RESERVOIR held off a fast-finishing Thomastown in Round 10 action of Division 3 football, while South Morang and St Mary’s both recorded comfortable wins.
Reservoir atoned for its 83-point belting at the hands of Thomastown in Round 3 with a narrow victory at Main Street Reserve last Saturday.
In a possible Grand Final preview, the Mustangs looked to be cruising towards a massive win at the last change. But an accurate Bears outfit booted 7.1 to 3.5 in the final stanza to reduce the margin from 30 to 10 points.
Jacob Osei-Duro booted another five goals to remain well clear on the goal kicking ladder with 48. He has booted 28 goals in four games since the bye. Up the other end, Reservoir’s Ashley Flavel scored five and was ably assisted by David McGregor with four.
St Mary’s came off the bye to score a convincing win over bottom side Parkside at Whatmough Park – its second win in succession as it moved within one win of the top four. Earlier in the year, the Burra lost first up after the bye by 95 points to South Morang.
This time, they managed to hit their straps more quickly – even outscoring the renowned fast-starting Devil outfit in the first quarter. From that point on, they drew away to record a 52-point victory.
“It is pleasing that our transition into the forward line is starting to come along,” Burra coach Con Borg said.
Jason Pilakis, in his first senior game since being recruited from Lalor, snared three goals in a promising debut. Matthew Patti excelled in defence for the second half after James Quinn was injured.
Both teams had to cope with multiple injuries. “The effort was there all day,” Devils’ coach George Lattouf said, who lost Jack Philpott early in the contest.
Under-19s player Josh Stroud kicked three goals for South Morang and was adjudged best on ground as he helped his team to a comfortable 42-point away win over Heidelberg West.
“It was a hard fought win in a competitive game,” noted Lions’ coach Craig Lambert.
His team gained the ascendency after quarter time and is now tracking nicely as it looks to sure up a top four spot.
Promising ruckman Mitchell Reeve was best for the Hawks, who have now slipped to sixth on the ladder, percentage behind St Mary’s. They now have a bye before another challenge when they host Reservoir at Heidelberg Park.
South Morang will be favoured to strengthen its grip on third spot when it hosts Parkside at Mill Park Lakes Reserve in Round 11 action. The Devils would like to be able to settle their team, but are likely to lose some players due to injury from their clash with St Mary’s.
Teams have been doing quite well coming off the bye in the past two weeks. Watsonia will be looking for that trend to continue, but they face the daunting task of combating Thomastown on the rebound at A.K. Lines Reserve.
The Bears will be keen to get back on the winners’ list immediately after the Mustangs ruined their unbeaten season the previous weekend. Watsonia faces the prospect of losing three games straight since its 95-point demolition of Heidelberg West in Round 7 – unless it can upset the league leaders.
But their last encounter saw a narrow win 14-point victory to Thomastown over the Saints – also at A.K. Lines Reserve. The Bears led by 39-points at three quarter time in that encounter, before Watsonia kicked the opening five goals of the final term. A late goal to Joseph Merlo sealed the win for the Bears.
After a shaky start to the year, St Mary’s has recorded two impressive wins either side of the bye. With Watsonia just one win ahead of them, the Burra have a chance to draw level with the fourth-placed Saints. But St Mary’s task is equally as difficult as that of Watsonia.
The Burra this week travel to play a confident Reservoir at Crispe Park. The Mustangs had a comfortable 56-point win when these teams last met in Round 1 at Whatmough Park and head into this week’s encounter on the back of six successive victories.
St Mary’s faces the Bears the following week in a tough fortnight as it attempts to keep in touch with the top four.
