The Box Hill Hawks had a day to forget against North Ballarat on Saturday, battered and beaten by 54 points.

After the first quarter, North Ballarat piled on 17.9 to the Hawks 7.3 to win 18.11.119 to 10.5.65.

Box Hill’s usually fluent running game came undone, paving the way for North Ballarat to surge to victory.

Ed Curnow fought hard all day and was one of the best for the Hawks, along with Matthew Suckling who kicked two goals.

Box Hill Coach Brendon Bolton felt that North Ballarat’s pressure and mature bodies were a significant reason leading to the loss.

“To their credit they are very well coached, and have got some quite mature bodies that have been together for a while. It was disappointing that we turned the ball over so much, but that usually comes with added pressure. To their credit they pressurised us.

“We turned the footy over. But the positive out of that was we were getting our hands on the footy. I thought in the first quarter and a half we had opportunities to score and didn’t by obviously turning it over.

“We were still in the game till half time, but the scoreboard really played with our mindset; so for a young group that’s something we’ve got to learn.

“We’ve just got to keep playing the game contest by contest irrespective of the scoreboard.” Bolton said. 

Turnovers were a big problem for Box Hill, while constant misfired disposals led to the Hawks demise.

Leading at quarter time by 12 points, the Box Hill Hawks were slowly but surely finding their feet. North Ballarat slowing Box Hill’s run limited the usual driving space of the Hawks, leading to stoppage football.

Congested halves of the ground continued with huge tackling pressure by the North Ballarat midfield. Taking control in the second, North Ballarat kicked 6.4 to the Hawks 0.1 to all but take away the match.

Box Hill’s resurgence in the final term with 5.1 was a good sign leading into the new week with a pleasing finish to a game the Hawks would rather forget.

North Ballarat’s taller forwards led by North Melbourne’s Corey Jones, Josh Smith and Leigh Harding provided a hard match-up that the Hawks struggled to manage most of the game.

As the game opened up more in the second-half, Box Hill moved more freely - but constant ill-direction of disposal typified the Hawks miserable day.

Ed Curnow was again a spearhead in Box Hill’s efforts on the day.

“Ed Curnow has shown now over the whole course of this year in the four games he’s stepping up to be an A-Grade midfielder at this level.
 
“He’s winning a lot of contested football and using the ball better I think particularly by hand this year, that’s really promising.

“He still shows class at the level and has had a pretty consistent year as has Stevie Kenna, so it is a positive to see that those the boys are working hard and getting better with the more VFL football they play.” Bolton said.

Box Hill’s Marco Bello and Sam Gibson led by example in the centre in a tough day, while returning from suspension forward Ben Fagan was lively with two goals.

Shane Savage also worked hard for the Hawks, particularly in the first half getting keeping the side alive.
   
A lot can be learnt from the loss in a day the Hawks looked flat and blown away by the experience and power of the 2008/09 VFL Premier in North Ballarat.

Box Hill also unveiled its new alternative playing strip which will be worn on six occasions this season against non-VFA clubs playing in the VFL.

Next weekend, Box Hill meets the Northern Bullants at NAB Oval on Sunday 9 May.

Coming off a 106 point belting of the Frankston Dolphins, Northern Bullants will be brimming with confidence in a match which will be an important one for the Hawks in maintaining their top eight position. 

Box Hill Hawks: 3.2 / 3.3 / 5.4 / 10.5.65
North Ballarat: 1.2 / 7.6 / 12.6 / 18.11.119 

Goals: B. Fagan 2, J. Lisle 2, M. Suckling 2, S. Gibson, B. Dowler, G. Moss, T. Duryea

Best: E. Curnow, M. Suckling, M. Bello, S. Gibson, B. Fagan, S. Kenna