BEACONSFIELD coach Haydn Robins made a successful playing comeback on Saturday, leading his team to a sevenpoint win against Cranbourne.
Robins, who booted five goals, hasn’t played senior football since 2004.
The Eagles took on Cranbourne at its new home, Casey Fields, and welcomed firstgamer Ash Salter as well as Troy Aylen who was making his return to the senior side.
Kicking into a strong breeze, it was the coach who got the Eagles off to flier, kicking two goals in the opening term.
The wind was proving difficult, but Aylen was controlling the game across halfback, McConnell was back to his best scouting the packs and Szwaja was hitting the packs hard.
The second term saw Beaconsfield waste a lot of chances with the strong breeze. Duffy and Taylor were racking up possessions at will in the midfield. The backline was holding firm with Battaglin and Jackson working their way on top of their opponents. Mislicki’s tackling pressure was also a highlight.
At halftime, Beaconsfield held a slight lead.
Cranbourne jumped the Eagles in the third and got out to a fourgoal lead.
Then the coach took a ‘hanger’ in the square and goaled to keep Beaconsfield in the contest.
Kelf was dominating the ruck all around the ground and at the last change Beaconsfield was 20 points down.
The crucial turnaround came when Fletcher, who was being well tagged in to the forward half, was moved.
This had an immediate effect with him kicking two and having a hand in another couple.
Scores were tied and the game had turned into a hardfought contest and Aylen slapped through a point to put the Eagles in front.
More than 34 minutes had gone when McConnell kicked the sealer to give the Eagles their first win for the season.
Scores: Beaconsfield 11.12.78 d Cranbourne 10.11.71.
Goals: H. Robins 5, K. Fletcher, L. McConnell, J. Duffy, D. Mislicki, 1.
Best: R. Taylor, D. Battaglin, J. Duffy, C. Kelf, C. Jackson, D. Mislicki.
RESERVES
The game was a hardfought tussle and the Eagles let themselves down in the third quarter when they had the wind and failed to take full advantage.
The Eagles were unable to stay with Cranbourne that managed to pull away in the last ten minutes of the game.
Ryan Olsson played his third game of football in 12 hours and performed very well in all three and Nick Smith played his second game for the day
Scores: Cranbourne 8.13.61 d Beaconsfield 5.9.39.
Goals: A. Jolliffe, A. Muirhead, S. Munday, R. Olsson, J. Reynolds, 1.
Best: R. Jolliffe, G. Helliar, M. Burns, S. Munday, R. Price, R. Olsson.
UNDER 18
Beaconsfield started well and had the better of the first term with Calteri and Noonan playing well in the centre.
Costly misses, however, only put the Eagles ahead be 23 points at the first break.
The second quarter was played in two halves with Cranbourne having all the play, then, two late goals gave the Eagles the lead at halftime.
The third and fourth quarters were a struggle with Cranbourne throwing everything at the Eagles.
We wish the young Cranbourne player who broke his ankle all the best, and hope that he has a speedy recovery and all goes well.
Scores: Beaconsfield 11.10.76 d Cranbourne 9.4.58.
Goals: D. Calteri, M. Collins, J. Gibson, L. Kowalski 2, J. Boumann, J. Linkins, P. Van Lambaart, 1.
Best: D. Calteri, S. Benbow, A. Gwozdziewski, J. Noonan, A. Campbell.
UNDER 18 COLTS
Beaconsfield travelled to Regents Park, Aspendale on a cold Friday night and played well in the first quarter, but let EdithvaleAspendale back into the game in the second.
After the coach let the players know about some home truths at half time, the team displayed a great team game in the third to hold the opposition at bay and in the last piled on six goals to win by 43 points.
Goals: R. Barton 2, R. Connelly, R. George, M. Griffiths, S. Jolliffe, C. McQuilten, R. Pavitt, S. Stanley, P. Wood, 1.
Best: R. Olsson, P. Tuck, P. Wood, R. Paligorov, M. Hahnel, M. Griffiths.
