LEITCHVILLE/GUNBOWER recorded its ninth win of the Heathcote District Football Netball League season with a 188-point mauling of ninth-placed side, Mount Pleasant.
In recent weeks the Bombers have often failed to record as big as margins as expected – given some of the advantages held at quarter or half-time – but encouraged by coach Matt Hawken to play a more selfless style of football, the Bombers maintained a constant rate of scoring against the hapless Blues.
With the Matt Perri (12 goals) show continuing with his third double figure tally against the visitors – that also featured some handballs as well as half a dozen misses – the only question was how far the Bombers would win.
Leading by 47 points at the opening break and 90 points half-time, it appeared that this could be the day when the Bombers recorded a more suitable margin.
The temptation to chase kicks against the lower sides and for backs to sneak forward in the hope of a goal had been on Hawken’s mind and the coach implored his charges at the main break to maintain the structure and teamwork evident in the first half.
More run and handball had been a feature from the Bombers’ defence in the first half with Logan Prout, Brady Hore and Ryan Prendergast, along with Daniel Coates, all creative across the backline.
The middle of the ground was controlled by the two Matts – Pollock and Ladson – as well as the busy Daniel Couwenberg, with Lee Pollock and Matt Pilcher (three goals) prominent.
As well as Perri, the Bombers had Jack Dye (four goals) in sparkling touch and Adam Decicco (three goals) at his elusive best, giving the Blues’ defence a torrid time.
The monotony of the Bombers scoring was punctuated with moments of brilliance such as Daniel Coates’ spectacular mark in the goal square and also moments of disaster, such as Daniel Meroli’s botched snap at goal after failing to get the memo about backmen wandering into the forward line.
Mount Pleasant failed to score a goal in the second half, registering just three behinds as the Bombers piled on the pain, ending with their second highest total score and their highest winning margin since joining the competition.
Hawken was happy with his team’s even performance and even more so with the consistency of scoring across four quarters.
“We showed we can play a more attractive style with better teamwork and really put a side like Mounts away, not just do enough to get the four points and have individuals concerned about their stats,” he said.
“It’s the sort of footy we are going to need to play if we are to challenge in September.”
