Huge margins of victory were the theme across the Kyabram District Football League’s round 15 slate, with three rounds remaining before the finals series.
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Lancaster brushed aside Merrigum with ease to stay in the hunt for the minor premiership and Rushworth kept its faint post-season hopes alive by beating Girgarre, while Stanhope’s aspirations took a hit in a loss to Nagambie.
RESULTS
Round 15
Rushworth 6.4, 8.7, 12.10, 14.15 (99) d Girgarre 2.4, 5.7, 7.12, 8.15 (63)
Lancaster 5.6, 9.13, 18.17, 27.26 (188) d Merrigum 0.0, 0.1, 0.1, 0.1 (1)
Stanhope 3.2, 4.3, 6.4, 9.6 (60) lt Nagambie 3.4, 9.8, 14.13, 17.16 (118)
Murchison-Toolamba 5.1, 9.5, 16.6, 19.8 (122) d Avenel 0.3, 1.4, 1.7, 3.8 (26)
Tallygaroopna 2.4, 3.7, 4.8, 4.12 (36) lt Longwood 1.2, 6.5, 9.7, 15.14 (104)
Violet Town 4.2, 4.3, 7.5, 10.7 (67) lt Shepparton East 5.5, 15.9, 23.12, 30.16 (196)
Undera bye
Rushworth vs Girgarre
Rushworth still needs a strong end to the season to make the finals, but kept its aspirations afloat with a six-goal win over Girgarre at Rushworth Recreation Reserve.
The Tigers were largely dominant in the fixture, particularly throughout the first and third quarters.
The hosts immediately stamped their authority on the contest in the opening period, outscoring Girgarre 40-16 with a six-goals-to-two term.
The Kangaroos were the better side in the second, edging the period with three majors to Rushy’s two, with the visitors reducing their quarter-time deficit to only trail 5.7 (37) to 8.7 (55) at half-time.
But with victory a must for Rushworth to have any chance of reaching the post-season, it rallied to rediscover its first quarter form in the third term.
Mark Wheatley’s side kicked four goals to Girgarre’s two, but were also aided by the Roos’ inaccuracy, as Tyler McNamara’s team registered five behinds in the period.
Girgarre was again inaccurate in the fourth in its bid to stage a late comeback, kicking 1.3.
As were the Tigers, who could have won by more after only successfully converting two of their seven scoring shots in the final term, though it was cosmetic as Rushworth prevailed 14.15 (99) to 8.15 (63).
Tiger Daniel Brock led all goal-kickers on the day with a bag of four, with the side naming Xavier Parker, Flynn Clarke, Ethan Arnold, Jeremy Lambden, Liam Adlington, and Jackson McRae as its best players.
Riley McNamara, Reardon McIvor, Jorge Maxwell, Joseph Jackson, Josh Hayes and Ethan Palma-Ludeman made Girgarre’s list.
Girgarre’s next fixture will see it host Stanhope, with the 11th-placed Kangaroos playing for pride to end the season, as they have been eliminated from finals contention.
Rushworth (5-8) is still alive, currently sitting eighth and two wins adrift of Stanhope in sixth, the final post-season spot.
The Tigers would likely need to win all three of their remaining matches to scrape into the top six — starting with a difficult trip to Shepparton East up next — while hoping results elsewhere work in their favour.
Lancaster vs Merrigum
Lancaster took care of bottom-placed Merrigum in devastating fashion at Lancaster Recreation Reserve, easing to a 187-point victory.
The contest was effectively over by quarter-time when the Wombats laid on five goals in the opening term while holding the Bulldogs scoreless.
Lancaster led by 66 points at half-time after adding another four majors to its total, while Merrigum finally hit the scoreboard but was down heavily, 0.1 (1) to 9.13 (67).
The visitors would be kept scoreless for the entire second half and fail to kick a goal, as the Wombats chased percentage by raining down 18 second-half majors, winning 27.26 (188) to 0.1 (1).
Lancaster coach Nick Ryan would have been pleased to see his side’s 27 goals shared among 14 players, with Zac Cerrone (six) and Noah Sewell (four) leading the way.
Cerrone and Sewell were also on the Wombats’ best players list, alongside Thomas Davies, Nic Ross, Ryan Hatch and Adam Lovison, while Merrigum’s list included Shaun Doolan, Brady Wileman, Koady Murdoch, Riley Williams, Liam Mason and Kayden Davis.
The Bulldogs (0-13) face Violet Town (1-12) next, the side directly above them, with the fixture being Merrigum’s best opportunity to register a first win.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the ladder, Lancaster (12-1) continues to be locked in a tight minor premiership race with Nagambie.
The second-placed Wombats have a game in hand on the league leader despite being four points adrift.
Lancaster will make the difference up in round 16 when it travels to Longwood while Nagambie serve the bye.
Stanhope vs Nagambie
Stanhope is clinging onto the competition’s last finals spot after it fell to a heavy 58-point defeat to Nagambie at Stanhope Recreation Reserve.
The game turned in the second quarter when the Lakers outscored the Lions 40-7 in the period, which set them up with a commanding 9.8 (62) to 4.3 (27) lead at half-time.
Earlier, the hosts had gone toe-to-toe with their more fancied opponent, Stanhope having only trailed by two points at quarter-time after kicking 3.2 to Nagambie’s 3.4 in the opening term.
Once the league leader kicked clear, it didn’t look back, only increasing its advantage to start the second half with five majors to Stanhope’s two.
Nagambie has regularly defeated its opponents by triple figures this season, but the Lions ensured their percentage didn’t take that level of a hit in the fourth quarter.
Matt Butler’s team matched the Lakers for goals in the final term, each side booting three, though Stanhope’s solid finish was redundant in the overall picture as it lost 9.6 (60) to 17.16 (118).
In what can be seen as a positive for Stanhope, the 58-point margin was the second-lowest Nagambie has notched in its wins this season.
Another positive for the Lions was the red-hot Amir Meyerowitz proving his quality against a high-level opponent, as he booted five majors on the day.
Meanwhile, Stanhope named Stuart Trevena, Corey Dunn, Tyler Norman, Taylor Butler, Tomas Fantasia and Bol Wol in its best players.
Butler’s side now has the same record as seventh-placed Longwood (7-6), only in the top six via a marginal percentage difference.
Stanhope could also catch fifth-placed Avenel across its final three matches, only being four points adrift, and the Lions do have a couple of favourable fixtures to finish, starting with a trip to Girgarre up next.
The round’s other three matches delivered expected results, with all victors winning comfortably.
Reigning premier Murchison-Toolamba underlined its quality in a resounding 96-point win over Avenel, triumphing 19.8 (122) to 3.8 (26).
Longwood cruised past Tallygaroopna in the battle of the Redlegs, with Scott Stefanos’ team outscoring Tally 63-11 in the second half to secure a 15.14 (104) to 4.12 (36) win.
Finally, Shepparton East compiled more misery on struggling Violet Town, who dropped off after a solid first quarter to lose 10.7 (67) to 30.16 (196).