The Courier |
IT wasn't pretty - far from it - but Ballarat just managed to hold on against Lake Wendouree on Saturday afternoon.
Just three points separated the two sides when the final siren sounded, with the Swans staving off a desperate and gutsy Lake Wendouree outfit.
In a low-scoring affair, Ballarat opened its 2013 Ballarat Football League season in perfect fashion, winning 8.10 (58) to 7.13 (55).
In typical opening round style, the pressure was intense throughout the whole match, but the skills were lacking.
It was end-to-end football in the opening term but soon turned into a scrappy dogfight after quarter-time.
The Simmonds Swans headed into the first break with a one-goal lead, with Braeden Deary lurking dangerously up forward.
From that point onwards each team only managed to score another four goals for the remainder of the match.
The margin rarely extended beyond 10 points, although Ballarat never once surrendered the lead.
Youngster Nick O'Farrell showed promise all day in his first game and Mitch Rodd was almost impenetrable down back for Ballarat, repelling attack after attack when the game was on the line.
For the Lakers, ruckman Matthew Tuminello was dominant across the ground and threatening up forward and 18-year-old Angus Kirby was more than lively on the wing.
The match seemed over when Lakers captain Tim Malone gifted Ballarat a goal in the dying moments via a 50-metre penalty, stretching the margin to 10 points.
But still Lake Wendouree refused to lay down.
Players from both sides were showing signs of fatigue, many cramping due to the warm weather and hard ground.
A centre clearance and roving goal from Andrew Pitson saw the margin back within a goal, but it was too little, too late.
Lakers coach Gavin Webb praised his extremely young side for their effort but said a failure to capitalise on opportunities was the decisive factor.
Brent Olszewski missed almost the entire second half with a corked thigh and Nick Aringo appeared to pull his hamstring.
"I'm very proud of the boys. But at the end of the day we lost, we needed to win, we came in expecting to win," Webb said.
"I'm proud but still gutted we didn't get the four points.
"I thought we controlled a lot of the play but didn't take advantage."
Ballarat coach Ash Baker said he was relieved to get the four points and immediately turned his attention to Thursday's ANZAC Day clash against East Point.
"We've got a lot of work on from here but it's good to get the season off with the first win," he said.
Ballarat meets East Point on Thursday and Lake Wendouree faces the imposing North Ballarat.
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