A look ahead to Round 7 in Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3.
Wins by teams outside the top-four combined with losses by some top-four teams has opened up the battle for the finals after Round 6 action of Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3.
The upset win of the round saw Heidelberg West register back-to-back wins with a seven-point victory over South Morang at Mill Park Lakes Reserve. Despite the 0-3 start to the year, the win puts the Hawks just one game and percentage behind the Lions in fourth place.
“We had a really good win and although the score was close I thought it would have been an injustice if we had lost,” Heidelberg West coach Gary Cutler after the 7.14 to 7.7 result. “We were wasteful if front of goal.”
Luke McKenna’s grunt in the middle proved decisive in the contest. Dan Bailey has played forward this season and proved to be a target with some good grabs for the Hawks.
South Morang coach Gary Hall will review this match as a missed chance to consolidate their top-four status. But under-17s player Blake Fitzgerald backed up his good form in the previous match with two majors.
Laurimar followed the lead of Heidelberg West in winning two on the trot following three winless games to begin the season, with a 29-point victory over Reservoir at Crispe Park.
“A missed opportunity,” noted Reservoir coach Aaron Collins. “We didn’t work hard enough for the four quarters.”
Collins was happy with the work of Paul Cluney on Dallas King and Sam McDowell on Jack Kreuzberger. For the victors, Adam Dennis excelled for the Power off half back, while Luke Wilson continued his stellar season.
Panton Hill was unable to beat Lalor in their three Division 2 clashes in 2017 but atoned in style at Lalor Reserve with an 80-point win. Nick Parks dominated in the ruck for the victors and Alex Dines did well on a wing.
“We’re tracking as planned,” Panton Hill coach Steve Layt said. The Redbacks coach also noted he was happy that his leaders are doing a great job.
But he conceded that the scoreline belied the Bloods competitive nature at the contested footy. “We had to work hard,” Layt said. Panton Hill moved to second place with the win, replacing Mernda.
The Demons suffered a bad 96-point defeat at the hands of St Mary’s at Whatmough Park. The win helps the Burra go a step closer to securing the double chance in the finals, while the Demons are now third and have taken a massive hit to their percentage.
Mernda has the chance to draw level with St Mary’s this week, following the representative bye. The ladder-leading Burra have an extra week’s break courtesy of the Round 7 bye.
Mernda hosts Reservoir at Waterview Recreation Reserve this Saturday and will be looking for a win to steady the ship. The Mustangs remain winless but have been more competitive of late and would be hoping to challenge the Demons.
Ironically, Mernda had two big wins over Reservoir in 2017, but lost all 12 matches between the wins in rounds 2 and 17.
Laurimar will be aiming to make it three-straight wins with a home game at Laurimar Reserve against Lalor. It will be first time these teams have met.
The Power should go into the game full of confidence, but wary of the fact the Bloods almost pulled off a huge upset two rounds earlier against Mernda.
South Morang has back-to-back home games when it hosts Panton Hill at Mill Park Lakes Reserve. The Redbacks appear to be in red-hot form and are now aiming at top spot on the ladder.
The Lions will be desperate to get back on the winners’ list soon. They currently lead fifth-placed Kilmore only on percentage, so a loss could see them tumble out of the four.
Vying for match of the day status is the tussle between Kilmore and Heidelberg West at J.J. Clancy Reserve. This game looks to be a difficult one for the tipsters and a nail-biter is a definite possibility.
Last season, the Hawks recorded a big 70-point win at this venue over the Blues. But Kilmore caused an upset at Heidelberg Park in the return match – coming from behind to win by eight points.
The Blues could climb into the top-four with a win, depending upon other results. A win for Heidelberg West would see them within striking distance of the top-four.
