By Colin MacGillivray
LANCEFIELD coach Tom Waters believes his side has laid a platform for improvement in the second half of the Riddell District Football Netball League season after earning its second victory of the year on Saturday.
The Tigers rode a six-goal first quarter to a 9.11 (65) to 5.7 (37) win at home against Melton Centrals.
Harrison Taylor and Joe Slattery were in the thick of the action for Lancefield, digging the ball out of the centre and sending their team into attack all day.
Lancefield finished the day with eight individual goal kickers, with only Ben Richmond booting multiple majors with two.
Waters said it was one of the most complete performances he had seen from the Tigers this year.
“We were able to put some scoreboard pressure on for once and actually come away with a win, which was really good,” he said.
“We’ve been able to create opportunities for ourselves most weeks, but we haven’t been able to put that scoreboard pressure on opposition sides.
“This week we managed to kick six in the first quarter, which was enough to give us a comfortable lead that we were able to maintain throughout the game.
“With the muddy conditions it was tough later in the game for both teams to kick the footy. It was getting pretty heavy and while it didn’t rain, the ground was still muddy, so everyone’s legs were getting heavy. It was hard for both teams to score by the end.”
Waters said the game could serve as a springboard for Lancefield as it entered the second half of the season.
“We definitely feel like we’ve set ourselves a platform where we can compete for a few more wins,” he said.
“From the first game we played against Wallan to now, you could definitely see signs of improvement. Myself included, more than half the team is new from when we last played in 2019. There are still a lot of guys who are getting used to playing with each other.”
Jay Russell went down with a hamstring injury during the game, but the Tigers expect to recall Nathan Malone for next week’s home game against Riddell after Malone sat out with a concussion at the weekend.
Romsey will also turn its attention to this weekend after a 12.10 (82) to 6.12 (48) loss to Macedon on Saturday.
The Redbacks were outscored four goals to one in the first quarter and were never in the match from that point on, despite the best efforts of Jack Jedwab, Corey Pertzel and Nathan Hoy.
Romsey will take on Diggers Rest on Saturday, while Wallan will return from a bye to travel to Woodend-Hesket.
Netball
Lancefield’s netballers also gave their supporters plenty to cheer about at the weekend, defeating Melton Centrals 58-43 for their second win of the season.
A clinical display by Jordan Furness at goal shooter led the way, with Furness converting more than 80 per cent of her 57 goal attempts to net 46 shots for the Tigers.
Only four goals separated the sides at quarter time, but a 14-5 second term effectively ended any chance the Blues had.
Kiara Baldwin and Brianna De Haas also shone in the win, which moved Lancefield to seventh on the ladder.
Romsey was no match for Macedon, losing 65-21 despite valiant efforts from Samantha Richardson at centre and wing attack and Abbey Duggan in defence.
The Redbacks’ task will not be any easier this week as they prepare for second-placed Diggers Rest, while Lancefield will play powerhouse Riddell and Wallan will play Woodend-Hesket.