On an extremely muddy and cold day at the Kingdome and the ground now in a condition not seen since the early 1980s.
Kinglake was able to play better for most of the day than Yarra Glen at ground-level contests with Kinglake winning by 36 points on a cold six-degree day.
The game started with Yarra Glen kicking to the Croc Pocket (Kinglake West) end of the Kingdome where many former players from Panton Hill League days had come for past players day.
Kinglake kicked the first score of the day by kicking a ground ball through for a behind. Kinglake then managed to get the first goal on the board. Yarra Glen seemed out of form and found it difficult to adapt to the very muddy and wet conditions.
By the end of the first quarter, Kinglake was in front having kicked 2.5 (17) to Yarra Glen’s 1.2 (8).
Kinglake continued on at the ground level contests for possession into the second quarter, putting on two goals to double Yarra Glen’s score midway through the second quarter. Yarra Glen could only manage two scoring opportunities throughout Kinglake’s 11.
At half-time, this left Kinglake with a six-goal lead in low-scoring conditions. As the boys went into the rooms it was Kinglake’s 7.11 (53) to Yarra Glen’s 2.3 (15).
Yarra Glen came out firing in the third quarter and kicked the first score of the quarter, a behind.
The River Pigs groundwork had improved dramatically during the quarter, reducing the margin to 29 points and kicking two goals to Kinglake’s one before the third term break. Kinglake 8.14 (62) Yarra Glen 4.9 (33).
In a hard-fought last quarter, Yarra Glen tried all they could to reduce the margin as tensions ran high and a few minor melees broke out around the ground during the final term.
Yarra Glen continued to improve, as Kinglake began to feel the improved Yarra Glen pressure. Despite a last effort to reduce the margin, Kinglake 11.22 (88) defeated Yarra Glen 7.10 (52).
Next week, in another of Kinglake’s major inter-town rivalries the Lakers will travel to Yea, who are doing very well at the moment in division two footy. This will be a tough test for the Lakers on Yea’s home turf.
Following next week’s away game against Yea, Sunday sees Kinglake’s annual Reverse Draw, when Richmond footballer Dustin “Dusty” Martin will join Kevin Sheedy and Peter Moody at the mighty Kingdome for an afternoon of entertainment.
Tickets are still available by calling Danny “Doggy” Heal on 0439 170 530.
Article first published The Yea Chronicle, Wednesday, June 29, p.21.
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