Happy Doves Keith Dobson and Ryan Hendy after their side’s one-point win over Narre Warren on Sunday.WITH Doveton’s seniors trailing Narre Warren by 37 points at half time in the qualifying final, few at the game would have given the Doves a chance. They had started their finals campaign in terrible form, struggling to even score in the first two quarters.
But coach Steve Henwood had not given up. Remaining calm and positive, he simply told his players to lift the intensity. To the Doves’ credit they did and in an exciting conclusion snatched a one-point victory to progress into the second semi-final.
Peter Greenstreet was once again the Doves’ main target up forward, finishing with four goals. Ryan Hendy was the only other multiple goal scorer with two.
On-baller Justin Hill moved into defence in the second half and was a catalyst in the Doves’ victory. He was solid and gave great rebound. Other key players for the Doves were wingmen Shannon Clarke and Dave Welling who were great in the second half but were even better in the first half when the Doves were really struggling.
Score: Doveton 11.9.75 d Narre Warren 10.14.74.
RESERVES
THE seconds battled hard all day against Narre Warren but just couldn’t establish a key target up forward and ended up going down by 44 points.
The game was still there to be won in the second quarter but the Doves could not capitalise on several chances. In the end the Doves ran out of legs and were overrun by Narre Warren in the second half.
Mark Mott once again played a great game giving the Doves some hope by playing four consistent quarters. Small men Trent Day and Craig Milne were also good on the ball and created a lot of pressure on Narre’s defence and on-ballers.
Up forward the Doves couldn’t manage a multiple goal kicker with singles to Chris Egan, Michael Rodriquez, Rohan Scott and Glenn Hamilton.
Score: Narre Warren 10.14.74 d Doveton 4.6.30.
UNDER-18s
THE young Doves got off to a terrible start on Sunday and never recovered, going down by 40 points to Narre Warren. In the first quarter the Doves could manage only one point and trailed by 35 points at the first break.
From here the match was quite even but the Doves didn’t use the wind to their advantage and four goals behind was the nearest they came to Narre.
Michael Lazyck lifted the Doves in the third quarter and also kicked a goal. Daniel Bianco was solid in defence putting up a great fight with the ball coming in at great speed. Up forward the Doves struggled to find an avenue to goal with Stephen Henwood the only multiple goal kicker, finishing with two.
Score: Narre Warren 14.11.95 d Doveton 8.7.55.
