If South Morang didn’t make their presence known in MC Labour Division 2 after Round 1, they certainly did on Saturday after they pulled off a 23-point win over Thomastown at Main Street Recreation Reserve.
An inaccurate Bears outfit led by 11 points at half time but kicked 3.7 for the remainder of the match while the Lions piled on 9.5 after the main break to be 14.7 (91) to 9.14 (68) victors.
It’s the first time South Morang have claimed back-to-back wins in Division 2 since Round’s 2 and 3 of the 2012 season.
The Lions’ Joshua D’Intinosante continued his stellar form since returning to the club in the off-season kicking four majors, while Kain Hall not only contributed inside 50 with three goals but had a fantastic afternoon around the ground.
Returning from suspension, Nathan Stefanile relished at the opportunity of facing a Thomastown side without their star ruckman Jarryd Coulson and had a great day out, being named in his side’s best along with Tye Hall and Ben Muscat.
In his first game for the club, Jude Georgievski was a standout for Thomastown, with Tyrone Leonardis also having a solid performance in midfield. Josh Beare and Anthony Capeci were the home side’s multiple goalkickers.
Beare’s goals came in the first six minutes of the match to quickly give his side a 13-point lead.
The Lions responded to Beare’s two majors with three consecutive goals of their own, with Kain Hall, Ben Peterson and Mathew Robinson all scoring to give the visitors the lead.
It was goal for goal to round out the term, with Thomastown kicking two of the final three majors in time on to gain a two-point lead at quarter time.
After an eight-goal opening quarter, the scoring dried in the second term with three majors scored.
Goals from Thomastown forward duo Salvatore Mamone and Anthony Capeci came either side of a brilliant major from South Morang’s Adrian Alessandrino, giving the Bears an 11-point lead at half time.
The Lions then went on a rampage in the third term, limiting the home side to four behinds while putting through five majors of their own to suddenly jump out to a 23-point lead at three quarter time.
The best goal of the term came from Lachlan Potter, who after taking an intercept mark at half forward, launched a 50-metre shot on the run which sailed through the big sticks.
D’Intinosante’s set shot conversion, and fourth goal at the seven-minute mark of the last quarter put the visitors out to a game-high 31-point advantage, all but sealing a terrific victory for Gary Hall’s men.
Some late majors from Thomastown reduced the margin to 23 points by the time the siren sounded, but it didn’t diminish South Morang’s impressive second half performance that saw them make it two wins from two to start the 2023 season.
