SAINTS CELEBRATE MILESTONES AT HOME BUT FALL SHORT OF ANOTHER TREBLE.
After pulling off a treble in the wet last week, the reserves handed Brentwood a 47 point thumping at home to stand equal fourth and two games clear in the top 5.
Vincent Paparone finally got to celebrate his 100th game for SNESA after missing the last few opportunities due to injury, but it was a couple of old heads in Farina and Kyle Mitsopolous that got the saints on the board.
Club debutant Craig Matthews felt at home in the blue and gold, presenting well and enjoying time in the ruck and when he slotted one home from a set shot early in the second quarter, the saints were on the march. Quick goals to Carrington, Mitsopoulos and Di Fabio gave the saints five goal lead at the main break.
The saints maintained their hold on the game in the second half. Jake Hall was solid and consistent all day, with his one-percenters perfecting his individual effort. The backline tidied up well through Cal Butler and Clint Beale. Veterans Frawley and Baptist put their 370 plus SNESA game combo to work, while the future was bright with the highlights of Gangemi, Butler and Mancuveni.
A similar story in the League match as they celebrated their coach and captain’s milestones. An early spark from lively forward Marcello Campo gave the saints an early lead, and when Mr 150 himself, Colace, joined in on the fun, the saints looked poised for a win.
Goals and assists to Burgoyne, Grigg and Abbott helped the saints pull away at halftime, while it was efforts around the ground from Biddle, Millsteed and Brendan Hall that kept the supply flowing into the forward 50. The co-captains were also electric in the midfield, combined with the youth and athletecism of Dobbs on the outside.
Brentwood-Booragoon probably felt they were on the set of a 1997 Scottish film, when The Winter Guest combo arrived. The ruckmen both dominating the air.
SNESA managed to kick away in the third and run out 64 point winners. They will host their C2 rivals next week in Lynwood-Ferndale, in an opportunity to outrightly lead the C3 competition.
At Atwell Reserve, the saints got away to an early lead through goals to Aoun and Burgess. However the Jets were never out of it with both teams managing a combined 8 goals in the first quarter. The second saw the saints kick away only slightly, managing a 10 point buffer at halftime.
The Jets stole the show in the third quarter through lackluster defensive work from the saints forwards and mids, resulting in quick movement into the Jets forward 50 and set shots. Jandakot led by 5 points at the final change. An early last quarter goal to Burgess gave him his fourth and his team the lead, but it was short lived with the Jets getting a quick reply.
The saints gave it everything but fell heartbreakingly short in a game that could’ve seen them elevate into the top five on the E3 ladder. Instead, they now sit ninth but still only one game out of finals contention.
MATCH SUMMARIES
LEAGUE
SNESA 13.13.91 def Brentwood-Booragoon 3.9.27
Goals: Grigg 4 Campo Abbott 2 Br Hall Be Hall Dobbsy Burgoyne Colace
Best: Be Hall Campo Tufilli Kelly Colace Grigg Abbott
RESERVES
SNESA 12.4.76 def Brentwood Booragoon 4.5.29
Goals: K Mitsopoulos Matthews 3 Carrington 2 Farina Baptist Cirillo Di Fabio
Best: J Hall Butler K Mitsopoulos Matthews Kocken
THIRDS
SNESA 9.7.61 def Jandakot 9.9.63
Goals: Burgess 4 Aoun Camaratta 2 Edwards 1
Best: Edwards Slawinski Burgess Chua Aoun
Injuries
Foster (groin)