SOUTH Morang and Reservoir scored the two biggest wins for the year in Round 7 action of Division 3 football.
Reservoir moved into second spot on the ladder and significantly boosted its percentage with a massive 82-point win over Epping at Crispe Park.
Ash Flavel kicked a bag of seven as the Mustangs romped away after quarter time. Flavel was ably assisted by Marc Defelice, Kent Beaumont, Toby O’Meara and Brendon Meroli – who all booted three majors.
The margin was surprising given that most tipsters were expecting a close tussle, similar to their Round 2 thriller. Michael Mannix and Liam Ryan excelled in defence, while Blue Christopher Chilcott was kept quiet by Adam Meroli and was moved to the backline for part of the game.
Joel Dunmore impressed for Epping, while swingman Shane Wood hit the scoreboard with three goals and Daniel Moore was influential early in a day where the Blues had few winners.
“We are happy to be where we are at now, considering out start to the season,” Reservoir coach Ross Terranova said. “We still have a lot of improvement left in us and that’s what we’ll do – keep on improving.”
After the Round 8 bye Reservoir plays South Morang at Mill Park Lakes Reserve.
South Morang registered the biggest win of the season in Division 3 with a 95-point demolition of Banyule at Mill Park Lakes Reserve.
While the Bears matched the Lions at times in terms of ball movement, their efficiency once inside 50 was inferior.
South Morang had no fewer than 11 goal kickers – led by Wayne Pavitt with five. Aaron D’Angelo had been a stout defender, but went forward in the last term and bagged three, while Mitch Buckley was among the best.
“We came in with a focus on tackling and, at the end of the day, that’s what probably won it for us,” Lions coach Craig Lambert said.
With Epping’s loss, the Lions now move a game and percentage clear on top of the ladder.
It was harder to find winners for the Bears, but Ryan Byrne bobbed up with three goals and Michael Italia did well.
“It wasn’t a great day for us,” Bears coach Jason Plant lamented. “We were found wanting at the contest and our accountability was disappointing.”
Banyule now has a bye and then ventures to Heidelberg Park to play Heidelberg West in Round 9. The much anticipated debut of Scott Gumbleton for Banyule should occur in that encounter.
The close one last week was contested between St Mary’s and Heidelberg West at Whatmough Park. The Burra hung on to win by eight points after appearing to have the game safely in their keeping on two separate occasions.
The Hawks fought back from a 30-point half time deficit to draw within a goal early in the third term, before St Mary’s drew away again to lead by 28 points at the last change.
Heidelberg West came hard in the final term with 4.3 to 1.1 to fail by eight points. Casey Brown set the Hawks alight in both comebacks – with five second-half goals.
Up the other end, Lachlan Potter booted five as well – including the Burra’s only goal in the last stanza to give his team some breathing space.
Heidelberg West joins Reservoir and Banyule in having a Round 8 bye, and then it hosts Banyule.
The match of the day in Round 8 action of Division 3 football is at Epping Recreation Reserve and sees Epping host Watsonia – who is coming off the bye. The winner will claim second spot on the ladder – as both teams are currently level with Reservoir on four wins.
The Saints have a game in hand compared to the Blues – and Epping has the Round 9 bye. So the Blues need to win this week or else risk the chance of being two games behind the Saints at the beginning of Round 10.
Both teams are coming off disappointing losses – with Epping’s loss last weekn being the more disappointing – and the pressure is likely to be intense in this contest.
St Mary’s hosts league leader South Morang at Whatmough Park and can potentially climb into the top four with a win.
The Lions won their 2014 encounter at this venue by four points in a thriller but, in view of their recent form, will be strong favourites to win this encounter.
