Match Report v Tigers | Country Life Round 11

17/06/2019

SANDRINGHAM    5.3        5.4         7.7         9.9     (63)
WERRIBEE              2.2        8.4         8.7         13.9   (87)

Disposals: Paton 27, Seccull 25, Hannebery 23, Coffield 21, Joyce, Rice 17.
Goals: Young 2, Answerth, Clavarino, Fox, Haidon, Hille, King, Rice.

After a week for the boys (and the fans) to rest up, Sandringham footy was back at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval as the the Zebras faced sixth-placed Werribee in #Sockit2MND round.

The boys looked to have rested up well, coming out firing and kicking the first two goals of the game through Robbie Young and Sam Fox.

Sandringham were well in control in the first term, maintaining possession of the footy and capitalising on 'the switch', which proved effective and added another three more goals (Answerth, King & Haidon) to end the quarter.

However, there were a few concerns for the Saints equal-leading goalkicker, King, after landing awkwardly in a marking contest as he needed to be aided to the bench by trainers. Not to return to the game, King was sent off to get scans and was cleared of any serious injury.

Werribee opened the second term with a dramatic change of intensity, holding the Zebras goalless and kicking six goals of their own to take an 18-point lead into the main break.

The visiting side were able to bring the pressure and it eventuated in Sandringham turning the ball over with both hands and feet, and not reacting quick enough to intercepts in dangerous positions. Long kicks were a staple for the Zebras, but without King, Sandringham relied on Jack Mayo and Kai Owens for marking targets.

After the extended break, Young got things going and found a way to end our scoring drought by kicking his second for the day.

This quarter saw the Zebras set up well defensively, especially across the centre as they disallowed Werribee to get it out easily. Darragh Joyce was marking strongly, as were the trio of Nick Coffield, Oscar Clavarino and Jake Carlisle.

Saints defender Carlisle was a new addition to Sandringham’s backline as he recovers from a back injury and was a commanding presence, intercepting well (15 disposals, 7 marks).

Clavarino then chipped in with his second VFL goal as Sandringham were able to hold Werribee to just three points for the quarter. The margin was only a goal the difference heading into the final quarter.

With both sides fighting it out, the first goal of the fourth quarter was so important, but it would be Werribee, slotting it in the 11th minute and taking a 13 point lead.

Bailey Rice was on the receiving end of consecutive 50m penalties bringing the ball from the backline to the forward to kick truly and keep Sandringham in the game.

But this is where Werribee went up another notch, icing the game with four goals in a nine-minute burst, led by multiple-goalkickers Jake Riccardi and Michael Barlow.

Jackson Hille sent the ball through the goals as the siren sounded to end the match, seeing the final margin cut down to 24 points as the game finished with a sombre feeling for the Zebras.

The Zebras were again made to make amends in the ruck with Sam Rowe battling it out for most of the game for 26 hitouts but was comprehensively beaten by a duo of Werribee talls in Darcy Bennett and Jack Berry.

Sandringham captain Brede Seccull led all day collecting 25 disposals, but couldn’t make a positive dent on the scoreboard, kicking two behinds.

Saints Ben Paton was a ball magnet, leading possessions for Sandringham with 27, including five marks and four tackles.

Sandringham travel to Box Hill to take on the Hawks on Saturday the 22nd of June for Round 12, with the two sides contesting for the Blue Ribbon Cup!