By MARK HEENAN
OCEAN Grove overcame a horror start and spirited challenge from BFL improvers Newcomb to defeat the Power by 48 points at Grinter Reserve on 11 June.
The Grubbers – who snapped a five-game losing streak – remained scoreless at quarter-time against a competitive Newcomb, which kicked the first five goals of the game.
The Power’s fast start ensured it led by 19 points at quarter-time, which made for a frustrated address from Ocean Grove coach Wayne Walsh at the first break.
“We had to trigger a few attitudes, we were sending out a few messages in the first quarter and the players were telling us what they wanted to do. We did not have a structure in the first quarter,” Walsh told the Voice.
“I do think to the boys’ credit they responded half way through the second quarter, they kicked 17 goals in the last two-and-a-half quarters.”
Walsh praised Newcomb’s effort in the first quarter.
“They cracked in hard, it was not the Newcomb of 2015 playing,” he said. “They are going to beat someone at some stage Newcomb, I am glad it is not us.”
The Grubbers lifted their intensity in the second quarter and booted five majors to cut Newcomb’s margin back to six points at half-time.
Midfielder Jahd Anderson was a standout across the entire game and kicked three goals, while forward Daniel Freeman booted five, and Travis Gavin and Aaron Baxter both kicked two goals.
Ocean Grove youngster Hamish Hoober made his senior debut and was part of a youthful setup in defence.
The Grubbers were without experienced trio Kelly Williams, Kaiden Long and former skipper Liam Rock.
Newcomb pair Andrew Steele and Shane O’Connell both kicked two goals and were good contributors.
Ocean Grove kicked 12.11 compared to Newcomb’s 4.5 after half-time to record a comfortable eight-goal win in the end.
In the reserves, Ocean Grove claimed its second victory of 2016 with a 17-point win over bottom-placed Newcomb. Winless Newcomb led the Grubbers at quarter-time by five points.
Andrew McLeish kicked two goals in his return and first game for 2016, while team-mate Matt McCartney booted three majors.
In the under-18 Colts Division 2, Barwon Heads defeated Ocean Grove 1 by 26 points. Despite the loss, young Grubber Oliver Monteith booted three goals.
In the under-18 Division 4 clash, Drysdale 2 defeated Ocean Grove 2 by 57 points.
SCOREBOARD
OCEAN GROVE 17.14 (116)
NEWCOMB 10.8 (68)
Goals: D. Freeman 5, J. Anderson 3, A. Baxter 2, T. Gavin 2, J. Linton, M. Rotumah-Onus, J. Pumphrey, B. Warren, P. West.
Best: J. Anderson, M. Rotumah-Onus, D. Freeman, H. Walker, M. Caldow, B. Warren.
