Lions make it 10 on the trot


Published on Sunday, August 7, 2022

Author : Nathan Clarke

An enthralling clash at Mill Park Lakes Reserve finished with South Morang all but certain to end the Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 regular season as minor premiers after defeating Laurimar by 21 points.

A percentage of just under two was the only separation between these two sides heading into the top of the table clash, but after quarter time, the Lions pounced on the Power and would ultimately prevail 12.13 (85) to 10.4 (64).

The win gives South Morang a four-point lead over Laurimar on top of the ladder ahead of the final home and away game next week, with the result likely meaning these two will face each other in the second semi-final in just two weeks’ time.

Ben Power and Bailey Brown stood out for the Lions while Ben Peterson and Liam Jolly were important up forward with three majors each. Skipper Mathew Robinson was also crucial down back.

Kaiden Arthur was instrumental for the visitors and kicked a very impressive major while Jacob Lawson and Jacson Cecil kicked three majors each, the latter taking his 2022 tally to 80.

The opening five minutes saw both teams equal each other in effort and intensity, and it wasn’t until some Jacob Lawson magic, that we saw the first goal of the afternoon as a checkside banana by the Power forward gave his side the early lead.

A second goal by Jacson Cecil, a booming 55m set shot, quickly extended the margin.

But it wasn’t long before South Morang managed to find their groove as while they were wasteful in front of goal, Mitchell Kalpakis kicked the Lions’ first.

Lawson kicked the Power’s third towards then end of the quarter before Peterson came alive and kicked two late majors to conclude a fiery end to the first term.

With a one-point lead after the first break, the Lions continued to charge forward with three successive goals to open the second term.

Needing a spark, the visitors started to respond, with Cecil’s second and a brilliant long-range goal from Jacob Bateman reducing the deficit to five points.

But just as Laurimar looked to get one top, late goals again from the Lions, which included Peterson’s third, ensured South Morang had a 13-point half time advantage.

The third quarter was an exhibition in quality football as both teams went goal for goal for the entirety of the third term.

James Hewson kicked the first goal of the quarter to extend the Lions lead, but Power winger Kaiden Arthur stole the show with a 70-metre run that was finished beautifully with a major.

Liam Jolly kicked back-to-back goals to take South Morang to a game high 25-point lead before Laurimar took the same dose and kicked back-to-back goals of their own to only trail by 15 points at three quarter time.

Although the visitors had the momentum, the fourth quarter saw South Morang assert defensive dominance as they refused to let Laurimar get any space.

Lions forward Jake Potter, kicked the all-important first of the quarter before a wonderful goal from returning Power captain Mitchell Thompson brought the deficit back to only 19 points.

But that’s where it stayed for much of the last quarter. South Morang kicked five straight points throughout the quarter, unable to put the Power away.

As time wound down however, and despite a late consolation goal from the visitors, South Morang did enough to claim a tenth consecutive triumph.

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