Two Fighting Wins Against Higher Placed Opponents for the Senior Men’s Team
Big Contingent of Sharks’ Supporters at the SBMT Derby
While the Beaumaris supporters were rugged up against the cool weather at Mentone two weeks ago, it was a very hot contest on field with the Sharks producing one of their best performances for ages with a stirring come from behind victory over arch-rivals, St.Bedes/Mentone, for their sixth consecutive win. After being behind by 10 points at the main break the boys produced a magnificent second half of hard, contested footy to finish 19 points in front at the final siren, with Callum ‘Chopper’ Heath dominant in the ruck and youngster, Aiden McCarthy, playing a blinder on the wing. Skipper, Cal Linehan, was very strong in the final term as Mentone came home with the breeze, but the Beauy boys resisted the surge.
The whole team contributed on a ground that doesn’t normally suit the Sharks and that win took them past Mentone into third position.
Then last weekend the boys hosted the second placed side, AJAX, and were again put to the test with a close exciting finish. This game was a reverse of the previous weekend with the Sharks starting positively and looking well in control at half time with a lead of 35 points and with most supporters thinking the game was ‘in the bag’. However, AJAX had other ideas, and to their credit they fought back hard after half time and reduced the lead to 11 points at the orange break, before they hit the front for the first time with only 5 minutes left on the clock. Then our young team, which had Cal Heath, Aiden McCarthy, Tom Spencer and Reuben Smith missing from the team that beat Mentone, had to dig deep to fight back, and they showed great resilience to kick the last two goals for a 10 point victory. They were also down to two left standing on the bench, with Riley Mihailovic having to leave at half-time after being called up by Frankston, and Luka Pecer straining his hamstring as he kicked a crucial goal. The youngsters again stood tall with Under 19 players, Ben Seers and James Failla, kicking three goals each in sterling performances. There are currently some very talented and determined young footballers within our Senior and Under19 Squads.
This result now means that Josh Bourke’s team are only 2% off 2nd position and in with a real chance to secure the all-important double chance. They should win their 8th consecutive game this week at home to Parkside in front of the booked-out Junior Dad’s Luncheon which has Olympic Gold Medallist, Steve Hooker, coming along as Guest Speaker. Then they visit the undefeated Parkdale on July 5th, who were the last team to defeat Beauy in Rd 3!
This could be a season defining game.