DEVS: Hawks continue on their might fighting ways against Sandringham

Box Hill has continued its undefeated start to the Development League season after accounting for Sandringham in an emphatic 59-point win at Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Sunday.

The Hawks appeared to be in control for almost the entirety of the game bar the last 10 minutes of the third quarter, where the Zebras managed to pull back four consecutive goals to reduce the margin to just 24 points at the last change.

Treated to unusually sunny and pleasant conditions at Trevor Barker Beach Oval, The Hawks made all the running in the first quarter, suffocating the Zebras through the midfield and controlling the ball up forward.

The only concern for the Hawks was the ease of which the Zebras scored on the rare times the ball ventured forward in the first term, kicking two goals to Box Hill’s five goals, three behinds to keep Sandringham in the contest.

The highlight of the quarter was without a doubt big-man Agape Patolo slotting his first goal for the season.

Faced with a tight angle from the pocket, the first-year Hawk had no qualms converting the set-shot before being mobbed by every Hawk on the field.

Box Hill’s inability to finish the game off in the first came back to bite them in the second quarter, as the Zebras launch a counter-attack and put the Hawks to the test.

While the Hawks managed to create three goals, only inaccuracy from Sandringham allowed Box Hill to take a half-time lead of 15 points.

Spurred by a poor performance in the second quarter, the Hawks rallied in the opening 20 minutes of the second half to create a large gap between the two teams, kicking the opening five goals of the quarter and establishing a 48-point lead late in the third.

A lapse in concentration however resulted in the Hawks conceding the final four goals of the quarter, leaving the Hawks holding on to a 24-point lead heading into the final quarter.

With the threat of a first blemish in the loss column for 2015 a potential outcome, the Hawks snapped back into gear in the last quarter, producing a five-goal-to-zero last quarter to romp away from the home team.

Such was Box Hill’s ruthlessness, the Zebras could only manage the solitary behind for the last quarter as the Hawks ran out 59-point winners in their fourth-consecutive win.

Box Hill next host the Northern Blues at Box Hill City Oval on Sunday 31 May, with the two teams playing out a fiery encounter a fortnight ago.

Sandringham      2.0  5.7    9.8      9.9 (63)

Box Hill Hawks  5.3  8.4  13.8  18.14 (122)

Goal Kickers: J. Walker 3, M. Traynor 2, L. Kidd 2, S. Switkowski 2, C. Jones 2, C. Williams, M. Donoghue, J. Fisher , L. Langford, J. Hardisty , R. Exon , A. Patolo
Best Players: ,J. Fisher, S. Switkowski, R. Exon, C. Jones, J. Walker, N. Evans