GOLDEN RUN ENDS

[Demonland 73,265]

by Ice Station Zebra

Sandringham's golden run of victories stretching from Round 18 of last year finally ended with a 35 point defeat at the hands of a committed North Ballarat at AUSTAR Arena, Ballarat on Saturday.

North Ballarat had plenty of time to plan their tilt at the reigning triple premiers and they did it well. Their pre game publicity signalled early that the Zebras were going to have to be at their best to deny their hard running game and high work rate. The Roosters' attack on the football was fierce all day and was a major factor in their well deserved victory.

The trip north is always a daunting one and Sandy's task was compounded by something of a hangover from the Victorian State game of the previous week, a heavy injury toll and a suspension. Two players from the sensational victory over the Sandgropers - Ezra Poyas and Shane Valenti - were late withdrawals from Saturday's team. Nick Sautner who starred with nine goals in that match struggled to have an impact in his 200th game on Saturday and was well held by Rooster skipper Shaune Moloney. Chris Lamb missed this week with his one game striking suspension incurred during the Williamstown game while Ben Holland also had to pull out of the selected side. With Chris Johnson hurt early, the Zebras were well down on their usual quota of experienced players for most of the game.

Still, this gave a number of younger players the opportunity to step up into the side and Jace Bode, Heath Neville, Tomi Johnston, Rennie Gilchrist, Peter McGettigan, Stefan Martin and Tom Paterakis all came in to the team highlighting its youthful nature. Byron Pickett was the only Demon listed player in the side with a sizeable amount of AFL experience. Gilchrist, from the Sandringham Dragons was playing his first senior game.

The proceedings opened in cold but sunny conditions with a light breeze running across a heavy ground. It was a lively start and the Zebras began well but unfortunately twice hit the post in the opening five minutes. Young ruckman Martin was given a tough job on state representative and former Bomber ruckman Tristan Cartledge and he more than held his own in this department. Lynden Dunn was lively up forward in the early stages but with Sautner well covered, the Sandringham attack looked somewhat jaded and the visitors trailed by a point at the first break.

Sandy was poised to make a charge and two early goals saw them take a 10 point lead. Chad Liddell's soccer goal off the ground was inspirational. The Roosters responded even more strongly with four unanswered goals including three in two minutes by half forward Dean Chester. You could almost see the home team's self-confidence surge as a result of this burst of inspirational football and North Ballarat went in at the half time break with a 14 point lead.

Peter Summers was the only Sandy state representative who was on song all day and the team really missed the hard drive that Valenti usually gives, particularly in the packs. Tom Paterakis was given the difficult task of holding the slippery Djaran Whyman and did a fair job in the circumstances.

Sandringham looked lethargic at the start of the third quarter and the home side soon slipped away to a handy 32 point lead after booting three goals in four minutes. Dunn and Michael Newton kicked goals to keep Sandy within touch but it still went into the three quarter time huddle facing defeat and 20 points in arrears. Sautner's solitary goal for the game had come late in the quarter.

The visitors tried hard in the last with Newton on fire and kicking three goals but the Roosters had all the answers and a fifty metre penalty followed by a goal to Cartledge put an end to the Zebras' hopes of an unlikely comeback. The Roosters ran out comfortable winners by 35 points in the end.

Sandringham will be keen to atone for the disappointing performance but it has its work cut out with another danger game at Coburg on Queen's Birthday weekend.

Sandringham 2.4.16 6.6.42 9.10.64 13.10.88

North Ballarat 2.5.17 8.8.56 12.12.84 18.15.123

Goals

Sandringham Newton 5 Dunn 4 T Johnston Liddell Martin Sautner

North Ballarat Chester 4 George 3 Dignan Feery Whyman 2 Cartledge Gregg Riggio Ryall Trotter

Best

Sandringham Summers Dunn Martin Pickett Warnock Liddell

North Ballarat Cartledge Sansbury Lower Moloney Whyman Chester

UNDERMANNED RESERVES BATTLE HARD

With a number of regulars promoted to the Seniors, an undermanned reserves were smashed by a stronger and more committed North Ballarat. Shane Tregear and Sam Monaghan worked tirelessly while young Demon rookie Daniel Hayes impressed. He was making his return to the game after personal issues kept him out of football for the past two months and he looked good in passages kicking a very clever goal at half forward.

The team remains out of the top five by a game and will need to work harder this week to snare the points against the Coburg Tigers and remain in the finals race. These teams met a few weeks ago at Frankston when the Tigers' seniors had a bye and their team was stacked with Richmond players. The opposition will be much different this time and the young Sandy side will have added incentive to win.

Reserves

Sandringham 2.2.14 4.5.29 4.6.30 5.6.36

North Ballarat 1.2.8 8.5.53 13.10.88 16.16.112

Goals

Sandringham Dunne Gileno Henry Lyall Monaghan

North Ballarat Micallef 3 Schultz 2 Gilmour Hartigan Horbury McDougall McHug Raworth Searle Sharkey Spolding Urquhart Waight

Best

Sandringham Tregear Monaghan Hayes Zarra Gribbin Dunne

North Ballarat Searle Micallef Caldow Raworth Head Schultz