SENIOR TEAM MATCH REPORT - ROUND 8
Monday, 1 June 2009

Port Melbourne v Box Hill Hawks
Round 8: at TEAC Oval (Saturday 30th May)

By Daniel Dufty

Box Hill Hawks after playing catch-up football fell short to Port Melbourne by 49 points at TEAC Oval.

Adem Yze (3 goals) assisted by Brent Renouf and Travis Tuck stood up for the Hawks in a game controlled by Port Melbourne from the out-set. Returning from a knee injury, Hawthorn rookie Tim Walsh was also very handy in his first senior game for this season.

Box Hill Coach Brendon Bolton knew the Hawks were in a tough battle where the game fell away slowly, apart from a pleasing 2nd quarter performance. 

“We made a good fightback in the second quarter when Adem Yze kept us in the game with three goals. But then we had a very disappointing second half.”   

In cold, windy conditions at TEAC Oval, Port Melbourne quickly shot out of the blocks kicking the opening two goals.

Steve Kenna set up Ben Smithwick in the 7th minute to place the Hawks on the board as the Borough lifted the tempo. Port Melbourne kicking on powered through three more goals seeing them 24 points up at the opening change.

Luke Breust and Ed Curnow were busy in traffic early as Box Hill only managed to kick a single goal.

Knowing their poor showing in the 1st Box Hill came out with vengeance kicking 4.3 to 0.7 trailing by four points at the half. Adem Yze sensational in the 2nd kicked three goals keeping the Hawks in touching distance as Port Melbourne were goalless, and missing opportunities.

Port Melbourne lifted their intensity looking a new side after half-time controlling play as Box Hill’s mistakes led to unwanted goals. Five on the trot secured the lead for the Borough as Box Hill struggled to stay in the game.

Cameron Pedersen in the 15th and Ben Smithwick 25th minute brought two late goals to the Hawks as the game looked out of reach.

Trailing by 25 points into the final term, Port Melbourne non succumbing to pressure continued their onslaught belting through three goals from the first three clearances in the opening few minutes. The Borough coming out with intent wiped out the Hawks as goals by Ben Smithwick, Brad Neil and Hayden Kiel flew through the forward fifty.

Closing out the match Port Melbourne kicked the final three goals seeing them victorious.

Port Melbourne tactically having spare players in defence worked well as Box Hill hit opposition chests while looking to get on the scoreboard.

Bolton also commented on the form of ruckman Brent Renouf saying “Renouf has been fantastic in every VFL game he has played this season. He was forced to play down back in the third quarter because Port had a lot of tall forwards.”

Again Adem Yze for the 2nd consecutive week got “Goal of the Day” with a special mid-air kick of the football from 50m out.                                                                                                                   

Next Monday Box Hill travels to Queen Elizabeth Oval in the Queens Birthday Clash against Bendigo Bombers.

Comprehensively beaten by Sandringham by 112 points at Trevor Barker Beach Oval, Bendigo Bombers winless no doubt will be looking for victory.

To watch the ABC highlights of the game, click on this link: http://www.abc.net.au/grandstand/afl/vfl/  
                             

Port Melbourne: 5.3 / 5.10 / 10.13 / 17.15.117   
Box Hill Hawks: 1.3 / 5.6 / 7.6 / 10.8.68  

Goals: B. Smithwick 4, A. Yze 3, H. Kiel, B. Neil, C. Pedersen

Best: A. Yze, B. Renouf, T. Walsh, T. Tuck, S. Kenna, B. Smithwick