Gap grows in Mininera football

Moyston/Willaura now sits three matches clear of Tatyoon on top of the competition ladder after its 20-point defeat of the Hawks.

Just one point separated the two teams at quarter time before the Pumas turned up the heat with double the number of scoring shots, eight to four in the second term.

There was no momentum shift in the third term, as the Pumas again doubled their opposition in front of goal and extended their lead to 27 points.

The Hawks made one last charge for supremacy in the final term, but it wasn't enough as they went down 7.9 (51) to 10.11 (71).

Tatyoon coach Jarrod Blandford said when his players executed their foot skills and moved the ball quickly it opened the game up, they just didn't do it often enough.

"This is what happens when you go up against a good quality opposition, you can't afford to be turning the ball over all the time," he said.

"It was a tightly fought contest, both teams are always looking to grab that bit of a mental edge, unfortunately we didn't play anything near our best football."

Blandford said best on ground, Sean McDougall was prolific through the middle assisted by Cameron Gellie.

Blandford himself was also named in the best along with Andrew McDougall, Brodie Mines and wingman Andrew Maconachie.

Daniel Guinane kicked four of the winning Pumas' goals to be named among his team's best. Josh Bywater, Lynden Brewis, Joshua Day, Luke Thomas and Jacob Hamilton were also stand outs.

Wickliffe/Lake Bolac suffered a shock loss at the hands of Glenthompson/Dunkeld.

The Magpies played to expectations in what was primarily a pretty even first half, taking a nine point lead into the main break.

However, players were caught short in the second half as the Rams booted 2.6 in the third quarter.

If not for their opposition's inaccuracy in front of goal the margin could have put the Magpies out of contention at three quarter time.

Despite kicking another two goals in the final term, the reigning premiers were left stunned, 7.4 (46) to 6.13 (49).

Coach Nic Willox said it was a disappointing result.

"Our structure and ball movement just wasn't good enough," he said.

“Glenthompson/Dunkeld played to the muddy conditions and the second half of the third quarter was when they really applied pressure and gained a number of inside 50s.

“I think we managed to dominate the final term, but just couldn’t get over the line,” he said.

Ruckman William Warner was awarded best on ground for his performance, closely followed by Sam Archer for his work in the back line.

Thomas Stephens, Danniel Smith, Aaron Stewart and Bardley Watach were also named in the best. 

Wickliffe/Lake Bolac now clings to fifth spot on the ladder, with only percentage keeping it in the top five.

Great Western went close, but just couldn’t hold on against a Penshurst outfit fighting for a place in the finals.

With pride on the line, the Lions, buoyed by the return of several key players came out with the intent to take an early advantage and put their bodies on the line. 

Coach Nick Thomas and BJ Burton led the way through the middle of the ground whilst Nathan Ringin provided a spark for the Lions in the forward line. 

Penshurst was shown the way by coach and star on baller Justin Eales who found the ball at will in the first half.

This gave the Bombers plenty of opportunity in their forward half with tall forward Tim McGregor, who finished the day with eight goals a focal point. 

It was the class of Eales and McGregor again in the second term along with utility Ben Hunt that drove Penshurst forward on countless occasions, resulting in a six goal to one second quarter.

The Lions struggled under pressure, turning the ball over at crucial times and allowing Penshurst to set up a 21 point lead at the main break.

Thomas presented his players with a simple ultimatum at halftime, they could take the easy way out and allow Penshurst to run away with the game or fight their way back into the contest.

It was an inspired Lions team which got the jump on their more fancied opponents in the second half with Burton and Shannon Notting kicking goals for the Lions.

When Ringin kicked his fifth major for the day to give Great Western a sixteen point lead with just 10 minutes remaining in the final term as well as what looked to be a knee injury to Penshurst coach Justin Eales, the Lions looked all but home. 

However, as the minutes ticked by the Lions grew shaky coughing up the ball through the centre and again allowing the Penshurst midfield to get on top of the contest. 

The Bombers kicked three late unanswered goals to steal victory moments before the final siren.

The Lions were left licking their wounds after falling agonisingly short of their fourth win of the season, 14.9 (93) to 13.17 (95). 

A second quarter fight back was the prelude to SM&W Rovers sealing its seventh straight win. 

In a performance, that was far from flattering, considering the Bulldogs faced a lowly placed opposition in the form of Woorndoo/Mortlake, they went into the second term with an 11 point deficit.

Rovers managed to gain the ascendancy before the Tigers again matched it with their opponents in the third term.

Poor kicking in front of goal prevented the Bulldogs from running away with the result, with just 13 points the final margin — 10.17 (77) to 10.4 (64).

Ross Thompson was awarded best on ground for Rovers with Shaun Liston, Matthew Mulcahy, Tyler Mason, Rhys Cahir and Dylan Achison also recognised. 

The Ararat Eagles slumped to another defeat, this weekend at the hands of Caramut.

The Eagles were never a match for their opponents as the Swans kicked 10 first half goals.

No amount of Ararat effort was ever going to be enough to prevent the second half walk over which resulted in Caramut victors, 19.18 (132) to 4.6 (30).

Among the best for Ararat was Brent Bulger with two goals. Mark Coole was awarded best afield for his performance with Nathan Wemyss, Lewis Baker, Justin Bond and Ashley Leggett also recognised.

In the remaining match of the round it took until the third quarter for Hawkesdale/Macarthur to break free of Lismore/Derrinallum.

Just five points separated the teams after an even affair in the first half.

The Southern Eagles grabbed a slender three goal lead in the premiership quarter and were able to maintain the advantage in the final term to finish in front, 11.9 (75) to 8.6 (54).