By Justin Flynn
Newcomb consigned Ocean Grove to bottom rung on the BFL ladder, at least for the time being.
In an entertaining game at Grinter Reserve, the Power won 14.12(96) to 11.13(79) to notch their first win of the season while the Grubbers are still winless.
Ocean Grove had no match for power forward Jack Duke, who bagged seven goals and missed several others in a best afield display.
Duke kicked Newcomb’s first two goals as the Power were way more assured going into their forward 50.
Kye Annand was strong in the air for Ocean Grove as the home team took a three-goal lead into the first break.
A goal after the siren to skipper Ryan Jackman after a huge tackle on Josh Lange gave Newcomb a deserved lead.
Nick Bourke started forward in the second term as Annand continued his aerial strength, but Newcomb got out to a 25-point lead.
Connor Asquith was proving to be a tough match-up and goaled early followed by another to Fletcher Long to bring the margin back to eight points at the 20-minute mark.
Clever play by Richie Hollins found Jude Poyser who goaled from 35 metres to make it 14 points after 23 minutes. Duke had a chance to stretch the margin to 20 but missed from 50 metres out and missed again just a minute later from 30 metres.
Bourke missed from 40 metres after a free kick and the players went into the sheds with Newcomb holding a 14-point lead.
Ocean Grove then dominated play for a good 10 minutes after the break, but failed to capitalise on the scoreboard.
All of a sudden Newcomb was making fundamental mistakes by foot and when Bourke missed at the 11-minute mark, the margin was just six points, but Grove had booted 1.4 after completely dominating and needed to have made more impact on the scoreboard.
As is often the case, Newcomb responded with goals to Jack Drought after a superb tackle and a mid-air snap from Duke on the goal line to push the margin back out to 17 points after 19 minutes.
Bourke responded by kicking truly after a strong grab after appearing to injure his leg in a contest minutes earlier, but some clever play by the dangerous Josh Saltalmacchia gave Duke another major and the margin was back out to 17 points after 27 minutes.
Annand had a set shot immediately after from 45m metres, but missed and on the siren Asquith goaled from a free kick for a high tackle to cut the deficit to 10 points.
An early final-term goal for Newcomb and another from Saltalmacchia gave the Power a 21-point lead.
Annand received a free for over the shoulder and goaled at the 17-minute mark and trailing by 17 points, there was still time for the Grubbers.
Joe Pierce goaled and Duke missed, but Ed Dayman missed a relatively easy set shot and there was still only 16 points in it at the 22-minute mark.
However, an unusually short final term had the Power in front by 16 when the siren sounded before the clock hit 26 minutes to give the home side a deserved win.
ANGLESEA had to come from behind early to defeat Portarlington by nine points. Ash Caldwell was best for the Roos while former Richmond player Connor Menadue returned from injury to boot six goals for Port.
A FIVE-goal to one final term gave Geelong Amateur a 23-point win against Drysdale. Tom Gribble was best afield and Patrick Dowling kicked five goals for Ammos, who were three points down at three-quarter time.
TWIN towers Brock Close and Mitch Herbison each kicked four goals as Barwon Heads overpowered Modewarre by six goals. Close was returning from a lengthy injury layoff while Archie Hilderbrandt kicked three and gun defender Kyle Polley was best. Connor Joseph bagged four goals for Modda.
TORQUAY was once again challenged and once again prevailed. The Tigers defeated a gutsy Queenscliff by 23 points with Nathan Mifsud best on ground.
NEWCOMB vs OCEAN GROVE
Newcomb 6.3(39), 8.8(56), 11.9(75), 14.12(96)
Ocean Grove 3.3(21), 6.6(2), 9.11(65), 11.13(79)
Goals: Newcomb – Jack Duke 7, Richie Hollins 2, Josh Saltalmacchia, Jude Poyser, James Molloy, Andrew Steele, Jack Drought. Ocean Grove – Connor Asquith 4, Nick Bourke 2, Ed Dayman, Kye Annand, Fletcher Long, Joe Pierce, Kirby Reilly.
Best: Newcomb – Jack Duke, Ryan Jackman, Corey Ogle, Josh Taylor, Jarrod Stafford, Blake Ritchie. Ocean Grove – Kye Annand, Jacob Talarico, Max Sutton, Edward Dayman, Cameron Fowler, Connor Asquith.
