THOMASTOWN all but clinched the Division 3 minor premiership with a runaway 49-point win over Reservoir in Round 16.
Leading by just six points early in the third quarter, the Bears kicked 10 of the final 13 goals of the game to win 20.8 (128) to 12.7 (79) at Main Street Reserve.
Touted as likely Grand Final preview, the home side’s potent forwards did all the damage. Osama Saad snagged six goals, while Jacob Osei-Duro and Chris Leo each booted four and raked in numerous towering marks.
It was a successful return for Leo in his first game since Round 5 following an overseas holiday. The Bears forward line will soon be bolstered further with Michael Khoury set to return from injury.
Dylan Fuller also starred for the Bears through the midfield, winning plenty of the ball in space and always delivering with precision.
For Reservoir, young forward Brendan Meroli (three goals) showed great promise and looked lively throughout, while Joel Buckley and Ash Flavel (four goals) delivered good performances despite the heavy defeat.
As it did when the sides met in Round 3, Thomastown got the early jump on the Mustangs and booted the opening two goals within the first four minutes of play.
Despite a slow start, the visitors soon started winning the midfield battle and began supplying their forwards with regular entries inside attacking 50.
Meroli kicked his side’s first goal after a strong overhead mark, before Flavel put them in front a minute later after swooping on a loose ball and snapping truly.
The remainder of the quarter was relatively free flowing, with both sides displaying the attacking football which has seen them dominate the Division 3 competition this season.
After the lead changed hands another two times, Thomastown was able to go into the quarter time break with a six-point lead courtesy of a 50m goal from Fuller nearing the siren.
The Bears once again got an early goal to start the second term, with Leo kicking his second major after taking a contested mark in the goal square from an untidy kick forward.
Reservoir responded with two in short time to even the scoreboard. The first was a sensational set shot by Flavel from deep in the forward pocket, while the second was a running goal by Buckley from the resulting centre clearance.
Thomastown made its charge midway through the second quarter and four successive goals enabled it to open up a 24-point lead in the space of eight minutes. It was its key forwards who split the game open with Saad managing two in this period, while Osei-Duro and Leo also found the big sticks.
With the game slipping from its grasp, Reservoir hit back through Toby O’Meara and Meroli, who put in a contender for goal of the season with a miraculous effort while hemmed on the boundary line.
Thomastown took an 18-point lead into the main break, but that buffer was cut to just six as Flavel and Buckley each kicked goals for the visitors in the opening minutes of the third term.
However, Buckley’s goal at the third-minute mark would be his team’s last score for the quarter as Thomastown piled on the next five goals unanswered to take a commanding 40-point lead into three-quarter time.
Anthony Calafiore was lively in the third term and kicked two goals, while vice-captain David Folino won plenty of the ball and capped off a fine quarter with a long-range goal on the run.
Urged to run out the game by coach Ross Terranova at the last change, Reservoir started the final term positively with a goal to O’Meara in the opening 30 seconds.
However, Tristain Harrower had the reply for Thomastown just a minute later, which all but sealed the contest. The home side was never threatened from there as it brought Reservoir’s 10-game winning streak to a crashing halt.
Final score: Thomastown 20.8 (128) def Reservoir 12.7 (79)
