THOMASTOWN’S undefeated start to the Division 2 season continued after a 23-point victory over Hurstbridge at Main Street Reserve.
In a tight-knit affair, the Bears kicked the final four goals of the game to seal the 14.9 (93) to 10.10 (70) victory and hand Hurstbridge its second consecutive defeat.
The result saw Thomastown open a 10-point buffer atop the ladder, ahead of Whittlesea, Fitzroy Stars and Lalor – an amazing achievement for a side who played in third division last year. Hurstbridge fell out of the top four and into fifth place.
The first quarter was an arm wrestle, with both sides contesting for the first touch of the ball.
Thomastown kicked the first three goals of the game, thanks to efforts from Adrian Natoli, Daniel Chadwick and Matthew Ferraro.
Ferraro – one of the in-form players in the competition – proved to be unstoppable in the opening term, kicking three of the Bears’ five first-quarter goals.
Despite missing key playmakers Micheal Farrelly and Jarrod Tilley, Hurstbridge also had a promising opening quarter. Two of its four opening-quarter goals came from undisciplined free kicks by Thomastown.
The highlight of the term came from Thomastown midfielder Matthew Cupo who had a shot at goal, which was smothered by the man on the mark, but rebounded to gain possession of the ball and slot home the major.
The second term was a tight affair, littered by inefficiency and turnovers.
Hurstbridge came out of the blocks as the better side and had the first two shots at goal. Unfortunately for the Bridges they could only manage two behinds.
Thomastown made Hurstbridge pay for its inaccuracy at goal, with Adrian Natoli adding his second goal for the game, extending the Bears lead to 16 points.
Hurstbridge was then able to gain some of the momentum, kicking three goals in the quarter and levelling the scores at half time.
John Kreuzer was a shining light for the Bridges, while Adrian Lesar would have been unhappy getting a yellow card just before half time which cost his side a goal.
The third term saw both teams kick two goals each, leaving the game in the balance heading into the final term.
Thomastown opened the scoring in the third term through Josh Totino, who kicked a goal within a minute of the start of the quarter.
Hurstbridge reduced the deficit when Krezuer’s effort passed the goal line just before a Bears player could rush it through for a behind.
The see-sawing contest continued with each team converting a goal each for the rest of the quarter. Cupo was outstanding for the Bears in the third quarter, while the dash off half back from Tyron Loader seemed to ignite the Bridges.
With Hurstbridge leading by a single point and with the final quarter to play, one of the sides needed to break open the game if they were going to claim victory.
And just like the earlier three quarters, the final term was a tight affair, with both teams exchanging the lead.
That was until Julian Terzioski kicked an uplifting goal with 10 minutes to play.
Terzioski’s goal lifted the Bears who then added a second within a minute, courtesy of James Rizzolio, who broke through a pack of Hurstbridge players and slotted his kick straight through the middle.
David Wall added a third for the Bears and when Tristain Harrower converted a fourth, the Thomastown supporters were grinning with joy, knowing the lead was out of reach for the Bridges.
Final score: Thomastown 14.9 (93) def Hurstbridge 10.10 (70)
