Laurimar kept its unbeaten start to the Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 season intact with a nail-biting one-point win over Panton Hill in the Round 4 twilight match at A.E. Cracknell Reserve.
The Power trailed by 31 points at the first change, but fought back strongly in the second term to be within a goal at the main break, before kicking on for a 11.9 (75) to 9.20 (74) victory.
The Redbacks regained control after the main break, but a 2.9 to 2.3 third term score line kept the door ajar for Laurimar, with the Redbacks’ lead just 11 points at three quarter time.
Panton Hill coach Steve Layt told his team at the last break that they were dominating, but they just needed to finish better.
Cameron Jordan had done well across half forward and booted his second goal early in the final stanza gave the Redbacks a 17-point buffer.
Given his team’s relentless forays into attack in the second half, the lead looked large enough. But Laurimar was not to be denied.
The Power controlled that latter part of the game and began to bridge the gap. Coach Justin Sherman grabbed the ball near the behind post and handballed into the goal square where Mitchell Thompson did the rest.
Thompson soon slotted another from a set shot on the 50m arc. And when Josh Williamson kicked his third from the goal square, Laurimar was in front.
A comical scene followed. Williamson’s momentum after scoring the major took him to the fence. He went to high-five a row of spectators, but there were only Redbacks fans standing there, so his offer went unaccepted.
Against the run of play, Panton Hill’s Matthew Byron goaled from a free soon after to regain the lead.
Byron had been off the ground in the third term after a knock, but had recovered well enough to continue.
A feature of the Power’s play after quarter time was their pressure. It paid off late, because a quick kick out of defence by a Panton Hill player found its way to Michael Brennan.
Brennan had struggled early in the ruck against Panton Hill’s Joel McLellan but improved as the match wore on.
His booming kick sailed straight through and Laurimar was in front. The Power held a two-point lead just before the siren, when a Redback shot from wide out scored a behind.
The siren rang before play resumed to end the best match of the season to date.
“Credit to our boys – to stay in the contest,” a happy Laurimar coach Justin Sherman said. Sherman had helped late in the game with his football smarts.
He liked the game of Jake Richards. Richards was a shining light for his team – especially in the third term when many of his teammates were struggling to make an impact.
The Power defence controlled the latter part of the game and were often able to transfer the ball the length of the ground. Eventually, the weight of opportunities provided was enough to snare the victory.
Panton Hill coach Steve Layt was disappointed that his team was unable to take full toll from its periods of dominance. “Poor execution and poor decision-making cost us,” he said.
The Redbacks would have probably won had their last kick inside 50m been more effective. The last kick often went too wide or did not favour the forward.
Layt was happy with the performance of Nick Parks in the ruck and around the ground. But the best Panton Hill player on the day was John Pritchard – with hard running and crisp disposal.
The Redbacks remain in third place on the ladder. Oddly enough, Laurimar dropped from first to second with the win, following Heidelberg West’s 99-point victory over Lalor.
Panton Hill journeys to Lalor in Round 5. Laurimar makes its first journey to Eltham College to take on Old Eltham Collegians.
With the Hawks having a bye, the Power will be able to grab top spot on the ladder if they can win.
Final score: Panton Hill 9. 20 (74) def by Laurimar 11.9 (75)
PANTON HILL
Goal Kickers: M. Byron 2, C. Jordan 2, J. Pritchard, J. Rushton, A. Tsardakis, N. Hendry, R. Boyden
Best Players: J. Pritchard, C. Jordan, D. Freeman, J. McLellan, S. Conte
LAURIMAR
Goal Kickers: J. Williamson 3, J. Cecil 2, M. Thompson 2, D. King, J. Richards, M. Brennan, G. Sampson
