HAMILTON KANGAROOS has begun the long climb towards the summit of the Hampden Football Netball League as it took on the might of the reigning premier, Koroit, at Victoria Park on Saturday.

Even though the visitors went down 7.7 (49) – 11.7 (73) it did prove it can match it with the best in the competition.

The visitors took the game to their hosts from the opening bounce and the rewards came, as the ball was sent forward from the middle and three goals ensued to have Hamilton leading by eight points at the quarter time siren.

Koroit came out firing for the second term and appeared to be shocked by the display of the Kangaroos in the first quarter, as the Saints kept the opposition to only a single behind for the term, while piling on 4.5 of its own to grab a 20-point lead at the main break.

The third term returned to the tight in and under football of the first quarter, but still the home side was able to extend its lead to 26 points, but the Roos were more competitive as they gained more possession for the quarter.

  Koroit could have been forgiven for thinking that the Kangaroos would fall away, given their lowly ladder position, but the visitors had other ideas as they matched their opponents goal-for-goal and even claimed two extra shots on goal for the period.

Cameron Pither was again in strong form in defence, as he took best-on-ground honours for Hamilton with yet another great display, while  Ethan Knight, Cameron Whyte, Will Povey, Zach Burgess and Charlie Alexander gave him great support.

Burgess gave the team a target up front as he kicked four majors, while Hamish Cook returned to the team after injury to put two goals of his own on the board.

Reserves

KOROIT came from behind against the Hamilton Kangaroos in the reserves after trailing at three quarter time to come over the top of its visitors on Saturday, 9.3 (57) – 7.6 (48).

The Kangaroos were a far different team than that had been thrashed in the last two outings, as they took the game to their hosts right from the opening bounce.

It was a tight, tough game where neither team was prepared to allow the opposition to gain an advantage, as the lead swapped hands throughout, but the Roos took leads into quarter time, half time and three quarter time breaks only to see the Saints take the opportunities presented in the last term to take the points.

Hugh Douglas, Flynn Jamieson, Dave Arnold, Kane Taylor, Jake Tonissen and Jake Donehue were great for the blue and whites with superb displays, with Douglas slotting through three goals to lead the way.

Under-18.5

DESPITE being held scoreless in the third quarter, the Hamilton Kangaroos Under-18.5 teams had a tough, hard-fought victory against Koroit, 7.7 (49) – 3.10 (28).

The Kangaroos were never fully in command of this low-scoring game, but the team played as a unit to stave off the home side, as the Saints roared back into the contest after half time to reduce the margin to only five points at the last change of ends.

The visitors showed great maturity to regain their composure in the last stanza to overcome a scoreless third term to kick away to a 21-point margin while holding the home side scoreless.

Lachlan Rees, Ben Marti, Ned Andrew, Thomas Calvert, Jack Jennings and Mason Tooley maintained their individual form throughout the contest, and the victory saw the visitors leapfrog both Koroit and Cobden on the ladder into fourth spot.