The conditions were ideal at Binnak Park and with the sun shining and no breeze to speak of, a shootout was ensured.
Reservoir looked the more impressive outfit in the first quarter, laying hard-hitting tackles and spreading well around stoppages and running well to cover the ground.
When Ben Mowlam ran hard off the back flank after intercepting a mark and bombed long inside the forward 50m, Toby O’Meara became the beneficiary of some fantastic team play and slotted in a major to hurt the home side early.
It was a passage that very much summed up the efforts of the fierce and fighting Reservoir team early in proceedings.
To the credit of St Mary’s, it quickly responded through a leaping mark to full forward Brent Redmond. He put some much needed points on the board only to come off with complaints of an ankle injury.
Reservoir’s Leigh Sullivan then took a brilliant pack mark on the top of the goal square and converted. There were high fives all round in the away camp and despite the beautiful weather, things looked to be turning sour for St Mary’s.
If the first quarter belonged to the away side, then it was all St Mary’s from that point on.
Matthew Ciavarella was a man on the mission, belting a wonderful running goal from outside 50m to start the second quarter.
The goal sparked a major shift in the game as the home team found fire in the belly and ran with it.
Adam Burkett led the way for St Mary’s and his outstanding work rate around the ground inspired Dillan Ronalds.
The two linked up well, combining to bring about a goal from Haydn Bryce as the Burra took the lead for the first time in the game.
St Mary’s was an unstoppable force from there on.
Its back line was uncompromising with Lee Minuz paving the way with his strong efforts in one-on-one contests and within pack mark situations.
Contrastingly, Reservoir was off the pace with the one shining light being Ashley Flavel who kicked two impressive goals to give his side a sniff at half time.
With the match still in the balance, St Mary’s ran away with the game in the second half.
Its hunger around the ball was admirable whilst Reservoir looked sluggish and untidy. The home side punished turnovers and stuck to its structures.
Jarrod Warmington was instrumental for Reservoir, reading the game well and breaking lines but his efforts just weren’t enough.
St Mary’s sustained a well-fought effort throughout the duration of the game.
The two teams are now neck in neck with each other on the ladder, with St Mary’s edging just ahead of the Mustangs on percentage.
The coming weeks will be telling for both football clubs.
Great character was shown by the St Mary’s playing list and the club will look to now to take it right up to unbeaten Panton Hill this weekend.
Meanwhile, Reservoir will hope to rebound from a three-match losing streak when it hosts Heidelberg West at Crispe Park.
The Hawks will enter the game on the back of their first win of the season, after rolling Watsonia by four points.
Final score: St Mary’s 14.14 (98) def Reservoir 12.5 (77)
