MORNINGTON PENINSULA NEPEAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION TWO
Despite winning six of its first eight matches Pearcedale is now entrenched in a race against time.
The Dales have since won just three matches and after Saturday’s defeat to Somerville, sit a win outside of the five.
The visitors kicking ultimately kept them from icing the game early, kicking 1.6 and 5.11 to quarter and half time respectively.
The Eagles burst away in the third term, keeping Pearcedale goalless and piling on four majors.
While the Dales hit the scoreboard in the last, two straight kicks was far from enough to drag back the deficit.
The 14.13 (97) to 7.16 (58) defeat places the Dales a win behind three teams placed on 10 wins.
In a positive for the Dales, they hold a 9.38 per cent buffer over Chelsea at this point in time.
The destiny of the Dales is in their own hands, with Hastings (10th, five wins) this Saturday, before facing Chelsea in the final round.
The Gulls have the second-placed Karingal side on the road.
Devon Meadows, meanwhile, is poised to complete a top-two finish.
The Panthers lead the three-team peloton on 10 wins, with the second-best percentage across the competition, behind only – of course – Langwarrin.
The 4.6 to 1.0 lead at the first interval seems reasonable on paper; however the Panthers realistically should’ve kicked close to 10 straight, as elementary shots were made to look difficult in the early stages.
Skipper Joel Hillis fired off six majors, while Brandon White kicked four, and as he often does, Nick Battle found the footy at will, particularly in the opening half.
The Panthers completed the required 19.16 (130) to 9.9 (63) win, with a massive fortnight ahead.
In other results: Chelsea overcame a valiant Crib Point 10.17 (77) to 9.6 (60), competition leading goal-kicker Andrew Dean booted six as his side Rye thumped Hastings 12.16 (88) to 6.17 (53) and Frankston VFL skipper Josh Newman wasn’t enough to steer Mornington to victory over Langwarrin, going down 17.10 (112) to 9.12 (66).
LADDER
Langwarrin 64, Karingal 44, Devon Meadows 40, Somverville 40, Chelsea 40, Pearcedale 36, Seaford 32, Rye 32, Mornington 24, Hastings 20, Tyabb 8, Crib Point 4.
FIXTURE – ROUND 17
Karingal v Chelsea, Pearcedale v Hastings, Langwarrin v Rye, Mornington v Tyabb, Somerville v Seaford.
