Seniors Keep Their Finals Hopes Alive

It was a tight start to the game but the Box Hill Hawks senior team managed to keep their finals hopes alive with a 22- point victory over Sandringham.

The first quarter saw both teams struggle to get the upper hand. Going goal for goal, Box Hill shut down Sandringham’s entry inside 50 limiting the home side to just four entries for the quarter. However, Sandringham kept applying scoreboard pressure as each of their inside 50’s resulted in a scoring opportunity. The Hawks on the other hand, were wasteful throughout the first quarter as they only managed 4 goals from their 11 entries.

With only one point the difference at quarter time, the Hawks went into the second term determined to break away. Back from injury, Ryan Schoenmakers put his mark on the scoreboard early with a goal, before some quick ball movement inside 50 from Nick Evans saw both Jack Fitzpatrick & Dallas Willsmore kick one each. The Hawks efforts managed to keep them in the contest as they trailed by 2 points at the major break.

With just 2 points the difference at the start of the third term, Box Hill needed a strong quarter to put themselves in front. However, the third term saw a lapse in Box Hill’s game.

Box Hill were unable to connect moving forward as they struggled to hit their targets inside 50. Sandringham capitalised on Box Hill’s mistakes, as they were able to move the ball with pace around the ground, managing 15 inside 50’s for the quarter.

Despite this, the Hawks remained composed with a strong defensive display from Max Warren, Ayden Kennedy and David Mirra, limiting Sandringham to just a single goal for the quarter.

It was Hawthorn listed Tim O’Brien who changed the momentum of the game after taking a huge mark deep inside 50 and putting another goal on the board. This gave Box Hill a handy 12-point lead at the final break.

Despite some inaccurate goal kicking that saw Box Hill kick 2 goals and 7 behinds for the final term, they were able to hold onto a 22-point lead and clinch victory at the final siren.

With their finals hopes on the line, Captain David Mirra caught up with Boxhillhawks.com.au after the game.

‘We want to finish the season with a bang – if we can’t make the eight then we want to shake the eight.’

‘We’ve just got to focus on the next game against Collingwood. They are a good side and have won 11 games in a row now so we’ve just got to go out there and play the game and then anything can happen.’

‘It’s more about wanting to win for our footy club more than anything else.’

Box Hill will be back at City Oval next weekend against a red-hot Collingwood outfit from 1:00pm, with a VWFL curtain raiser between Eastern Devils & Diamond Creek starting at 10:00am.

FINAL SCORES

BOX HILL 4.1 7.4 11.6 13.13 (91)

SANDRINGHAM 4.2 7.6 8.12 9.15 (69)

 

GOAL KICKERS

BOX HILL T. O’Brien 3, K. Stewart 2, J. Fitzpatrick 2, A. Woodward, S. Iles, D. Mirra, D. Willsmore, Z. Webster, R. Schoenmakers

SANDRINGHAM C. Shenton 4, R. Iudica 2, K, Answerth, T. Lee, L. Holmes

 

MAJOR BALL WINNERS

BOX HILL A. Woodward 29, M. Lock 25, S. Switkowski 20, J. O’Rourke 19, S. Iles 18

SANDRINGHAM J. Webster 25, J. Sinclair 24, E. Templeton 22, B. Rice 22, T. Curren 20

 

BEST PLAYERS

BOX HILL S. Switkowski, A. Woodward, K. Heatherly, T. O’Brien, M. Lock, S. Iles

SANDRINGHAM C. Shenton, J. Webster, J. Sinclair, B. White, B. Murdoch, J. Lonie

 

Photo credit: Jenny Owens Photography