COLERAINE jumped back aboard the winning train against Heywood at home after being left at the station for three of its last four outings, as the South West District Football Netball League season winds its way towards the finals.

The Maroons played well in difficult conditions on Saturday, registering a 12.16 (88) to 6.8 (44) victory which keeps them equal on points with both Dartmoor and Cavendish, but splitting the pair on percentage on the premiership ladder.

It’s been well documented the Maroons had failed to carry their early season form past the Queen’s Birthday long weekend, but now that they have posted victory, its full steam ahead with two rounds to go until the post season begins.

Despite good winter weather in the lead up to the game, Mother Nature turned nasty, as Silvester Oval was hit by icy winds and rain from the end of the first quarter which hampered the players’ handling of the ball.

Both teams were on song early, as the ball rebounded from each end as the players displayed their skills to full effect, but it was the home side which scored first, as Pat Sinnott goaled after five minutes.

A total of nine goals were kicked in the first term, as both teams looked to display a fast open style of play which entertained the sizeable crowd.

The home side banged through six of those goals to take a 20-point lead at the sound of the siren, but then the rain arrived and made the handling of the ball very difficult for the remainder of the match.

The players continued to move the ball on at all costs, as the teams tried to play expansive football.

At half time each team could only add a further goal each, as the backs came into their own with strong marking of their opponents that saw the ball hit the ground at nearly every marking contest.

The Maroons had increased the lead to 24 points despite only kicking a single goal, but Heywood would come out for the third quarter fired up and the Lions took the game to their hots as they attacked.

They would win that third term and reduce the margin to 16 points, as they added two goals to the Maroons single major as Leon Davis goaled on the siren.

The fourth term saw the Lions kept out of the scoring opportunities, as the Maroons rallied to kick away with four goals to nil.

Coleraine coach, Ryan McClure, was pleased to see his players return to form.

“Just getting back to winning football was a good feeling,” McClure said.

“It was very pleasing to get back to playing the way we like to play; controlling the ball and restricting opposition run.

“Liam Kaine was clean all day and had plenty of it and Nathan Surkitt did an outstanding job at fullback, while Adam Ward was the best of the mids winning contested ball and releasing his teammates.

“Sam Youngman was the pick of the forwards with three goals.”

Liam Kaine, Nathan Surkitt, Robert Mackinnon, Cody Deutscher, Adam Ward and Samuel Youngman were the pick of the Maroons, while Mark Troeth, Jarod Donovan, Aaron Johnstone, Jason Walker, John Bell and Stephen Lovett never stopped for the Lions.

Coleraine now has games against Westerns and Heathmere to round out the home and away season with big wins possibly assuring the Maroons top rung on the ladder on percentage as Dartmoor has tough games against cavendish and Tyrendarra to finish.

“That is how it is (but) we won't focus on it (as) we've had enough opportunities in the last month to sure up top spot and fell short, so we have some things to get right before our first final, which ever it is,” McClure said.

“So that will be our focus going forward as it was against Heywood.”

The Maroons were far from being at full strength on Saturday with several the regular top side missing

“We went in without Jack Wright, James Povey and Sam Tooley who should all return this week while Todd Hatherall was sore so will see how he trains this week,” McClure said.

Heywood must now defeat either Heathmere or Branxholme-Wallacedale to ensure its place in the finals.

Cavendish v Branxholme-Wallacedale

CAVENDISH continued riding its form wave as the Bloods hosted Branxholme-Wallacedale, which was looking to keep its slim finals aspirations alive, to record a strong victory 10.12 (72) to 2.2 (14).

The Bloods were ruthless despite the conditions that hit the venue as they played fast attacking football to post four goals in the first quarter and open a 28-point lead by the first break.

The contest was over at the half time break as the home side took a 49-point lead into the sheds, as the Saints had failed to register a goal in the first half thanks to the brilliant work of the Bloods backline.

The only downside for the home side was the number of behinds kicked but it could be forgiven due to the unfavourable winds that made goal kicking very tough.

The Saints didn’t register a goal until the third term but by then the game was gone and it was a case of how far the Bloods as the teams returned to the field for the last quarter.

To be fair to the visitors, they did keep the hosts to only three majors after the half time break, as both teams threw their bodies to each contest looking to gain even the smallest advantage.

Harrison Rees, Christopher Quinn, Samuel Gibson, William Luhrs, Brad Thomas and David Coghlan were best afield for the home side, while Thomas Scott, Kieran Barker, Samuel Lambevski, Leigh Ewing, Kai Schembri and Colby Hammond did everything in their power to keep the Saints in the contest.

Tyrendarra v Heathmere

FIVE goals in the second quarter set up Tyrendarra’s victory against Heathmere at home to keep the Darras within a game of the top three teams on the premiership ladder, 11.11 (77) to 3.5 (23).

While Tyrendarra was expected to win the match, the Meres gave the hosts a tough game and the visitors refused to lay down despite the conditions not being conducive to good football.

The home side kicked the only goal of the first quarter as the teams battled each other and the conditions for the upper hand.

Those five second quarter goals were telling though as the Darras opened a 25-point lead at the long break, and from there they kicked five goals to one for the remainder of the match to run out 54-point winners.

Sam Anson, Josh Atwell, Rhys Weber, Joshua Brough, Andy Paterson and Brayden Sheahan were judged as being the best for the home side, while the visitors looked to Zac Deane, Kyle Anson, Matthew Payne, Luke Driscoll and Cooper Anson for their drive forward.

Dartmoor v Westerns

DARTMOOR retained its place at the top of the premiership ladder with a huge victory against Westerns at Alexandra Park, 23.32 (170) to 1.1 (7).

The Giants were ruthless as they looked to build their percentage against the Roos, but kicking for goal would let the visiting side down, managing 5.17 in the second half, as the players battled the conditions as much as their opponents.

Joseph Franklin, Jayden Polaski, Mark Cowland, Lachlan Polaski, Jay Ropitini and Tom McKinnon were on song for the Giants, while Stephen O’Brien, Nick Wills, Zavier Durbidge, Noah Knight and Troy Warburton never stopped for the Roos.