A look ahead to this weekend’s Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 matches.
The race for the finals looks like going down to the wire following some surprising results in Round 15 action of Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3.
Mernda came off the bye and hosted Kilmore at Waterview Recreation Reserve. After conceding the first three goals, the Blues pulled away in the second half to record an upset 27-point win – arguably their best win for the season.
Their recent 15-point loss to St Mary’s at J.J. Clancy Reserve in Round 11 suggested that they had the capacity to cause an upset.
Matthew Swindells and Tom McMillan were exceptional for the Blues – each playing midfield and booting three goals.“Very pleasing to see that there is still of lot of pride in performance,” Kilmore coach Nathan Phillips said. “We are still developing a young side with the view to more success next year.”
Most fans expected a tight tussle when South Morang and Laurimar clashed at Mill Park Lakes Reserve. But the Lions put a space between themselves and the Power with a nine-goal second term and went on to win by 64 points.
Despite the loss, the Power are still in the hunt for the finals – but will now have to rely on other teams above them losing.
Panton Hill put the issue beyond doubt early at A.E. Cracknell Reserve with a 6.4 to nil first term against Lalor. The Redbacks went on with the job to win by an even 100 points – with Daniel Haynes booting four majors.
Reservoir faced a huge task when playing St Mary’s at Crispe Park. Their effort was an improvement on the previous week, but still lost by 132 points. Lachlan Potter kicked a bag of five for the victors.
St Mary’s goes to the bye clear on top with 13 wins – four games clear. South Morang slipped from second to third – despite their win – because of Panton Hill’s bigger win.
The second-placed Redbacks have nine wins and 152 percent – narrowly ahead of the Lions on 149 percent. A further game back on eight wins and 117 percent is Mernda.
Laurimar sits outside the four on seven wins and 100 percent. Kilmore improved to sixth spot with their sixth win of the season – replacing Heidelberg West who had the bye.
The fixture now becomes all important for the teams second through fifth – Panton Hill, South Morang, Mernda and Laurimar.
Panton Hill faces Reservoir, Kilmore and then Mernda. South Morang plays Heidelberg West, has a bye and then plays St Mary’s
Mernda meets Lalor, then a tough last two weeks against St Mary’s and Panton Hill
Laurimar has the easiest run home – playing Kilmore, Lalor and then Reservoir.
The fixture means that the final spot in the four may come down to percentage in Round 18. The Demons have the worst percentage of teams currently in the four and just one loss could see them miss the finals.
Round 16 kicks off with Lalor hosting Mernda at Lalor Reserve. The Demons need to get back on the winners’ list immediately to sure up their place in the top-four.
Their round 5 clash at Waterview Recreation Reserve saw the Bloods storm home to fail by five-points, so Mernda should know not to take Lalor lightly.
Reservoir travels to A.E. Cracknell Reserve for the first time in many years to play Panton Hill.
The Redbacks will be hot favourites to win this one – and would also like a percentage boost as they aim to hold on to second place.
South Morang plays Heidelberg West at Heidelberg Park in a danger game for the Lions. These teams played out a tight tussle in Round 6 at Mill Park Lakes Reserve – with Heidelberg West winning by seven points.
If the Hawks can cause a minor upset and win this one, they have a chance to finish off the year with three wins on the trot – playing the bottom two teams after that. The Lions would almost certainly clinch a finals berth win a win.
Kilmore faces back to back road trips and this week plays Laurimar at Laurimar Reserve.
The Blues would like to record successive upset wins and, based on last week’s results, would be given some chance to do so and atone for their 28-point loss at J.J. Clancy Reserve in Round 5.
But the Power will be desperate for a win to keep in touch with the top-four and would fancy their chances to bounce back from last week‘s disappointing loss.
