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[b]Reserves:[/b] Werribee held Sandringham scoreless in the first quarter, but a seven goal second quarter by the Zebras set up a 15 point lead for the home side at the main break. The Werribee Tigers had three Bulldogs listed players in the side, while selection three from last year’s draft Colin Sylvia continued his return from osteitis pubis and was joined by two Melbourne rookies. Zebras captain Chad Liddell continues to gain match fitness through the reserves after his knee reconstruction last June. Sandringham listed players Leigh Fletcher and Jason Bristow had an impact - Fletcher showing the benefits of spending preseason practice matches in the senior side. Lachlan Smith, last year’s captain of Xavier College’s school side, also impresses with his rebounding play off the back flank. Demon Rookie Dale Carson rucked for much of the day in the absence of Dragons graduate Stephen Ott, and did a respectable job against Werribee’s 201cm giant Cameron Mahoney. It was a fairly lacklustre second half, Werribee only scoring two goals and Sandringham four to run out 32 point winners. Colin Sylvia provided a highlight in the last quarter with a long goal from the centre which went over the pack and bounced through. Werribee’s Dean Stankovic and Cameron Wight both came off the ground with injuries during the game. Didn’t see any injuries to Zebras players. [b]Seniors:[/b] It was anticipated to be the game of the round, an unbeaten Werribee side who had won their first two games of the season by a combined 116 points, against a Sandringham side at home coming off a fifteen goal win against Springvale. Western Bulldogs youngster Cameron Faulkner had been named in the squad for the AFL side this week, but missed out on final selection. He started on the wing against Melbourne’s number 5 draft pick Brock McLean. Both players were quite unaccountable, but had plenty of possession throughout the game and would both be in contention to make their AFL debuts next week. McLean would have had close to 30 possessions today. Regenerated as a defender this year, Patrick Wiggins found himself lining up on the competitions leading goalkicker Nick Sautner. Wiggins struggled with the strength of Sautner and by the end of the first quarter had given away a couple of free kicks for holding and pushing infringements. Brock McLean took the advantage on one of these frees and goaled early, and quick goals to Nick Smith and Peter Walsh not long after set up a 21 point lead for the home side at the first break. Bulldog Matthew Croft lined up in defence on the young Chris Johnson, while Dale Morris and Mitch Grant also had an interesting battle on the flank. Sandringham blew the game open in the second quarter kicking the only four goals and establishing a lead of 47 points at the main break. Those heading from the wing to the kiosk during half time could hear Barry Prendergast give his side a spray in the rooms, but it did little to fire up his side early in the third term. Andrew Mills kicked the first goal of the second half seven minutes into the quarter, Aaron Rau the first for Werribee after a free kick and fifty metre penalty against an undisciplined Daniel Ward. Good bullocking work by Chris Heffernan set up an easy goal to Simon O’Keefe. Werribee captain Travis Robertson moved onto the dangerous Nick Sautner who continued to have scoring opportunities. Barry Prendergast told his team that there was no point looking at the scoreboard (which showed a 61 point lead to the Zebras) at ¾ time because it would “only depress ya”, and that as far as he was concerned from that point on was the time Werribee were to start bouncing back from a disappointing performance. The challenge was to win the quarter, to get a lot of midfield run and more numbers to the contest. Daniel Ward kicked an early last quarter goal on the run from 50m out, while later in the quarter Ward generously handballed one off to Andrew Mills who made a meal of a kick from little more than 10m out. The second stringers had a go in the ruck, Old Xaverian Andrew Biddlecombe who has been an early season sensation for the Zebras, against Western Bulldog Will Minson. Patrick Wiggins and Teghan Henderson were moved forward in an attempt to find a set up that would work for the Tigers. The highlight was a 65m torp goal from David Mitchell. Sandringham won the final term, running out winners by 72 points. Werribee struggled for talls, Tim Walsh has no impact up forward and needs time in the reserves. Werribee’s strength in the first few games has been the some of their forwards, but they were missing James Podsiadly and Daniel Bandy, while James Condos did little today. David Mitchell was forced a long way from home to get his kicks. Patrick Wiggins moved forward later in the game after struggling in the backline, with Teghan Henderson joining him in the forward pocket, possibly due to an injury. Adam Morgan also had time up forward with no impact. Werribee were also very slow on their kick ins, players like Shane Birss and Teghan Henderson were really slow to get the ball back into play. Maybe it was those naughty people on Can Hill who didn’t get the ball back to them quickly? Cameron Faulkner and Wayde Skipper most likely to be given Western Bulldogs promotion. Kieran McGuiness also played well in the backline for the Tigers, shutting out Cameron Hunter in the first half and Paul Newman after half time. Cameron Hunter wasn’t sighted in the second half and may be injured for Sandringham. With Neale Daniher back from Sydney and watching closely, I would think Brock McLean and Daniel Ward would be the two most likely for Melbourne promotion. Sandringham head to Box Hill next week, while Werribee host Port Melbourne at Chirnside Park. Final Scores: Sandringham 19 15 129 Werribee 8 9 57 Sandringham Goals: Sautner 6, McLean 2, Walsh 2, Fisher 2, Smith, Johnson, Mills, Heffernan, O’Keeffe, Gallagher, Ward. Sandringham Best: Ward, Heffernan, McLean, Lamb, Carroll, Williams, Broadbridge, Bishop. Werribee Goals: Henderson 2, Mitchell 2, Birss, Croft, Rau, Walsh. Werribee Best: Henderson, Faulkner, McGuiness, Morris. [/b]