From www.localfooty.com.au
Reported by Paul Amy
Full Story Click Here
IT had been a grind for Port Melbourne in previous weeks. On Saturday it was a gallop.
Led by another best-afield performance from John Baird, the Borough gave a splendid performance to defeat a Bendigo Gold team replete with Essendon players by 53 points at North Port Oval.
Surface water covered the ground, but Port made light of the slippery conditions to double up the visitors, 16.19 (106) to 8.5 (53).
Only two goals split the sides at half-time, but the Borough kicked clear in the third quarter and in the end won comfortably, their most impressive effort for weeks.
Baird is the JJ Liston Trophy favourite and he enhanced his prospects with 32 possessions, each used with the thought of a craftsman.
Fellow leaders Toby Pinwill, Wayde Skipper, Shane Valenti, Adam Bentick and Chris Cain (three goals) also played decisive hands in the victory, but coach Gary Ayres was encouraged that some less established players made important contributions.
Josh Scipione and Tim Allan were the most notable.
Scipione had a blazing first quarter and went on to slot four goals, wheeling on to his left boot time and again. Allan, from amateur club Ormond, played his best game at senior level, showing why Ayres holds him in high regard.
Last week against Box Hill Hawks the coach was moved to give his team a mighty blast, but only praise was on his lips in the rooms on Saturday.
"I thought after half-time we played some real serious footy," Ayres said.
"I think we kept them to eight goals and we scored over 100 points that's some of the football we know the Borough can play.
"But what I was really pleased about today was not only the response to last week but also that some of our younger players really stepped forward, Scipione, (Matthew) Wall, young Tim Allan and of course we had a nice little back-up ruckman in young Chris Prowse from the Oakleigh Chargers. Very pleased with their contributions."
Pinwill sent a scare into Port when, after being thrown to the ground in a tackle, he went off holding his right shoulder in the last quarter. He iced it and later reported it was feeling OK.
"He's pretty tough, mate. He doses on bullets and nails for breakfast, Toby. He told me he'll be all right for next week," Ayres said.
But Myles Pitt won't be. He missed the match with a foot "hot spot" and his season may be over, rotten luck for a player who also sat out last year's finals due to injury.
Port Melbourne rounds out the home-and-away fixture at North Ballarat on Saturday.
Port Melbourne 3.2, 7.4, 12.9, 16.10 (106) d Bendigo 2.1, 5.4, 6.4, 8.5 (53)
PM: Galea 4 Scipione 4 Cain 3 Allan Bentick Baird Bonaddio Skipper. Best: Baird Pinwill Valenti Scipione Skipper Allan
