A look at the Round 6 matches in Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3.
Banyule moved a game and percentage clear of its nearest challengers after an emphatic 34-point win over premiership contender South Morang at R.J. Brockwell Oval.
The Bears dominated the game after quarter time – winning the final three quarters 13.9 to 6.6. Forward James Kroussoratis, who kicked five goals in the NFL’s representative win over the WRFL at the weekend, booted five majors to increase his lead on the goal-kicking ladder.
At Epping Recreation Reserve, Epping flew out of the blocks to lead 5.3 to 0.3 at the first break against Mernda. The Blues went right on with the job after that, winning by 56 points in what was expected to be a much more even contest.
Mernda now finds itself back in seventh position, a disappointing result after winning the first two games, which included the only defeat of Heidelberg West. The Demons now sit one win and 30 percent behind Epping.
Kilmore sits just outside the top-four on percentage after defeating Reservoir by 39 points at Crispe Park. The Mustangs were in with a chance for most of the opening three quarters, but the Blues finished the stronger.
“We battled hard for three quarters,” Kilmore coach Nathan Phillips said. “In the end we got the win through persistence and a willingness to work hard.”
Josh Robertson returned to the side to boot three for the victors. At the other end, David McGregor slotted four for Reservoir as the Mustangs moved off the bottom of the ladder by virtue of a modest loss. In another positive, their reserves won their second game.
“We were in it for three quarters,” Reservoir coach Aaron Collins said. “But our fitness and lack of leadership let us down late in the game.”
Laurimar dropped to the bottom of the ladder after being on the end of a 149-point hiding at the hands of St Mary’s at Whatmough Park.
The Burra had the pressure lifted off them the previous week with a narrow win at Mernda. They put the game away early against the Power with a 7.7 to nil first term. The win puts the Burra within striking distance of the top-four.
“It was good to play four quarters,” St Mary’s coach Con Borg said. “We really haven’t put more than one-and-a-half quarters together for the year. Everyone played their role and the result took care of itself.”
Round 6 of Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 includes an intriguing battle between Heidelberg West, coming off the Round 5 bye, and St Mary’s at Heidelberg Park.
Despite St Mary’s winning all three 2016 matches between the two teams by big margins, these teams have a habit of producing thrillers and upsets.
This match will give supporters a good guide as to how far the Hawks have progressed in 2017. They currently sit third, but a loss could see them leap-frogged by the sixth-placed Burra.
Banyule will look to keep its perfect record intact when it travels to J.J. Clancy Reserve to tackle Kilmore.
The Bears won both matches at the venue comfortably last season and will be favoured to keep on winning. However, the Blues will clinch a top-four spot if they can pull off an upset win.
Mernda plays its first game at Laurimar Reserve against Laurimar.
Both teams would be bitterly disappointed with their Round 5 losses. The Demons would be favoured to bounce back and they desperately need a win to keep in touch with the potential finalists.
South Morang returns home to Mill Park Lakes Reserve to play Reservoir. These teams last met in the 2015 second-semi final in the year that the Mustangs went on to win the flag.
Today’s Reservoir team will be vastly different than the one that defeated the Lions that day. South Morang will be highly favoured to win this one and consolidate its position in second spot on the ladder.
The Lions have made a change to their coach since their previous match, with Gary Hall replacing Dean Grainger in the top job.
Epping has the bye. Currently sitting in fourth spot on the ladder, the Blues are likely to drop out of the top-four before they play again in Round 7.
With the ladder being so congested – only one game separating second from seventh – many important matches loom in the three rounds between the now and the Queen’s Birthday break.
