Sharks leapfrog Devils in mature road victory

By Josh Ward.

Park Orchards have moved into third on the Division 1 table after overcoming a gallant Wantirna South outfit by 19-points last Saturday at Walker Reserve.

After starting the game off strongly, the Sharks were able to hold sway to secure a 14.8 (92) to 10.13 (73) victory over the Devils.

Paris Harvie’s men now move half a game clear of Wantirna South in third spot on the Division 1 table heading into the final three rounds of the season.

They were once again well led by Ciaran Hickey who continued his purple patch of form with two goals and plenty of possessions.

Half-back flankers McLaren Spiteri and Jacob Price-Inglis were also dominant with their run and distribution Lewis Downie and Sammy Prest up forward also had excellent, combining for eight goals.

Wantirna South weren’t short of any contributors and were once again well led by their skipper Jake Denes who fought tooth and nail against 217cm ruck Patrick Carr plus Josh Chappell.

Dylan Moore provided a spark up forward alongside Brook Kainey who kicked three goals, all of which in the second half. Kyle Taylor and Deng Andrew were also solid defensively.

The Devils defence were under the pump early as the Sharks looked to get off to a fast start away from home.

After conceding the first goal 12 minutes into the game, the Devils started to get their game rolling, but failed to capitalise in front of the big sticks.

And they were made to pay, with the Sharks kicking three goals in time on to take a 22-point lead heading into the first break.

It was the Devils who got off to the quicker start in the second term, goaling through Jarryd Smith inside the first minute and a half of the quarter.

Park Orchards then started to up the pressure and create more opportunities. However they only registered one goal from five scoring shots in the early stages of the second term.

Jason Heffernan’s squad then started to put their foot to the pedal, kicking four goals to Park Orchards three in the final 15 minutes of the second quarter, reducing their half time deficit to 16 points.

Park Orchards started off in lighting quick fashion after the main break, kicking three of the opening four goals of the term, including the first goal inside the first 30 seconds of the half.

They had an opportunity to extend their advantage beyond 30 points through Downie, but he failed to capitalise which kept the door slightly ajar for the Devils

The Devils took advantage and started to work their way on top of the contest, eventually  kicking the final two goals of the term to make it a 15-point ball game at the last break.

Wantirna South then built on the late momentum they gained with the first goal of the last and looked on track to run over the top of the Sharks.

But the Sharks composed themselves after the Devils failed to capitalise on the early territory they had, kicking three of the final four goals to secure a crucial 19-point triumph.

Downie said post-game that the group knew it was an eight-point game heading into this weekend.

“They got us early in the year at our home deck so we knew we owed them one. We had to really get numbers to the contest and lock that ball inside our forward 50,” Downie said.

“That was really important for us today. Absolutely wrapped we came away with the win.”

Park Orchards now meet bottom-placed Bayswater at Domeney Reserve next weekend while Wantirna South travel to Tormore Reserve for the first time in a dozen years to face sixth-placed Boronia.