BACK IN TOWN

[Demonland 70,163]

BACK IN TOWN by Ice Station Zebra

Sandringham is back in town after its trip down south and has managed to come out of Sunday's danger game against the Northern Bullants with an emphatic 45-point victory which brings with it the additional bonus of a return to the VFL top four.

The Bullants were coming off their best win of the season when they knocked off top-of-the-ladder North Ballarat but, after a closely fought first quarter, they were rarely in the contest.

The opening term was real scramble with both sides fumbling and making fundamental errors that would not have pleased their respective coaches. The quarter time score had the Northern Bullants marginally in front with a similar score line to that which the Zebras faced last week in Tasmania.

As happened last week, Sandringham lifted its work rate after the first change and easily outscored the visitors in each remaining quarter although it was certainly not the procession that we saw in Launceston.

Ruckman John Meesen easily had the measure of Carlton listed ruck duo Cain Ackland and Sam Jacobs and he set up a number of attacking moves in concert with his winning midfield.

Chris Johnson continued his domination of the past month or so with another excellent game running well off half back while Colin Sylvia was important with his strong attack on the ball and great delivery by hand and foot up forward.

Nick Sautner stretched his lead in the VFL goal kicking with seven goals for the day and was helped by some undisciplined play from the Bullant defence which allowed him the luxury of three goals from 50 metre penalties. His opponent Mark Austin was reported for on a striking charge while Ackland's name also went in the umpire's book for striking Andy Biddlecombe in extraordinary circumstances.

First year senior players Shane Tregear and Shane Tregear continue to impress with their maturity and the way they have settled in and adapted to this standard of football. Their good form has been a major factor in the Zebras' recent improvement.

The Zebras are also fortunate to have some in form and experienced old hands in Adem Yze, Ezra Poyas and Nick Sautner along with the leadership of Peter Summers but this quartet are all uncertain starters for the team's next game against Collingwood on Sunday week. Yze is a chance for promotion to the Melbourne side after several sparkling performances while the Sandy trio are all under injury clouds which might keep them out for a couple of games. They have already been ruled out of the weekend's interstate clash between Victoria and South Australia while another interstate selection, Shane Valenti, is also out by virtue of his elevation to the Melbourne senior list.

Sunday's victory completes as solid recovery for the club after its setback against Williamstown at Point Gellibrand and two solid showings in the past fortnight against Tasmania (away) and the Bullants (at Trevor Barker Beach Oval) have restored the team's confidence as the competition goes into recess for this week. The club's next assignment is against the new Magpie VFL team which will be a prelude to the Queens Birthday AFL Blockbuster.

Sandringham 3.6.24 7.10.52 12.12.84 15.15.105

Northern Bullants 4.2.26 5.6.36 7.9.51 8.12.60

Goals

Sandringham Sautner 7 Summers Sylvia 2 Bode Dunn Meesen Tregear

Northern Bullants Benjamin Colbert 2 Armfield Boundy Mercuri Teague

Best

Sandringham Yze C Johnson Lamb Waller Tregear Sautner

Northern Bullants Saddington Anderson Vansittart Colbert Iacobucci Lappin

Reported Players

C Ackland (Northern Bullants) for allegedly striking A Biddlecombe (Sandringham) in the 1st quarter.

M Austin (Northern Bullants) for striking N Sautner (Sandringham) in the 3rd quarter.

The Sandringham reserves also dominated after a scrappy start and are comfortably placed in third place on their ladder. Guy Martyn was in dominant form while Maddison Hardiman and Luke Williams booted four goals each.

Sandringham 2.1.13 9.2.56 19.6.120 22.10.142

Northern Bullants 1.3.9 2.4.16 2.7.19 3.11.29

Goals

Sandringham Hardiman Williams 4 McConnell Martyn Summons Weetra Zomer 2 Dean Eaton Gribbin Lyall

Northern Bullants O'hAilpin Lawless Macula

Best

Sandringham Martyn Williams Monaghan B Liddell Hardiman Weetra

Northern Bullants Davies Blackwell Dennis Taylor Lawless Williams