GLENTHOMPSON-DUNKELD has soundly defeated Great Western at Glenthompson Recreation Reserve in the Mininera and District Football League on Saturday to remain in touch with the top five and keep its finals aspirations alive with an 18.20 (128) to 4.4 (28) result.

The Rams were dominant from the opening ball up as they swept the ball down field at every opportunity to continually feed the forward line and the game should have been put to bed far sooner but poor kicking for goal cost the home side dearly.

With eleven shots at goal for the first term, the Rams should have been much better placed at the first break but only slotting four majors from their eleven shots at goal kept the visitors in the contest.

Great Western rebounded in the second quarter to post three majors but still trailed by 40 points as Glenthompson-Dunkeld added a further four goals to maintain their advantage and by the halftime break the home side had 20 shots on goal while Great Western could only manage five.

Upon resumption in the third term, the Rams kicking for goal became marginally better, but they still added a further four goals for the quarter as they kept Great Western to only a single major in reply.

When the teams had their final break the home side returned looking to boost their winning margin with another four goals, but they then kept the visitors scoreless to boost their percentage.

Glenthompson-Dunkeld should have kicked a further 10 goals but due to being off target they put through 20 behinds which may come back to haunt the side should they end up on equal points on the ladder in seven weeks’ time.

Calvin Ross, Josh Dawson, Henry Barr, Tyler Staude, Matt Lowe and Alexander Richardson all played well for the Rams while Jesse Bennett, Renn Lovitt, Marcus Elliott, Will Clark, Samuel Cocks and Nigel Sibson were at their best for the Lions in a losing cause.

Other games

PENSHURST hosted Woorndoo-Mortlake at Penshurst Recreation Reserve on Saturday in a match that was crucial for both teams as they began the run for a finals place.

The home side knew that victory against the Tigers would open an eight-point gap on the premiership ladder and possibly secure a finals spot.

The Tigers were also intent on taking the points and they were not about to let the Bombers gain any sort of advantage either on the scoreboard or on the ground.

The match was a tight affair right from the opening siren and the teams maintained that intensity for the whole game as the Bombers took a three-point lead into the sheds after an entering first half saw the lead change hands several times.

It was the third term that saw Woorndoo-Mortlake take the game away from Penshurst as they came out hunting for the ball as they kept Penshurst goalless for the quarter to take an 18-point lead into the last quarter.

That lead would prove to be far too much for the home side to overcome and the visitors ran out winners, 10.9 (69) to 7.12 (54) as poor kicking for goal cost the Bombers.

Sam Gervasoni, Liam Cameron, Zappa Jenkins, Jesse Horan, Cameron Howland and Matthew Pemberton brought their best form into the match for Woorndoo-Mortlake while Campbell Watt, Nathan Rentsch, Jayden Watson, Lachlan Watt, Dinny Mills and Oscar Linke gave their all for the home side.

Woorndoo-Mortlake has now leapfrogged Penshurst on the ladder to sit in fourth place while the Bombers are fifth with an inferior percentage.

HAWKESDALE-MACARTHUR was no match for Wickliffe-Lake Bolac at the Lake Bolac Recreation Reserve on Saturday as the Eagles were trounced 20.14 (134) to 7.6 (48).

The Magpies came out flying in the first term as they slotted 10 goals to effectively snuff out any chance the visitors may have had as Samuel Coppe, Nicholas Cooper, Mat Kent, James Boseley, Daniel Barnett and Jye Hare all dominated for the home side while Lachlan Tanner, Joshua Reichman, Ollie Wortley, Liam Hunter, Adrian Bos and Joshua Down battled hard for the visitors.

 CARAMUT hosted Ararat at Caramut Recreation Reserve but the home side was no match for the visitors as the Eagles slammed home 30 goals to remain on top of the ladder, 30.21 (201) to 2.3 (15).

Jaydo Wright booted seven goals to be judged as best on ground, but he had great assistance from Ben Robertson, Brady Miller, Mitchell Laundy, Jackson Taurau and Nathan Orszaczki who set up the victory, but Caramut could only look to Jayden Millet, Jarrod Petherick, Patrick Drake, Ashley Johnstone, Mark Lehmann and Matthew Petherick for any resistance.

TATYOON recorded a fine victory against Lismore-Derrinallum at home on Saturday, 13.17 (95) to 12.4 (76) as the Demons refused to be beaten.

In an entertaining game that saw the teams battle hard across the ground, the Demons trailed by 18 points at the half and when the sides returned for the second half it was defence that took centre stage as there were only another nine goals kicked for the game.

Mathew Smith, Anthony Rosato, Sam Cronin, Jack Fraser, William Henderson and Kieran Collins played well to ensure that Tatyoon remained at the pointy end of the ladder with Brodie Doolan, Lachlan Isbister, Jack Atkins, Liam Rigby, Michael Lockyer and Charlie Brett doing their best for the Demons.

SMW ROVERS had 59 shots on goal at Conna Wilson Reserve on Saturday against Moyston-Willaura as the home side completely dominated the visitors, 32.27 (219) to 1.4 (10).

Jonathan Box, David Box, Joe O’Donnell, Callum Baker, Liam Baker and Lachy Barnett were adjudged as the best players for the Bulldogs but in reality, the home side won every position across the ground.