PENSHURST remains in fifth spot on the Mininera and District Football League premiership ladder despite a gallant loss to Ararat Eagles up north on Saturday, 10.9 (69) to 5.8 (38).

The Bombers burst upon their hosts from the opening whistle to harass the Eagles and win the ball, as they took an 11-point lead into the first break.

After the opening term which caught the Ararat side by surprise, the ladder leaders took control of the second quarter, posting four unanswered goals to lead at the half time siren by 15 points.

Penshurst returned to the field for the third term knowing it needed to take the game to its hosts, if it was going to cause an upset.

The Bombers grabbed the initiative by kicking two goals to one for the quarter, but still trailed by nine points at the last change of ends.

The Eagles took control of the final term by keeping the visitors scoreless, while adding a further four goals, but the Bombers proved they can match the top sides with a great display.

“It was a real arm wrestle for most of the day with Ararat able to kick away in the final term, but all in all it gives us great belief that we can complete with the top teams in the competition,” Penshurst coach, Cameron Penny said.

“Some solid performances from our senior leaders again like Sam Weston, Kieran Neeson and Jayden Watson with their strength in the contest and composure was a vital example for the rest of the team to follow.

“With that, some of our younger players also put in great efforts, with the likes of Henry Bensch, Dinny Mills, Noah Cameron and Tim Smith all stamping their mark on the game,” Penny said.

With a six-point gap on the ladder from Glenthompson-Dunkeld, the Bombers could be forgiven for having one eye on the approaching finals with only four rounds remaining in the home and away season.

“We are obviously aiming to play finals but although it’s the oldest cliché in the book, we can’t get ahead of ourselves and have to approach each game on its merits,” Penny said.

Other games

GLENTHOMPSON-DUNKELD had an equally tough task, as the Rams hosted Tatyoon at Glenthompson looking to cause a huge upset against one of best teams in the competition.

It wasn’t to be for the home side as the visitors weathered the storm that the Rams brought in the first term as the home side took an unlikely lead into the first break.

“It’s always a challenge playing the elite teams like Tatyoon and Ararat, and you simply have to be at your best to challenge them,” Glenthompson-Dunkeld coach, Simon Hatherell said.

“We started the game really well as Dylan Ross set the tone with some real hard tackling and in and under efforts.

“We were able to pressure them and force them to the defensive side and after quarter time though they really linked up well.

“We continued to make efforts by foot, and they cleaned it up and moved the ball to goal scoring positions without us getting near it due to their high skill level, but we kept battling away though and made it as hard as possible for them.”

The Hawks responded, as all good teams do, by returning to the field for the second term looking to take control of the game.

They kept their hosts scoreless, while adding four majors to take a 26-point lead into the long break.

The second half saw the Hawks take full control of the game as they kicked 10 goals to one for the half to run out 87-point victors.

Andrew Fry, Andrew Lowe, Calvin Ross, Donald Collins, Ash Caruana and Mitchell Johnson performed well for the Rams, while Sam Cronin, Anthony Rosato, Jack Fraser, Mathew Smith, Zach Louder and Steven Nicholson continued their form for the Hawks.

HAWKESDALE-MACARTHUR hosted Moyston-Willaura at Hawkesdale and came away with a solid victory, 10.11 (71) to 7.7 (49).

The Hawks had an indifferent first half after they led at the first break by 10 points, only to fall behind when the half time siren blew.

When the teams returned to the field for the third term, the home side was determined to take the points, as they banged through five goals to one for the term and carried that form into the last quarter to add a further two majors to win by 22 points.

Ollie Wortley, Joshua Reichman, Lachlan Tanner, Adrian Bos, Joshua Down, Lachlan Briody starred for the home side, while Rhys Cronin, Joshua Reid, Patrick Frawley, Ned Bohner, William Pedersen and Simon Lockyer never stopped for the Pumas.

LISMORE-DERRINALLUM had the closest victory of the round as they held off a fast-finishing Woorndoo-Mortlake at home, 10.11 (71) to 9.6 (60).

The Demons held a held a 33-point lead heading into the last term, but only added a single goal while the Tigers roared home with four goals in the final quarter to just fall short of claiming the points.

CARAMUT was no match for Wickliffe-Lake Bolac going down at home, 6.3 (39) to 17.17 (119), as Charles Vallance, James Boseley, Daniel Barnett, Daniel Trevaskis, Samuel McKew and Jake Smith performing at their best for the Magpies, while Jacob Lacy, James Elford, Matthew Petherick, Joe Kenna, Daniel Simpson and Thomas O'Sullivan did their best for the home side in reply.

GREAT WESTERN hosted SMW Rovers and despite holding a five-point lead at half time the home side failed to go on with the task after the resumption as the Bulldogs kicked seven goals for the third term to take the contest away from the Lions, 11.4 (70) to 17.15 (117).

Lachy Barnett, Justin Kennedy, Thomas Thewlis, Max Cook and Joe O’Donnell proved to be too strong for the Lions to contain as the Bulldogs kept their very slim finals hopes alive.