Lancaster’s Nicholas Ryan and Avenel’s Paul Arandt go at it in the ruck during their round nine clash.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Longwood staged a miraculous comeback to steal an absolute thriller over Stanhope on Saturday away from home, prevailing by a solitary point after coming home with a wet sail to clinch win five for the season.
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Stanhope had all the ascendency in the first half, with an opening term returning 4.3 to Longwood’s 2.2, before piling on another four-goal-to-two second quarter to establish a 23-point lead at half-time.
But the Redlegs came out full of fire after the main break, slamming through four goals and cutting the margin back to two straight kicks by three-quarter time and, with all of the momentum, looked well-poised to run over the top of the Lions.
And that they did, with three goals in the final term enough to seal a remarkable one-point victory, prevailing 11.8 (74) to Stanhope’s 11.7 (73), and improving to 5-4 from their nine games this Kyabram District League season.
Brayden Klemke was the Redlegs’ best in the win, finding great support in skipper Dillon Hardy (one goal) and coach Jordan Formosa, while Flynn Cook, Rhys Cason (one goal) and Michael Celestin rounded out the most influential.
Shane Harvey kicked a game-high four goals, with Liam Edwards also contributing two, while George Chamouras, Josh Duncan and Dakota Pellegrino split the middle of the big sticks once to help their side to the stirring win.
Elsewhere on Saturday the top three sides enjoyed big wins to continue their strong campaigns to the halfway point of the season, with reigning premier Murchison-Toolamba remaining unbeaten on top following a 116-point thumping of Undera at Murchison Recreation Reserve.
Lancaster’s Ryan Hatch looks for a teammate.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
A nine-goal opening term set the tone for the Hoppers, who piled on 20.12 (132) to Undera’s 2.4 (16), with Lachy Seddon best on in the win and James Lloyd at his punishing best up forward, slotting 10 majors to take his season tally to 58 from nine games.
Nagambie had an even bigger triumph over struggling Merrigum, saluting 26.19 (175) to 1.5 (11) at Merrigum Recreation Reserve.
Lancaster’s Charlie McLay and Zaid Besim celebrate after a goal.
Will Dalton brought up double figures for the Lakers with 10 majors, but was pipped for best-on by Trent Laverie, who slotted three himself in a complete performance that ensures Nagambie’s percentage sits at more than 200.
Lancaster’s Nathan Oliver gets his kick away under heavy pressure.
While the percentage boost could prove important come September, it had no immediate impact, with Lancaster claiming a solid win over Avenel to remain in second spot, level on wins with the Lakers but ahead due to superior percentage.
Avenel’s Jesse Inzillo is mown down by Lancaster’s Adam Lovison
The Wombats were a class above at Lancaster Recreation Reserve, notching a 44-point victory over the Swans, although it could have — and probably should have — been a much bigger margin, with goal-kicking practice likely to feature prominently at training this week.
Avenel’s Charles Neilson looks downfield.
Lancaster kicked 10.25 (85) to Avenel’s 6.5 (41) in the victory and, while never looking like losing, squandered plenty of opportunities in front of the big sticks, with returns of 3.8 in the second term and 3.7 in the third term keeping Avenel in the contest.
Avenel’s Chase Thomson has eyes only for the footy.
Cameron Simpson (one goal) was Lancaster’s best in the win, with Zaid Besim not far behind after kicking an equal team-best three goals alongside Archer Guinan.
Lancaster’s Cameron Simpson was best-on-ground in the Wombats’ triumph.
There were two fixtures on Sunday afternoon also, with Shepparton East hosting Violet Town at Central Park Recreation Reserve, while Girgarre and Rushworth faced off at Girgarre Recreation Recreation Reserve, although results were unavailable at time of print.
