ST KILDA Sharks held off a fast-finishing St Albans Spurs in a close-fought contest at Kings Park Reserve on Sunday, recording a 12.6 (78) to 9.7 (61) victory.The win sets up an intriguing end to the VWFL Premier Division home-and-away season, keeping the Sharks in the hunt for the finals. Two late goals in the opening quarter gave the Sharks a narrow 11-point lead to begin the match in tense fashion.That proved to be the trend for most of the match, as the Sharks wouldn’t relinquish that lead, despite the best efforts of St Albans. Holding sway for most of the second quarter, the visitors added a further three goals to the host club’s two. Being able to find space and runners regularly added to the Sharks’ momentum and it was an entertaining affair as both sides looked to attack at all times. The tide turned somewhat as the Spurs won the third quarter to give themselves a real chance heading into the final quarter, trimming their guests’ lead to 10 points at the final break. Goals to Renee Forth and Danni Green gave the Spurs hope. Another goal to Forth with just over five minutes remaining had the Spurs’ to within five points in the last quarter. However, two late goals from Sharks Jess Gardner and Tammy Norquay finally getting their side over the line. Special mention needs to go out to those who played in the first-ever AFL women’s match at the MCG the night before, all who represented played on Sunday. Earlier in the reserves clash to begin the day, St Kilda defeated St Albans 10.24 (84) to 0.0 (0).
WESTERN Jet and former Keilor junior Jake Greiser has again improved his draft stocks after putting on another good performance for Vic Metro at the AFL Under-18 Championships last week. Greiser, a tough inside midfielder, has enjoyed a good Vic Metro campaign to date and was named among the best players on the ground against South Australia at Geelong’s Simonds Stadium. In a low-scoring affair that also featured Greiser’s Western Jets and Keilor team-mate James Sicily, South Australia hung on for a three-point win despite conceding three goals to one in the final quarter. South Australia led at every change but never established a match-winning lead, and almost let the game slip in the final few minutes. The final round of the championships will take place at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night, with Vic Metro due to face arch rival Vic Country. Both Greiser and Sicily are good chances to play.
ROUND 12 of the Footscray Cycling Club’s Winter Road Season saw riders assemble at the notoriously difficult Granite Road Hills out at Staughtonvale to weather conditions that could only be described as unusual for the area. With barely a breath of wind and dry, moderate conditions, A Grade set off to complete three laps of the Balliang loop before heading out to climb the Granite Road hills, complete a ‘hotdog’ turn and head for one more lap of the loop before crossing the finish line. Thirty-four year old environmental manager Jason Costin had a change of luck after having the second worst week of any Altona resident barring a certain politician, crashing his main race bike and snapping it in two earlier this week. “We all rode reasonably honest for the first three laps, Miles DaCosta on the front as usual,” he said. “After Miles, Leigh Kelly and I put in a few hard efforts in the hills we managed to get a break on the rest and we just rolled smooth turns until the sprint finish where I just prayed that the bike I cobbled together didn’t fall apart. It played up all day.” Costin took the sprint from DaCosta in second and Kelly in third.
