MOYSTON/WILLAURA moved back into the winner's circle with a strong showing against a determined Wickliffe/Lake Bolac unit on Saturday at Willaura.
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The Pumas responded in the best possible fashion coming off a disappointing loss to Tatyoon six days earlier, by downing the Magpies 11.6 (72) to 9.4 (58).
Moyston/Willaura coach Jacob Hamilton said his team was made to work for victory after trailing the visitors early in the contest.
"We've been trying to focus on producing better first halves, because that has let us down in previous matches," he said.
"Our preparation has been a focus and although in the first quarter we did come out how I wanted us to, Lake Bolac also came to play and really took it up to us."
Big man Brad Keilar asserted himself on the contest for the Pies during the opening term and fed players around him including Cody Watson, Lachie Kelly and Brett Macarthur very well. This led Wickliffe/Lake Bolac to an eight point buffer at the first change.
Pumas' co-captains Luke Thomas and Matt Peel took it upon themselves to lead the team's revival, with Moyston/Willaura slowly chipping away throughout the second term to eventually hold a slender two point advantage at the main break.
The home side was able to open up a 14-point gap on the scoreboard during the premiership quarter, with the run of young guns Shane Gannon and Ford Guthrie from the wings proving the difference.
"They gave us plenty of run through the middle of the ground and really helped us to open it up," Hamilton said.
"We played on whenever we could and that's when we started getting on top of them.
"That third quarter we probably had close to 90 per cent of the ball. I think the scoreline didn't really judge how well we were playing."
The fourth quarter saw the two teams go goal-for-goal, with the Pies unable to reel back in the deficit despite the standout performance of Charlie Archer, with support from Bowes Kelly.
Hamilton praised the efforts of his defence, led by Rhys Cronin and John Vanderwaal, who held firm when under siege.
“We would have been lost without those two, they really stood tall for us all day,” Hamilton said.
“I’d love to count how many meters Rhys gained for us, because almost every possession he took a bounce and ran hard.”
Lachie Hamilton with four goals led the scoring in the 14-point Pumas’ win.
SM&W Rovers got the jump on the more fancied Penshurst to lead by 15 points at quarter time.
Coach Joe Carmody (three goals) was influential across the ground and found good support from in-form duo Nic Byrne and Andrew Toan.
The Bombers hit back in the second term kicking five goals to two and taking a four point buffer into the main break.
The second half was all one-way traffic in Penshurst’s favour, with the visitors kicking six goals to two.
Bradley Scott was named the Bulldogs’ best in the 12.10 (82) to 8.7 (55) loss, while Tyler Mason and Lachlan Fisher were also among the top performers.
It was a whole team effort which saw Tatyoon produce a 154-point win over the Ararat Eagles.
The Eagles were unable to score a major for the match, while the Hawks had five multiple goal kickers including Steven Butler (eight), Richard Tucker (six), Tyler Cronin (three) and John Butler (three).
Brett Bulger, Joey Dukic and Ash Leggett were again named among the Eagles’ best players.
Great Western had no answers for a rampaging Glenthompson/Dunkeld line-up which disposed of the Lions by 97-points.
At times the Lions looked good as they ran the ball and used the open space to advantage, allowing them to convert.
However, it just didn’t happen often enough and the Rams were always able to respond on the scoreboard too regularly.
The visitors had 13 majors on the board by halftime and continued to extend their lead with a four goal third term and five goal final term.
This was despite the efforts of consistent onballer Aaron Williams — who has featured in the best for Great Western almost every week — and Ben Newson, who spent time on the ball as well as at full-back.
Luke Notting and Sam Cocks were also named in the Lions’ top six.