MONBULK’S tall forward power took over the match in an awesome display at Belgrave that catapulted the Hawks to top of the ladder.
The Hawks showed little mercy for the desperately under-manned Magpies, unleashing a torrent that drowned Belgrave in a flood of scoring to register a mammoth 225-point hiding of the bottom side. With Fraser and Gee missing, Monbulk took the opportunity to experiment against a struggling Belgrave and coach Chris Hughson must have liked what he saw.
After piling on 14 unanswered goals in the first half, the Hawks opened the throttle, adding another 22 with three key forwards contributing all but nine of the 36 goals for the game. Returning from prolonged injury, Monbulk’s twin towers Luke Tolliday and James Cleven signalled a warning that they were still potent forces, snaring 17 goals between them.
Tim Wragg’s stellar season continued with another superb cameo that gave the Hawks a three-pronged avenue up forward.
Despite brave defiance from Adam Wilson and David Pike, the Magpies could do little to stem the flow against the indomitable force which Monbulk has become over the past weeks. The final score was Monbulk 36.25.241 d Belgrave 2.4.16. The best players were Jarrod Devers, James Cleven, Luke Tolliday, Jason Dekker, Tim Wragg and Mark Mullinder.
James Cleven scored nine goals with Tolliday (8), Wragg (8), Mullinder (4), Billie Hicken (2) and Chris Hughson (2) contributing, while Shannon Koole, Chris Mitchell and Robert Comfort each scored singles.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:Reserves
IN an ominous signal of what was to come in the senior game, Monbulk dished out a football lesson to Belgrave, controlling proceedings from the opening bounce to race to a 51-point lead at half-time.
Magpie legend Bruce Painter berated his players, demanding a stronger showing in the second half, but worse was to come with the Hawks lusting for blood and combining well within the small confines at Belgrave oval to pile on another 17 goals in an even team effort.
In the end, Monbulk 27.21.183 defeated Belgrave 3.3.21.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:Under 18
AFTER a dour battle between fourth and fifth-placed teams, Monbulk kept its finals hopes alive in a low-scoring game that was dominated by sterling defence from both sides. The Hawks were first to capitalise and kept the Magpies to a solitary behind at half-time to set up victory.
The Magpies matched Monbulk in the second half, but never threatened the outcome as Monbulk held out for a sound win 7.7.49 to Belgrave’s 4.5.25 that gave some small breathing space over the lower half of the field.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:Netball
MONBULK’S netball machine rolled on as the players encountered a gallant Belgrave, but the all-round class of the Hawks proved too big an obstacle for the Magpies with the lead increasing at each quarter. The final score was Monbulk 37 defeated Belgrave 18.
Monbulk now enjoys a two-game break over Upwey and Healesville as the draw enters the second round.
