LANCEFIELD tasted the sweet scent of victory for the first time in 27 matches, a clear highlight from round 13 of the Riddell District Football Netball League competition.
The Tigers’ first victory in 701 days brought great delirium to the Macedon Ranges Sports Precinct as they scored a 33-point victory over the Gisborne Giants.
The Giants made the fast start to proceedings on Saturday afternoon as they kicked four goals to two in the opening term to open up a 10-point lead at the first change, 25-15.
However, Lancefield made its move in the second term and took control of the game in kicking four goals to one for the quarter, turning the game in its favour and leading by 10 points at the main break, 45-35.
The Tigers turned the wick up in the third term and kicked four goals to one to assume complete control of the game, leading 72-45 at the final change.
Having not scored a victory in two years, there was reason enough for a touch of nerves, but the Tigers were in no mood to let this game slip, kicking four goals to three in the final term to eventually score a 14.15 (99) to 9.12 (66) victory.
Ben Sankey soaked up the spoils to be the best man on the ground, while James Falcone, Riley O’Meara, Ned O’Connell, Leroy Ristevski and Thomas Indian were also named in the best.
A dominant second quarter from Wallan helped set up a 51-point victory over Romsey at Greenhill Reserve as Jake Carlisle continued his stunning run of form.
The Magpies withstood every punch Romsey threw in the first term, as despite conceding nine scoring shots, the Redbacks could only manage one goal as Wallan led 21-14 at the first change.
However, it was all the Magpies in the second term as they ran riot, kicking nine goals to two to effectively end the contest, with Cameron Cloke and Chris Stewart in particular doing plenty of grunt work up forward, and helping them to a 77-27 lead.
Romsey fought hard in the third term as it did what it could to close the gap, but the Magpies also did enough to hold station. In the end, it was the Redbacks who won the quarter, scoring three goals to two to reduce the margin to 45 points at the last change, 48-93.
Wallan hit back in the final term, kicking four goals to three to again keep the margin beyond 50 points, with the Magpies taking advantage of losses to fellow finals contenders Kyneton and Melton South in their 18.13 (121) to 9.16 (70) victory.
Carlisle and Cloke were the Magpies’ best, with Cloke kicking six goals. Brodie Gilchrist, Victor Micallef, Nash King and Steven Boyall also performed well.
For Romsey, Jack Jedwab played a lone hand up forward, kicking six goals, while Ash Millane, Nathan Rayment, Nathan Blair, Liam Muir and Matt Burkett also performed well.
In the RDFNL netball competition, Lancefield have had a blow in its hopes of securing the double chance, losing to Gisborne Giants 54-41.
The loss was the Tigers’ fourth in succession and sees them move down to fifth as a result, only six points ahead of Wallan in sixth, who are definite finals contenders after scoring an important 54-42 victory over Romsey.
A 43-goal haul from Maeve Donegan meant the Magpies closed in on potentially making a run towards the finals, and sets up a massive clash between the fifth-placed Tigers and sixth-placed Magpies.
In the Goulburn Valley Football League, Seymour have kept alive their finals chances thanks to a starring role from returning Collingwood VFL forward Riley Mason, scoring a four-goal win over Shepparton Swans.
The Lions held the ascendancy throughout the first half, leading by seven points at the first change, before erupting with five goals to two in the second term to lead by 29 points, 50-21.
Shepparton made a run throughout the third term, kicking six goals, but the Lions were also able to keep pace with four goals of their own as they led 74-61 at the final change, before kicking three of the last four goals of the game to eventually record a 14.10 (94) to 10.10 (70) victory.
Mason kicked six goals, while Nicholas Dundon, Jack Murphy, Jack Peris and James Wooster were named in the best.
