Hawks hold sway against Eagles

By Josh Ward.

Rowville has maintained its stronghold on second spot of the Premier Division table with a comfortable 35-point victory over Vermont at Seebeck Oval.

In front of a strong crowd at their home deck, the Hawks started and finished the game off strongly to secure a 15.11 (101) to 9.12 (66) victory against an in-form Eagles.

It capped off a special day for two-time Rowville premiership player Matt Davey, who celebrated his 250th senior game in what was a standalone Sunday afternoon game.

Davey was a solid contributor alongside the majority of the Hawks side, who were well led by Maverick Taylor and Lachlan Wynd in attack.

Whilst Wynd kicked four to increase his season tally to 40, Taylor was the main man with an equal season-high five goals, providing a spark in attack in the air and on the ground.

Both Callum and Will Verrell were also influential, with Will playing a shut down role on Vermont champion Lachlan Johns.

Whilst Johns was well held, both Lochlan Jenkins and Lachlan Dickson were hard to contain, with both key figures for the Eagles yet again.

Young guns Riley Askew and Henry Smith were influential at either end of the ground, with Smith stepping up in the absence of skipper James Ross.

Smith and his defensive teammates were under immediate pressure, conceding the first three goals of the quarter inside the first 13 minutes.

Vermont then responded and started to work their way into the contest before the Hawks blitzed them from the 19 minute mark, kicking five goals in nine minutes to rush out to a 41-point quarter time lead.

After some strong words from a calm Matt Adolph, the Eagles started to get on top in the territory to open the second quarter.

However they failed to convert in front of goal, only scoring one goal in the opening 10 minutes of the quarter whilst conceding one to Rowville.

Both sides then started to light it up in front of goal, with Vermont kicking three goals to Rowville’s two in the final 16 minutes of the second term to reduce their deficit from 41 at quarter to 30 at the main break.

The Eagles then built on the momentum they gained in the second term, kicking the first goal of the term inside the first minute.

After Wynd responded at the six minute mark, the Eagles then claimed the ascendancy from that point onwards, kicking the final three goals of the quarter to trail by only 12 points at the final break.

With the game in the balance, the class and fitness of the hosts started to come to the fore as they took control, kicking their opening goal of the last inside the first four minutes.

It remained all Rowville, kicking three goals plus six behinds whilst keeping Vermont scoreless to secure a comfortable 35-point victory.

Ben Wise’s side still remain with just two losses to their name so far this season and with a strong percentage behind them.

For the Eagles they now slip outside of the five following the result at Seebeck plus Berwick’s victory over Balwyn, with their percentage also taking a hit today.