous week, kicking seven goals between them in the first half and eight for the game as Pines destroyed the Sharks with 11 goals to two to lead by 50 points at half-time.

Adam Marriner, Adam Maling and Rhys Chalkley were almost impassable in defence, while Beau Hendry rendered star Bonbeach big men Dylan Jones and Chris Bryan ineffective.

The dominance came despite Pines being a man down from early on, with Damien Plane forced off with concussion in the opening quarter – although he was later joined on the shelf by Bonbeach star Mark Tyrell.

Bonbeach came out rejuvenated after the half-time and banged on three goals in quick succession to raise hope as Justin Bennett led from the front to be his team’s best with three goals, while teenager wunderkind Beau Bailey stepped up, Jacob Flannery was desperate in defence and Jackson Casey tried hard in the middle.

But every time the Sharks threatened, the Pythons found an answer, with Bongetti stepping up after a quiet first half to join his big forward mates Edwards and Hendry with four majors in the second half as they held onto a 32-point lead at the final change.

Two early goals in the last term pushed the margin back out to 43 points before Bailey kicked two quick goals among a run of four to lift Bonbeach within 20 points entering time-on, and with momentum there was a glimmer of hope.

But Scanlon capped his stunning performance with a crucial steadier and Pines eased to the line to confirm its top three rating and earn a chance at redemption against Mt Eliza.

IT’S NEPEAN LEAGUE GRAND FINAL DAY FOR THE TELSTRA STORES RPPFM MATCH OF THE ROUND ON SATURDAY, WITH MINOR PREMIERS FRANKSTON BOMBERS HOPING TO COMPLETE A MEMORABLE SEASON, WHILE HASTINGS WILL BE OUT TO COMPLETE A FAIRYTALE RUN FROM THE ELIMINATION FINAL AT FRANKSTON PARK. THEN ON SUNDAY IT IS PRELIMINARY FINAL DAY FOR THE PENINSULA LEAGUE, WITH MT ELIZA GUNNING FOR ANOTHER SHOT AT THE CHAMPS, WHILE PINES WILL BE HELLBENT ON REVENGE AFTER BEING TORN APART IN THE QUALIFYING FINAL. JOIN ANDREW “TOEPUNT” KELLY, MICHAEL VOSS, BRENDAN “JONTY” RHODES, NICK JEWELL AND JOSH MOORE FOR ALL THE ACTION FROM 1.45PM ON RPPFM 98.7, RPPFM.COM.AU, THE RPPFM APP – AND KEEP AN EYE ON THE RPP FACEBOOK PAGE AS WE CONTINUE TO TRIAL LIVE STREAMING OF THE ACTION ON RPPFM – YOUR VOICE OF PENINSULA FOOTY.

PENINSULA FNL SCOREBOARD

FIRST SEMI FINAL

PINES                        4.0             11.1            14.3            18.5         113

BONBEACH             2.3              2.5              8.7             12.8           80

Goals: PINES: Aaron Edwards 4, Guy Hendry 4, Tim Bongetti 4, Shane Waterstone, Jacob Boyle, Patrick Jackson, Aaron Ludewig, Michael Bezzene, Paul Scanlon. BONBEACH: Justin Bennett 3, Luke Damon 3, Shane McDonald 2, Beau Bailey 2, Alex Trowell, Jack Williams.

Best: PINES: Paul Scanlon (Mornington Peninsula Brewery Man of the Match), Patrick Jackson, Guy Hendry, Aaron Edwards, Adam Marriner, Beau Hendry, Adam Maling, Rhys Chalkley. BONBEACH: Justin Bennett, Beau Bailey, Jacob Flannery, Jackson Casey.

RESERVES

BONBEACH             0.0              0.0              0.0             13.9           87

SEAFORD                 0.0              0.0              0.0              6.7            43

Goals: BONBEACH: D. Steed 3, J. Maxwell 3, J. Rippingale 2, C. Pendleton, M. Lacey, D. Donkin, S. Voke, S. Gales. SEAFORD: D. Lawrence 3, T. Lonie, L. Hughes, B. Duffield.

Best: BONBEACH: M. Lacey, J. Rippingale, J. Bull, C. Pendleton, R. Sykes, S. Gales. SEAFORD: J. Walton, P. Vyverberg, P. McCall, R. Harun, B. Duffield, A. Deacon.

UNDER 19

SEAFORD                 0.1              5.5              5.6            11.12          78

LANGWARRIN        5.3              5.4              7.5              7.5            47

Goals: SEAFORD: T. Tohiariki 2, B. O’Neill 2, B. Magee 2, L. Hayes, T. Robbins, J. Dickson, B. Lloyd, L. Chevalier. LANGWARRIN: T. Rogerson 3, A. Best, J. Bateman, L. Bayley, Z. Davies.

Best: SEAFORD: B. O’Neil, J. Dickson, B. McLean, R. Chisholm, T. Robbins, B. Searle. LANGWARRIN: J. Longley, J. Milward, T. Rogerson, B. Tate, R. Smyth, T. Branch.

NEPEAN LEAGUE

GRAND FINALS, SATURDAY AT FRANKSTON PARK

Seniors, 2.30pm: Frankston v Hastings

Reserves, 11.45am: Red Hill v Rosebud

Under 19, 9.20am: Sorrento v Red Hill

PENINSULA LEAGUE

PRELIMINARY FINALS, SUNDAY AT FRANKSTON PARK

Seniors, 2pm: Mt Eliza v Pines

Reserves, 11.45am: Frankston YCW v Bonbeach

Under 19, 9.30am: Frankston YCW v Seaford

GRAND FINALS, SUNDAY AT HILLCREST ROAD

A Grade, 2.30pm: Edithvale-Aspendale v Karingal

B Grade, 12.15pm: Edithvale-Aspendale v Frankston YCW

C Grade, 10.30am: Edithvale-Aspendale v Karingal

17 and Under, 9am: Edithvale-Aspendale v Karingal

  Mornington & Rosebud Telstra Stores – RPP FM Match of the Day

  Mornington Peninsula Brewery – Best on Ground

Bayside Automotive Group – Peninsula Finals Scoreboard

Bendigo Bank Community Bank Rye, Dromana and Rosebud – Nepean Finals scoreboard

   Heritage Tavern & Restaurant, Balnarring – Half Time Round-up

    Rye Hotel – sponsors of RPP FM Match of the Day