Box Hill has fallen to a second defeat of 2021, beaten by Werribee at City Oval on Saturday afternoon.

The Hawks fielded a relatively inexperienced side, with just nine AFL-listed players and Eastern Ranges prospect Tyler Sonsie representing the brown and gold.

The visitors came into the contest in better form than their one-and-two record suggested and proved too strong across all four quarters.

In an even opening term there was little between the sides. The first score of the day – a behind to Werribee – arrived after 10 minutes and the first goal, also to Werribee, arrived five minutes later.

Brayden Kilpatrick, who would amass 23 possessions in his second outing for the season, produced his side’s first of the day, but from that point of the first quarter it was all Werribee.

The yellow and black peeled off four unanswered goals to assume a measure of momentum and control they would enjoy for much of the day.

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Late in the term Box Hill put together one it’s best moves for the match. James Blanck, playing forward of centre, lead up to the wing and marked strongly overhead. Finn Maginness received the quick handball and hit up the leading Sonsie right on the siren.

Sonsie’s kick from just inside 50 held its line and the hosts got a much needed boost heading to the quarter time huddle.

That momentum carried into the second, as the Hawks got to within two kicks thanks to the boot of Brooksby. The big ruckman’s goal came after a period of strong defence to keep Werribee at bay, but it was the last look Box Hill would have at goal for some time.

Werribee would dominate territory for the next 10-12 minutes, camping the Hawks inside their defensive fifty through a series of repeat entries.

Damon Greaves pulled off a pair of terrific individual efforts to deny his opponent as the team defence scrambled to keep Werribee at bay, while Damian Mascitti and Jai Newcombe were their side’s most prolific and influential with ball in hand.

Developing ruck Ned Reeves, who’d halved his contest with the experienced Matthew Lobbe, departed the field having fallen awkwardly and seemingly twisting his ankle. He would sit out the remainder of the game.

Fergus Greene turned nothing into something during a brief forward fifty entry, profiting from some manic team pressure to poke home a much-needed goal.

Any hope of turning one into two was quickly snuffed out, as Werribee answered in short order to restore their four-goal advantage.

At half-time Sam Mitchell and his coaches rung the changes, moving skipper Mascitti forward and James Blanck back. Sadly, it was Werribee who started the better.

They would kick the first three goals – their only scoring shots of the quarter – in quick succession to blow the contest wide open and secure a game-high 44-point lead.

With the next goal more important than ever, the Hawks dug in to produce their best spell of the day.

Mascitti kicked back-to-back goals, both of them outstanding snaps, before Sonsie ran inside 50, steadied and drilled a beauty to contract the margin to a manageable 26-points.

When Tyler Brockman improbably split the middle from hard against the boundary the Hawks were back within touching distance.

Just as things looked to be tracking the right way Josh Deluca left the field and wouldn’t return.

At the three-quarter-time huddle Sam Mitchell congratulated his charges on a solid third term, but stressed their work was not done. With last week’s superb come-from-behind win fresh in the memory there was belief another resuce mission could deliver the four points.

By the time the fourth got underway the sun had faded, the lights were on and the rain rolled in, but when the scoring started it was all the wrong way.

Werribee extended their lead to 25-points after 10 hard fought minutes and would all but seal the result a short time later with their second.

Werribee would claim the Beyond Blue Cup with a 37-point victory, joining their hosts at two-and-two on the season.

Box Hill’s 2021 campaign continues next week at home to North Melbourne.

Goals: Sonsie, Mascitti 2, Kilpatrick, Brooksby, Greene, Brockman

Disposals: Newcombe 26, Kilpatrick 23, Mascitti 23, De Wit 22, Maginness 21, Sonsie 21

Best: Mascitti, Newcombe, Reeves, Kilpatrick, Beasley