HAWKESDALE-MACARTHUR remains in sight of a final’s appearance in the Mininera and District Football League (MDFL) seniors after a stirring victory against Lismore-Derrinallum at Hawkesdale Recreation Reserve on Saturday, 11.11 (77) to 6.11 (47).

The weather didn’t do any sport a favour on Saturday with rain and cold temperatures greeting the players as they took to the field knowing that it wasn’t going to be a day where they could display their skills.

That didn’t stop the Eagles from gaining a march on the Demons though, as the players attacked the visitors in a fast open first quarter that saw the home side have 12 scoring shots with six majors registered to take a 27-point lead into the first break.

The Demons came back at their hosts in the second term to win the period and reduce the margin to 23 points, but it could have been much smaller if the Demons had kicked straighter, registering five behinds and only a single goal.

The Eagles regrouped over the half time break and returned to attacking the football which paid dividends with another three majors being added to extend the lead to 37 points and in the conditions, a winning margin.

Lismore-Derrinallum refused to lay down though and again they came hard at their hosts in the final term as they added two more goals while restricting the Eagles to only a single major in reply, but the visitors fell short by five goals.

Ollie Wortley, Aaron Seabrook, Hamish Wortley, Simon Sharrock, James North and Luke Gow were the best of a great team performance for the hosts, while Steven Ryan, James Halloran, Nicholas Schiemer, Jack Atkins and Bradley Ward were the best for the Demons.

The task gets harder for both clubs next round as Hawkesdale-Macarthur travels to Alexander Park to battle Ararat and Lismore-Derrinallum hosts Woorndoo-Mortlake.

Other games

PENSHURST was brought back to earth with a thud against Woorndoo-Mortlake away from home, as the Tigers taught the Bombers a lesson in wet weather football at Wilsons DC Farran Oval on Saturday, 9.9 (63) to 3.5 (23).

While a 40-point margin may not seem that great, it must be noted that the Bombers failed to register a goal until the last quarter when the game was well and truly gone.

Henry Bensch is having a great season and was again the best player for the Bombers, while Kieran Neeson, Ryan Smith, Aaron Glare, Jayden Watson and Edward Rentsch gave the youngster great support, but it was Thomas Gough, Liam Cameron, Jesse Johnson, Tyson Hogan, William Paulin and Sam Gervasoni who shone brightest.

GLENTHOMPSON-DUNKELD played as if the sun was shining and the ball was dry as it took Moyston-Willaura apart at Moyston Recreation Reserve, 31.26 (212) to 2.4 (16).

The game was effectively over at the first break as the visitors booted eight goals to one for the opening term and from there, they just got better.

Thomas Waters enjoyed great service from his midfield as he registered 10 goals for the game to be best on ground, but he had great support from Nathan Fall, Matthew Lowe, Ben Cole, Dylan Ross and Calvin Ross and the rest of the Rams side.

The home side was well served by Harry Evans, Rhys Cronin, Damien Smith, Alex Close, Nicholas Mason and Logan Cooper but the Pumas were thrashed and will have to look to recruit more players from now on for the new season next year to climb back up the ladder.

WICKLIFFE-LAKE BOLAC remains perched on the second rung of the ladder after accounting for SMW Rovers 13.12 (90) to 6.4 (40) at Lake Bolac Recreation Reserve as Lachlan Reilly, Samuel Handley, Jake Williamson, Joel Gray, Lachlan Staig and Charles Vallance performed well for the Magpies.

Ash Gray, Blake Luehman, Joe O’Donnell, Justin Kennedy, Thomas Liston and Alex McIntyre did their best for the visitors, but the Bulldogs were well beaten.

TATYOON had to dig deep against Great Western at Tatyoon Recreation Reserve despite winning 13.15 (93) to 6.8 (44) as the Lions refused to give up.

Ryan Bates, Anthony Rosato, William Henderson, Samuel Phillips, Sam Cronin and Darcy Alexander ensured the Hawks remained undefeated atop the ladder, while Ryan Folkes, Andrew Cameron, Lachlan Malloy, Adam Mullane, Nicholas McCartney and Harvey Evans played well for the visitors.

CARAMUT showed plenty of heart against Ararat at Caramut Recreation Reserve in losing 1.6 (7) to 11.12 (78) as the home side came back at their visitors in the last three terms to take the game right up the Eagles.

Ararat must have been believing that it would post a huge percentage boost after banging home seven goals to nil in the opening term, but the Swans regrouped in the break and although they didn’t win a quarter, they kept the visitors to only another four goals for the remaining three quarters.