ROC seniors’ slim finals’ chances remain alive after downing Cranbourne in a hardfought and sometimes spiteful game on Saturday.
ROC took an early lead and was never headed, but the Eagles were in the match until well into the final quarter.
Kangaroos’ stalwarts Ben Tivendale, Clint Williams and Ryan Cotter were instrumental in the victory that was marred by a number of spiteful incidents.
With the Keysborough victory over Hampton Park, the Kangaroos season now depends on other results as well as defeating Hampton Park in the final round.
Score: ROC 14.13.97 d Cranbourne 6.13.49.
Goals ROC: B. Jones 6, D. Blake, C. White, M. Barker 3, R. James, T. White 1 each.
Best ROC: Ben Tivendale, Clint Williams, Ryan Cotter, Michael Barker and Brad Jones.
RESERVES
ROC dominated the game from the outset to record an emphatic win against Cranbourne.
The Kangaroos hit top gear from the first bounce and overwhelmed their opponents and force them out of the top five.
The game was all but over by halftime with the Kangaroos posting 15 goals to Cranbourne’s one.
ROC won in almost every position to shut out the visitors in convincing fashion and Cranbourne simply had no answers on the day to the Kangaroos’ speed and precision.
Score: ROC 26.14.170 d Cranbourne 4.7.33.
Goals ROC: S. White 4, K. Dowsett, M. James, S. McIntyre 3, B. Cowell, C. Glen, P. Quinn, S. Webster 2, S. Haughton, A. Jones, J. Kilpatrick, N. McLennan and S. Rankin 1.
Best – ROC: B. Cowell, D. De Jong, S. McIntyre, J. Kilpatrick, S. White.
UNDER 18
The young Kangaroos played their best game for the season and only inaccuracy in front of goal prevented them from notching their first win of the season.
After kicking their first goal within a few seconds of the start the team grew in confidence and took the game up to Cranbourne, a topfive side looking to cement its spot in the finals.
Teamwork, plenty of talking and confidence were features of the Kangaroos game as they fought the game out to the final siren.
Scores: Cranbourne 10.7.67 d ROC 7.12.54.
Goals – ROC: N. Phillips 2, G. Marshall, B. Glen, B. Graham, J. Hutchinson, N. Adams.
Best – ROC: Timmy Gray, Josh Boyle, Warren Monks, Daniel McDonald and Josh Hutchinson.