SEA Lake Nandaly’s 21-game winning run finally came to an end at the weekend, handed a 13-point loss by arch rivals Birchip-Watchem.
The Bulls are now the only unbeaten team this season after the 15.6 (96) to 12.11 (83) win, while the Tigers fell to third on the ladder.
Neither side could lay claim to dominating the contest, with the margin at no stage extending beyond three goals.
Birchip-Watchem coach Trevor Ryan was pleased with what he saw from his players in what proved an attacking contest between two of the North Central heavyweights.
“It was a good win, I was pretty happy with our efforts,” Ryan said.
“We took advantage of a couple of players that they had missing, but you can only play what they put on the park.
“It was a pretty hot, contested game of footy all round and the ball was going up and down the ground all day, with both teams running and spreading from the contest.
“I felt we did well through patches of the second quarter when we got out to a three-goal lead, but then we just had a lapse of effort a little bit and they pulled that lead back.
“We managed to get our hands on the ball a lot around the contest and at the stoppages, and we seemed to be able to get our hands to it first.
“It was one of those games where we just didn’t kick it to our advantage and they were getting on the end of those miskicks, when they win it across half-back they can sweep it and move the ball quickly.
“There were a few times where we couldn’t penetrate their defence because of our own miskicks, but once we started to get on top of that in the last quarter, we managed to get it to a couple of our guys who are dangerous up forward.”
One of those dangerous forwards was Ben Edwards, who kicked five goals, while Joe Reid also proved dangerous, kicking three in a best-afield performance.
Reid, who normally spends his time across half-back, moved forward in a change of role, giving Birchip-Watchem more mobility in attack and providing his side with that much-needed link between defence and attack.
The battle between leading ruckmen Hamish Hosking and Ryan O’Sullivan was also pivotal, with both impactful for their teams.
Hosking’s influence came from his contested ball wining ability, while the Tigers directed much of their play through the hands of O’Sullivan around the ground.
Nick Rippon and Meyrick Buchanan were also strong contributors in the midfield for the Bulls, while Wade Donnan, Jack Poulton and Thomas Cox were among the better players for the Sea Lake Nandaly.
Taking hold of second on the ladder, Wedderburn continued to impress in their third win, a 41-point defeat of Boort, 17.15 (117) to 10.8 (68).
The Redbacks didn’t have things all their way, with the Magpies proving more than competitive in the first half to trail by just eight points at half time, before the foot was put down with an eight-goal-to-two second half.
Tom Campbell and Anthony Zelencich both finished with five goals for the winners, while Tom Potter booted three and was a clear standout for Boort.
Nullawil finally secured their first win under Darryl Wilson, easily accounting for St Arnaud by 72 points.
After holding the Saints scoreless for the first 30 minutes, the Maroons then continued on their merry way to record a comfortable 16.13 (109) to 5.7 (37) victory, with Dean Putt, Daniel Watts, Matt Quigley and Rylee Smith all dominant for the home side.
Also following the script, Wycheproof-Narraport handed Charlton a 38-point loss at Wycheproof.
The Navies proved no pushover, however, keeping pace with the Demons for three quarters, before Wayne Mitrovic’s men pulled away with five unanswered goals in the final quarter to record a 12.13 (85) to 7.5 (47) win.
