BOX HILL has notched its fifth Peter Jackson VFL victory for 2015, accounting for a resilient Northern Blues outfit by 28 points in round seven at Box Hill City Oval on Sunday.

The Hawks were made to fight hard early, before establishing a clear gap from the Blues during the second half.
 
Jonathan Simpkin was the standout for the Hawks, collecting 36 disposals and three goals in a best-on-ground performance, while Jonathan O’Rourke was also prominent with 28 disposals.
 
Of Simpkin’s goals, the first was particularly special, as he unleashed a torpedo from 90 metres out that travelled 60 metres through the air before bouncing the remaining distance.
 
Speaking after the victory, Simpkin said he was pleased to be finding some strong form.
 
“It was probably one of my better games for the year,” said Simpkin.
 
“I’m starting to get a bit of form building up after a slow start which is good.
 
“The goal was a bit of a lucky one I think, I just tried to surge it forward, managed to get onto a torp and it skidded through nicely.
 
“In the end, it was just good for the team to play some good footy and get the win.”
 
With rain once again a feature at Box Hill City Oval, the Hawks were greeted to a very even first-quarter contest.
 
A goal from a 45-metre set shot on the boundary to Schoenmakers got Box Hill and the key-position player off to the perfect start, but Box Hill wasn’t able to kick consecutive goals in the first quarter.
 
The Blues managed to continually peg the Hawks back any time the 2014 grand finalists threatened to establish a lead.
 
Simpkin’s goal of the year contender was enough to claim a five-point lead at the first break.
 
The fragile lead was lost immediately in the second quarter, as the Blues opened the goal tally for the term to draw scores level.
 
However it was the closest the Blues would come for the remainder of the day, as Teia Miles’ first goal followed by Schoenmakers’ second finally provided Box Hill with consecutive goals.
 
A further two goals to the Blues’ one was enough to establish a 19-point lead at half-time.
 
Determined not to allow the Blues back into the game, the Hawks battled out a stalemate early in the third quarter, before Tim O’Brien and Sam Grimley added a second goal each to establish a five-goal lead that was maintained for the remainder of the game.
 
The Blues, trailing by 26 points at three-quarter time, had a faint glimmer of hope at pulling off an upset.
 
But any fairy-tale ending was quickly put to bed, as Box Hill put through the first three goals of the final quarter to effectively end the contest.
 
A couple of consolation goals for the Blues managed to reign the margin in, but it didn’t stop the Hawks from recording a strong victory.

Now sitting on five wins from six games, the Hawks find themselves jointly on top of the ladder, despite having had a bye.
 
The third-placed Hawks will now clash with second-placed Port Melbourne on June 6 at Box Hill City Oval, with only a minute percentage difference separating the two sides.
 
The game will be broadcast within Victoria on Channel 7, with coverage beginning at 12pm.
 
Box Hill Hawks  3.1  7.3  10.6  15.6    (96)
Northern Blues 2.2   4.2   6.4   10.8   (68)
 
Goals: Schoenmakers 3, Simpkin 3, O’Brien 2, Grimley 2, Miles 2, Iles, Willsmore, McEvoy.
 
Best: Simpkin, Iles, Schoenmakers, O’Rourke, Gibson, Whitecross.