GLENTHOMPSON-DUNKELD has paid the price for being wasteful in front of goal as Woorndoo-Mortlake grabbed the win and opened an eight-point gap on the premiership ladder over the Rams at Glenthompson Recreation Reserve on Saturday, 8.13 (61 ) to 14.7 (91).

The Rams began well in the first half as they took a lead into the first break and at half time, as the players set themselves to perform against a team that sat higher on the ladder.

Poor kicking in the first quarter would come back to haunt the home side as the visitors came out after the long break looking to close the 20-point gap that had been opened in the first half.

They would not only wipe off the deficit, but then go on to post an eleven-point lead as the Tigers posted a five goal to nil third term as the flow of the match changed completely.

A further six-goals gave the visitors a 30-point winning margin and Glenthompson-Dunkeld coach, Simon Hatherell could only lament those missed shots at goal early in the game.

“Yeah, we did start really well (as) the boys were keen for the challenge of playing one of the better sides in the competition,” Hatherell said.

“At half time we talked about what we were doing well and how we wanted to improve in the second half but kicking so many points in the first quarter really hurt us in the long run.

“If we had converted our opportunities early when we had the momentum, we could have had a much larger lead than three goals at half time.

“We lost Matt Lowe who is one of the better players in the competition to a hamstring five minutes into the second quarter and a couple of minutes later our centre half forward Jesse Overall also sustained the same injury, so we were down to one on the bench from then on and also had change the structure that was working to cover these two.”

“However, to be fair, Woorndoo-Mortlake won basically every clearance in the third quarter and got the ball into the forward line quickly giving their forwards every opportunity to score,” Hatherell said.

“Tyler Fehsler had to ruck 95 percent of the game after Jesse went off injured and physically really worked hard while Lachlan Morganti had to take a jet forward spot and he kept leading and presenting often in two-on-one situations.”

Tyler Staude, Andrew Lowe, Ty Gilmore, Tim Kealy, Mitchell Johnson and Chris McLeod never stopped for the home side while Haydn Templeton, Damien Pemberton, Private player, Matthew Pemberton, Sam Gervasoni and Timothy Ackerley really came into the game after the half time break.

“Finals is certainly harder now but is still very much possible and we just need to continue to get to training to improve our foot skills especially,” Hatherell said.

“We are turning the ball over way to often when not under pressure.”

Other Games

PENSHURST remained in the hunt for a top three finish as the Bombers easily accounted for Moyston-Willaura at Moyston Recreation Reserve on Saturday, 20.15 (135) to 7.7 (49).

With arch rivals Glenthompson-Dunkeld going down, the Bombers have opened an eight-point gap on the Rams in the race for a finals place.

Jayden Watson in the midfield was judged best on ground but Sam Weston, Tim McGregor, Kieran Neeson, William Rentsch and Cooper Rentsch all played well to see the Bombers take the points.

Ned Bohner, Thomas Billett, Rhys Cronin, Alex Close, Jackson Hyland and Lynden Brewis were determined to stop the flow of the Penshurst game plan, but they needed more support from the rest of their team.

CARAMUT failed in its bid to claim the points and open a gap on the premiership ladder over Great Western at Great Western Recreation Reserve on Saturday, going down 7.16 (58) to 13.16 (94).

Poor kicking in front of goal cost the visitors dearly as the Swans held the Lions in check for the first quarter to be behind by a single point at the first break, only for the home side to take the game away from them in the second term.

Jacob Lacy, Matthew Petherick, James Elford, Patrick Drake, Dylan Campbell and Jayden Millet tried hard for the Swans all day, but in the end the visitors couldn’t contain the Lions.

TATYOON remains undefeated at the top of the ladder along with Ararat as the Hawks accounted for Hawkesdale-Macarthur at Hawkesdale Recreation Reserve on Saturday, 16.18 (114) to 3.3 (21), with Sam Anderson, Kieran Collins, john foster, Sean McDougall, Jack Fraser and Ryan Bates all playing well for the home side.

ARARAT kept its undefeated run at the top of the ladder intact with another comfortable victory as the Eagles were far too strong for Wickliffe-Lake Bolac at Alexandra Park on Saturday, 16.18 (114) to 7.5 (47).

Jaydo Wright, Tom Taurau, Damian Joiner, Jackson Taurau, Naish McRoberts and Nick Dunford were all on song for the home side as Christopher Hilet, Jake Smith, Lachlan Boseley, Samuel McKew, James Boseley and Jake Clark did their best for the visitors.

LISMORE-DERRINALLUM had the closest result of the round as it hosted SMW Rovers at Lismore Recreation Reserve on Saturday and came away with a great victory, 12.13 (85) to 12.8 (80).

The game swung back and forth all afternoon as the teams traded the lead, but it came down to the second term where the home side posted three-goals six-behinds to only one behind that proved to be the difference between the teams.