Watsonia firmed its grip on second place and kept in touch with Division 3 ladder-leader Panton Hill with a comprehensive 77-point win over Heidelberg West on a wet and muddy day at Heidelberg Park.
With heavy rain and a not so pleasant playing surface, Watsonia thrived in the tough conditions to win 17.17 (119) to 6.6 (42).
Heidelberg West put up a fight early, leading at certain stages in the second term, but wasn’t able to keep its good form for consistent periods.
It was good old fashioned footy throughout the game, with a lot of contested footy and plenty of mud bodysuits running around the ground.
The Saints started the better, booting the first two goals of the game in a very quiet opening quarter. The Hawks kicked two of their own soon after with some momentum going their way before a late Watsonia goal gave it a three-point lead at quarter time.
The Hawks continued their good form from late in the first quarter by kicking two of the first three goals of the second term to take back a one-point buffer, as an upset loomed.
But the Saints then held the Hawks scoreless for the rest of the term and piled on the next four goals to go into the second half with a commanding 26-point lead. Watsonia played contested but also free flowing footy in that quarter, beating its opponent in all aspects of the game.
Brendan Cottier kept the Saints momentum going early in the third, taking a strong chest mark and kicking truly to extend their lead to 32 points. Another goal followed with Jeremy Bennet using his body well to fend off an opponent and kick a magnificent goal from the boundary line on an extremely tight angle.
The visitors then went on to kick the next three goals to push the lead out to 57 points, before Luke James kicked Heidelberg West’s fifth goal of the game late in the quarter to cut back the margin to 50 points at the final break.
Needing to boost its percentage to extend its lead over Thomastown in second place, Watsonia was relentless to the end. It kicked the first two goals of the final quarter to lead by 65 points before Kyl Ewart kicked Heidelberg West’s final goal, and score, of the day.
It didn’t deny the Saints’ hunger as they went on to kick the next three goals of the game to run out 77-point victors.
Cottier and Bennett ended with bags of four and five goals respectively for the Saints, with Daley Bear edging both out for best afield honours. The only shining lights for the Hawks were Craig Dunlop and Aidan Young in a somewhat disappointing day.
Final score: Heidelberg West 6.6 (42) def by Watsonia 17.17 (119)
