Blacks survive semi-final classic

Monday 03 September 2018

The Uni Blacks live to fight another day in the 2018 Premier B competition, overcoming a determined Caulfield Grammarians side in a thrilling contest yesterday at Trevor Barker Oval.

First-quarter goals to Nick Batten and John Vrodos mean the Blacks went into the first change three points ahead, but still with work to do as the Fields held their own in the contest.

Caulfield put the foot down in the second term, kicking seven goals to four to head into the main break 17 points ahead and full of momentum.

The Blacks steadied the ship in the third term with four goals, but could only trim the deficit to 15 points at the final change.

Led by the experience of Bede Mahon, Josh Steadman and Jarrod Carlson and the x-factor of John Vrodos, Jordan Quaile and Lochie Dornauf, the Blacks took a gear their opponents didn’t have.

Vrodos and Dornauf kicked two goals each in the last term, while Lachlan Huntington moved forward and kicked a goal of his own. It was Lachlan Knight who kicked the sealer at the 21-minute mark, sending the Blacks supporters at Trevor Barker Oval into a frenzy.

A 19-point win was the end result, on the back of a withering burst of six goals to one in the fourth quarter. It was a contest worthy of a do-or-die semi-final.

Vrodos finished with four goals in a best on ground display, while Bede Mahon played a typical captain’s game in the midfield to help haul the Blacks over the line. As coach Cam Roberts said to the players after the game, it was barely believable the result had gone their way.

Old Carey awaits at Elsternwick next Saturday, to see who will take on St Bernards for the 2018 Premier B flag and also regain entry to Premier division in 2019.