By Mark Heenan
Disappointed Ocean Grove coach Paul Lynch conceded Newcomb outhunted his side during the Grubbers’ victory under lights at Ray Menzies Memorial Oval on 21 April.
Lynch was full of praise for the improved Power after they defeated Drysdale by 36 points in Round 3, and trailed Ocean Grove by only seven points at half time on Saturday night.
Final scores Ocean Grove 12.21 (93) defeated Newcomb 7.6 (48) by 45 points.
The Grubbers maintained second spot on the BFL ladder with a 3-1 record after four rounds.
Ocean Grove was left to rue inaccurate kicking with 11 shots at goal and only led by 25 points after quarter time after booting 3.8.
“We didn’t play well – I thought Newcomb were good, I thought their pressure was outstanding actually to tell you the truth,” Lynch told the Voice.
“We got outhunted there is no question about that – I thought (Newcomb) they were hard around the footy, they definitely outhunted us around the ball.
“It is no secret they beat Drysdale – they are a side that’s on the improve.”
The revered local football coach locked away his players for up to 30 minutes in the rooms after the match following the Grubbers win.
“I try never to bake players individually – I try to bake as a group,” Lynch said.
“I have baked players individually before – but not ruthlessly.
“It is a team game – so it is a job of the players to get each other up.”
The gallant Power outscored the Grubbers in the second quarter and maintained their high intensity in the third term.
“We got beaten in the second and third quarters – they (Newcomb) structurally set up well – I thought their pressure around the footy was really good,” he said.
Newcomb did it the hard way and were reduced to two players on the bench after half time.
A sickening collision with Power player Shane O’Connell saw both club team trainers and officials rush to his aid as O’Connell had blood gushing from his head in the first term.
Play was brought to an abrupt halt with O’Connell transported from the ground.
“I thought it was a very physical game,” he said.
Ocean Grove midfielder Karl Staudt failed to finish game out and was forced from ground with two cuts to his head which required stitches.
Grubber leading goalkicker Jake Carmody had an immediate impact early with two goals in the first quarter and finished with three.
New Ocean Grove recruit Justin Carey kicked three goals, while fellow newcomer Luke Cartelli’s pace and poise was instrumental at the stoppages.
Defender Peter Hardy continued his strong season and applied pressure to Newcomb’s forwards and drove out of the Grubbers’ back half well.
Kane Parish was a dominant player for the Power, while Zac Smith and Alan Witcombe each kicked two goals for the visitors.
The final quarter saw the visitors goalless while an inaccurate Ocean Grove booted 3.7.
In other developments, Ocean Grove reserves grade kicked straighter at goal against a winless Newcomb to record their first victory of 2018.
Final scores Ocean Grove 16.14 (110) defeated Newcomb 6.1 (37) by 73 points.
Matt Caldow featured in his first outing for 2018 after recovering from a groin injury to play the first half.
Sam Elford kicked four goals for the home side, while Corey Walter finished with two majors in his first game for the season.
Adam Gerdtz also kicked two goals.
Ocean Grove reserves grade sit in ninth place on the ladder with a 1-3 record after four rounds.
In the Under 19s grading match St Joseph’s thrashed Ocean Grove by 146 points at Ray Menzies Memorial Oval.
Final scores St Joseph’s 23.15 (153) to Ocean Grove 1.1 (7).
James Larkins kicked the only goal for the Grubbers, while Zack Mongelli finished with five majors for the visitors.
This Saturday’s senior match against Torquay at Ray Menzies Memorial Oval starts at 210pm.
SENIORS SCOREBOARD
OCEAN GROVE 12.21 (93) d NEWCOMB 7.6 (46)
OCEAN GROVE
Goal Kickers: J. Carey 3, J. Carmody 3, I. Wilkins 2, P. Corredig, M. Lindkvist, L. Cartelli, K. Long
Best Players: G. Campbell, P. Hardy, L. Cartelli, H. Walker, J. Carmody, A. Jarvis
