Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 Preview – Round 14


Published on Thursday, July 20, 2017

Author : Doug Long

A look ahead at Round 14 in Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3.

South Morang moved a game and percentage clear on top of the Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 ladder after a 51-point demolition of Banyule at Mill Park Lakes Reserve.

Leading by four points at half time, the Lions kicked right away in the second half. Alex Colaidis and Anthony Capeci each booted five for the victors.

While many were recently divided on which team was more likely to be promoted for the 2018 season, South Morang is now the favourite for the flag. However, with other results helping, the Bears are well placed to retain the double chance.

Heidelberg West hosted Reservoir at Heidelberg Park and came away with a 92-point victory against the winless Mustangs. It followed a tight first quarter where just three points separated the sides.

Kyl Ewart booted a dozen goals for the victors and was ably assisted by swingman Jayden Shirreff with five. David McGregor scored three for Reservoir, while Lachlan Shaw and Josh Alexander played well for the Mustangs.

The Hawks would have been hoping to bridge the percentage gap between themselves and Epping last weekend. However, Epping ran away from Laurimar at Epping Recreation Reserve to win by 130 points.

The game was tight until the Blues put the foot down midway through the second term, kicking 25 goals to five after quarter time.

“We played as good as we’ve played all year for one and a half quarters,” Laurimar coach Wayne Sharkie said. “But Epping’s relentless run took the game away from us.”

Aaron Willitts booted eleven goals for the Blues, with Chris Chilcott returning to form with three.

“(We’re) just relieved to kick accurately for once,” Epping coach Greg Whitcroft noted after his team booted 27.10 (172).

Finals aspirants Kilmore and St Mary’s played out the season’s first draw at J.J. Clancy Reserve. The 7.5 (47) to St Mary’s 5.17 (47) scoreline would seem to indicate the Burra were on top, but the pressure displayed by the Blues was exemplary.

“I’m really impressed with the development of Kilmore in 12 months,” St Mary’s coach Con Borg said.

“We are starting to get a bit of respect,” Kilmore coach Nathan Phillips said. He was pleased with the form of Michael Marrett.

Kilmore now trails fourth-placed Epping fifth-placed Heidelberg West by half a game. With a vastly inferior percentage to those teams, Kilmore’s task remains the same – to win one more game than each of the two teams above them in the final five rounds of the season.

Round 14 action of Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 will present a welcome challenge for Kilmore. The Blues travel to R.J. Brockwell Oval to take on Banyule, who will be smarting from its disappointing loss to South Morang.

In their previous 2017 encounter at J.J. Clancy Reserve, Kilmore trailed the Bears by 44 points early on, but reduced the deficit to 24 points by the final bell.

That result will give Kilmore hope it can pull off their biggest scalp of the season. If so, the Blues will at least climb to fifth – with Heidelberg West having a bye.

Epping will start hot favourite against an undermanned Mernda at Waterview Recreation Reserve.

The Demons are winless in their past nine games, while the Blues have impressed by winning four of their past five, with the solitary loss a one-point defeat.

St Mary’s will be the hottest of favourites against bottom-placed Reservoir in their clash at Whatmough Park.

The Burra won their Round 8 clash against the Mustangs by 134 points at Crispe Park on a day when the home team managed only two goals.

South Morang heads to Laurimar Reserve for the first time when it takes on Laurimar.

This appears to be a one-sided clash on paper, with the Lions expected to record a percentage-booster.

However, the Power will want to do well enough to take some sort of confidence into their Round 15 match against Reservoir at Crispe Park.

And they have shown improved home form in their past four matches at Laurimar Reserve – winning two.

After this week’s bye, Heidelberg West faces the current top-four teams to round out the home and away season, beginning with a potential season on the line match when hosting Epping at Heidelberg Park first up next weekend.

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