Ocean Grove’s onslaught proves too much for Anglesea

A BLISTERING opening quarter from the Ocean Grove Grubbers (15.14.104) was enough to keep the Anglesea Kangaroos (8.12.60) at bay during today’s elimination final at Portarlington Recreation Reserve.

Scoring was one-sided at the beginning of the match, with Ocean Grove kicking the first five goals.

Anglesea kicked their first 20 minutes in, but the Grubbers capped off a stellar opening term with two more to their name and their seventh by the opening intermission.

Ocean Grove held a tight grip on the game heading into the second quarter on 48 to Anglesea’s 7.

Anglesea accumulated five shots at goal in the second but hit the mark only once after Jordan Erskine kicked his second, who was the Kangaroos’ only goalkicker of the opening half.

Meanwhile, Ocean Grove notched up its tenth goal of the half thanks to Logan Taylor’s three majors.

James Paterson, Kye Annand and Joseph McDonald were also multiple goal kickers for the Grubbers in the first half as they led 70 to 17 at the main break.

After a beautiful scoring run by Dale Kerr, it was Anglesea that commenced scoring in the second half looking to lift their spirits.

Annand quickly answered back with his third, and Ocean Grove swiftly regained the driver’s seat.

The red and white maintained an eight and a half goal lead going into the fourth, as all Ocean Grove needed to do going forward was maintain their composure, leading at the final change 86 to 29.

Anglesea saved their best quarter for last kicking four goals and seven behinds, but after Sam Donegan kicked his fourth and final goal, he put his side past the century mark and the Grubbers were in the clear with a cool 44-point win.

Donegan led the way in scoring for Ocean Grove, while Logan, Annan and Tom Waters walked away with three apiece.

The season comes to an end for the Kangaroos and sets up a massive finals clash next week for the Grubbers.

Next week’s first semi-final will entail another edition of the battle of the bridge between Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads.