Sport
Boroughs get one over old rivals
Brad Beitzel
08Apr08
PORT Melbourne delivered a sweet one-point victory over Sandringham at TEAC Oval on Saturday.
Coming off a 13-point loss to Collingwood in the opening round, Port remained confident despite going into time-on 16 points down.
Kicking to the old grandstand end with a breeze, new coach Gary Ayres said he knew if the team continued to play "controlled footy" it would prevail.
Adrian Bonaddio (three goals), Toby Pinwell and Luke Cotchett (three goals) brought the Borough home.
"I told the players this was eight quarters worth of work," Ayres said of the approach the team took into the first two matches.
Ayres was joyous at the effort in the second quarter when John Baird, Ryan McMahon and Sam Pleming were off the ground getting facial abrasions fixed. Sandy put on three goals while the midfield drive was restricted.
The trio returned to help Port in the second half.
The marketers of the VFL's rivalry round must have been happy with the spectacle, while the Borough enjoyed turning around their fortunes against their rivals.
During the two-division VFA era these sides were the only ones not to be relegated and their spicy relationship was re-ignited in 2004 when the Zebras won the flag in the last five seconds over Port.
During Sandy's triple premiership run (2004-06) it dined out at Port's expense.
"It's always a bit sweeter when you win over a very traditional rival," Ayres said.
PM 6.2 9.4 13.5 17.7-109 d SH 4.1 10.4 14.10 16.12-108
PM goals: Cotchett, Bonaddio 3, Cain 2, Pearce, Pitt, Robbins, Smith, Spriggs, Pinwill, Dalton, Fanning, Nahas
Best: Baird, McMahon, McGrath, Pinwill, McGlynn Bonaddio
